JPAC
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Meet our Directors Laurel Canan
Michael Stalsberg |
Janesville Performing Arts Center boosts Rock County arts scene In September, 2004 a project seven years in the making finally became a reality in Janesville, and area arts groups couldn't be more thrilled. The finished project includes a restored, 637-seat theater including a balcony, extended stage, upgraded light and sound systems, air conditioning, handicap accessibility, an entryway and spacious restrooms. A social area, box office, staff offices and performers’ preparation spaces are also part of the mix. The lobby area will be used as an exhibition space for area visual artists. JPAC's unique setting lends it character. Its site is the original Janesville High School, which opened in 1923. The building was used continuously as a school until December 1996, when the Janesville school district sold the building to Stone House Development of Madison. The school is a wonderful example of 1920s architecture. Inside the three-story brick exterior, the building is filled with carved wood, Prairie Style stained glass and ornate plaster molding. Ron Sutterlin of Sutterlin Restorations painstakingly refurbished the plaster. As part of his work, Sutterlin restored massive lighting fixtures from the auditorium. To replace some of the broken ones, he cast molds from the intact fixtures to create new ones identical to their period counterparts. The rest of the school building has already been converted by Stone House to an unusual apartment building with 55 units. Stone House oversees hallways, grounds and exterior maintenance. This arrangement allows JPAC to operate the theater spaces in an economical manner, with responsibility only for leased space, facility utilities and auditorium maintenance. The fall 2004 opening of JPAC was the result of cooperation between several entities. Its history dates back to 1997, when Janesville citizens were presented with a rare, generous and timely proposal: lease the former auditorium and music wing of the former Marshall Middle School for use as a community performing arts center. In response to this offer from Stone House Development, a board of community members organized as the Janesville Performing Arts Center to oversee the restoration and operation of the facility. The JPAC Board of Directors consists of seventeen community leaders in business and the arts. Since JPAC opened in September, 2004, nearly 80,000 audience members and visitors have come through it’s doors. The Main Street location of JPAC is also expected to contribute significantly to downtown revitalization, benefiting not just arts enthusiasts but also the community as a whole. |
