While many performing arts groups have struggled during the pandemic, Children's Musical Theater San Jose celebrated a major expansion with the opening of its new Creative Arts Center on April 15.
The new building gives performers more space, as it features biggers floors and mirrors and higher ceilings.
"(Dance numbers that) maybe have a girl stand on the shoulders of a guy, usually they would run into the ceiling tiles," Artistic Director Kevin Hauge explained. "And so now we can work vertically much better."
The theater company had just begun fundraising for this new facility when the pandemic hit last spring, which threatened to derail the whole process. However, a dedicated network of supporters managed to step up and raise more than two million dollars for the project.
"We have contributors all the way back that are saying I want to make sure that it's available to kids like it was available to me," Hauge said.
Young performers are set for a cautious return to in person programming in the coming weeks at the brand new facility.
"By the time we get a chance to see our kids up on the stage together again, we have a really wonderful year ahead of us," Hauge said.
