Roxboro Community School

Roxboro Community School’s (RCS) multi-purpose room (MPR) just got a major upgrade with 10 new stage lights, installed by Atlas Stage Works. For years, students and staff worked with an aging lighting system that was pieced together over time. While the setup functioned for a while, it began to deteriorate over time.

This past fall, RCS arts teachers took inventory of the lighting system and realized just how much had deteriorated. “This year, we went through all of the lights and figured out which ones weren’t working anymore or have some LED capabilities that are dying, which means they don’t have full color anymore,” RCS theater teacher Julie Jones said. After removing most of the deteriorating equipment, they discovered an even bigger issue. “We got rid of the ones that were dying and realized that we don’t have enough light to cover the stage anymore,” Jones explained. Dance teacher, Teresa Coleman, added that the lights were “just older, aging out,” making getting new lights a priority.

The problems caused by the outdated lights were noticeable during performances. Jones recalled, “We had instances during the musical where people couldn’t see certain parts of the stage because of the low lighting, and the same thing happens in dance.” Jones explained that good lighting is essential during performances so that all students' hard work can be properly showcased, so the new lights will make a significant difference.

Funding for the new lights was made possible thanks to strong community support and dedicated fundraising efforts. “Our community has done a great job of supporting our performing arts program,” Managing Executive Director Darkarai Bryant shared. He explained that the band, theater, and dance departments have all done a good job fundraising. That, along with the continued help of the community, helped free up room in the budget to acquire new lights.

Beyond brighter performances, the new lighting system will also create learning opportunities behind the scenes. “It provides an opportunity for students who are interested in tech theater and learning about… the backstage kind of stuff to have more lights,” Coleman said. With an updated setup, students can practice and develop technical skills that may inspire future careers. Thanks to the combined efforts of students, staff, and the community, the MPR is shining bright, and every student will be seen.