Some of the Masters School student body is disappointed with the massive renovation of the Claudia Boettcher Theatre (CBT), and here’s why: the Class of 2026, and for the most part, the Class of 2027, will never be able to shine on the stage of the old theatre due to the one-year and five-month renovation.
Junior Leila Gross, who grew up on a Broadway stage as a performer and continues to carry out her passion for acting and singing at Masters, expressed her concerns: “It’s super disappointing, especially because I know that when I applied [to Masters] and when others applied, a big contributing reason was this amazing theater arts department that had really been talked-up in the admissions process. I still would have come to Masters because it’s an amazing school, but they should have been very clear on when the renovations were.”
Jack Stevens, the senior associate director of boarding admission, has high hopes for the CBT renovations and the future of Masters. He said he understands the worries of those disappointed with this circumstance; however, he sheds positive light on the closure.
He noted that students can come back as alumni to visit the new space. Stevens continued, “When you graduate, you want to come back. You want to have something pulling you back here. And lots of students come back and they’re like, ‘Wow, campus has changed so much!’ And I think it’s going to be really exciting.”
An impressive project has been occurring on campus for several months: transforming Strayer Hall into Follet Hall — a new and improved music and dance studio where students can express themselves due to the higher level of resources and space. Many members of the community are excited, including Sabrina Roth: a current sophomore investing time into performing arts at Masters. She said, “With the new Follet Hall, I think that will be a super helpful thing to have that will keep the CBT from being missed as much.”
Representing another perspective, Gross is having a hard time dealing with these conflicting emotions because nothing can replace the memories made in the CBT.
“I don’t think Strayer [Follet] will be comparable to the CBT,” Gross said. “I feel like we’ve already made so many memories there and no alternative space can compare. But I’m definitely super excited about Strayer. It means we get a new rehearsal space.”
Stevens provides advice for students in the same boat as Gross: “You have to take advantage of what you have in front of you.” He said that students shouldn’t waste time on what they don’t have, but rather invest time into what they do have, such as Follet Hall. “Don’t let the space hinder your experience. I know our performing arts students and students who are passionate about the performing arts won’t let that happen, which is why this place is so special,” Stevens said.
Roth said she hasn’t gotten the opportunity to spend as much time as she would have hoped for in the CBT. She continued, “I was kind of looking forward to being in the CBT for the rest of my time here, so it was a little bit unfortunate that I couldn’t do so.”
Stevens provides support for current sophomores with this disappointment: “If they’re not going to have it their sophomore and junior year, I say that it’s going to make your senior year, your last year even better and truly amazing.”
Roth appreciates this mindset and follows up her concerns with pure excitement for the result of the CBT renovations.
Stevens leaves a message for students with strong emotions about the renovation: “It’s not a permanent thing, right? It’s temporary for the next two years and what comes out of it will be worth it.”
