New Performing Arts Center Opens in Granite Hills HS

EL CAJON, Calif. (KGTV) — Students at Granite Hills High School no longer have to dream the impossible dream of their own performance space.

After nearly five years of construction, the school Monday cut the ribbon for “Le Boz,” a brand new performance theater.

The $7 million project, which includes renovated classrooms for acting, band, choir and dance classes, is named after longtime director Barry Bosworth, who taught at Granite Hills High for 30 years.

“Oh my God, this is amazing,” said Kirsten Giard, Chair of Performing Arts. “We were all used to doing a lot with a little. But the fact that we have something like this that can really take things to the next level, it really helps build the sense of pride in the students.”

Money for the project comes from two voter-approved bonds, Measure BB and Prop U. Principal Mike Fowler says it shows community support for the school and arts education.

“Our students deserve this kind of space,” says Fowler. “We’ve always had the people. We’ve had the students. We’ve had the teachers. We’ve had the passion. Now we have the facilities, so it all comes together.”

“For a while, it felt like we weren’t really seen,” says Granite Hills senior saxophonist Valerie Bell. “Getting a new theater and a whole new performing arts section in school was really nice because it felt like we were actually being heard.”

The new “black box” style theater seats 172 people. It also has a state-of-the-art control/technology room. Renovated classrooms have improved acoustics, more space for storage, and new space for teaching set design and theater technique.

The school cut the ribbon Monday in a ceremony. But students have already been using the space for months. In March, they mounted a full-scale production of Beauty and the Beast.

On Thursday evening, the theater will host a concert featuring the high school band, orchestra and jazz band.