Lights, Camera, Action?

A fallen stage light attachment bar in Monarch Hall needs replacement.

Katherine O'Brien Field Copy Editor

A 25-foot-long light attachment bar fell from the ceiling in Monarch Hall while the Theatre Arts Department was setting up for a show.

On Thursday, Oct. 19, the first curtain lighting equipment, which traversed the entire width of the stage, dropped from the ceiling, landing on the stage. A student was in the vicinity of the mishap but was not injured. The stage was not damaged either. Administration immediately contacted the Maintenance Department, and Michael Jack, Interim Director of College Facilities, responded.

“I received a call around 4:00 p.m. and went over to Monarch Hall. There had been no prior complaints regarding the light bar,” said Jack.

Jack could not opine as to the value of the lost light bar, but the Theatre Arts Department will determine the next steps to take to resolve the issue.

The Valley Academic and Cultural Center (VACC) is still closed, even though the projected completion date of July 2023 has passed. In the meantime, Monarch Hall is serving as the venue for current theater productions until the VACC is finished.

“The Theater Arts Department has their own portable stage lights and equipment that they put in place, and they are using that now instead,” Jack noted. We removed the light bar the following morning and made the area safe for Theater Arts to continue their function.”