PORTSMOUTH- Portsmouth Trojans with a beat in their bones and rhythm in their steps welcomed another school this year with a major new investment inviting them to create new music and art at their school, with the grand opening of their new performing arts facility.

The school has been developing this project in recent years to give music and drama students a place to exist of their own and the community showed out for an opening reception of current and past students, as well as a ribbon cutting and a very excited music teacher Mrs. Emily Crandall

“The opening went so well! It honestly felt surreal,” Crandall said. “For years, we’ve waited to have our own auditorium and to finally have one up and running is such a great feeling of gratitude and happiness.”

Crandall planned the reception around the idea of bringing in alumni who have accomplished a lot in their talent or accomplished a lot while walking the halls of PHS.

“The performances were a huge success! PHS has so many alumni that have gone on to do great things in the music industry and I’m so honored that a few of the ‘PHS greats’ could come back and help us open this space,” Crandall said. “There are so many amazing alumni out there, I’d love to make a call for all alumni to come join us in the future!”

The venue has state-of-the-art technology and a comfortable house to invite people in for productions they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to pull off, such as this year’s performance of The Little Mermaid.

“I feel really blessed to have a space dedicated simply to the performing arts. I know how lucky we are to have this space, and I promise I will never take it for granted!” Crandall said. “It will be used, mainly, for any type of performances, such as musicals, show choir performances, concerts. I imagine that professional development sessions will also take place in the auditorium, along with special assemblies for the student body.”

Thinking not only of the new space, but to her new tools and technology, Crandall says she feels blessed that the administration put an effort on providing for her students.

“This means our music students finally have a place to call their own!” Crandall said. “We’ve had to share space with cafeterias and gyms since 2006. This has been a long time coming for us.”

The reality of the new opportunities leaves her grateful.

“I would like to thank our current and former administration and board members first and foremost, because without their support and unwavering faith in our music programs, this space would not have happened. They saw the need and they met it,” Crandall claimed. “Next, I’d like to thank Ralph Applegate for allowing me to have a voice in some of the decisions that were made for the space. He included me in many steps along the way and I’m truly thankful for him, not only for this project, but for always making Portsmouth a beautiful place to work! I’d like to also give a special shout out to the great construction crew and architects that also were so nice to work with. They included me and answered all of my questions along the way. This success is also theirs’ and I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to them as well!”

Sometimes, a new build isn’t glamouous or a highly anticipated dream, but an obligation or beast of burden. That was not what this facility was at any point in time. This facility was built for spotlights, the melody of piano keys, and the talent of future leaders stepping onto the stage for their first time, as a Trojan.

“We began to dream of this space many years ago, I’d say close to a decade. We applied for many grants, but they always seemed to go to other schools,” Crandall said. “When we were awarded a grant in 2020, we could finally make this dream a reality.”

The school broke ground in 2022, with a few expected hiccups, but started construction in 2023 for a quick build.

“It’s been a long process, but I know it has been worth the wait!” Crandall said to the Times, just before stepping into class to work on planning The Little Mermaid with her students.