rs, The Rec is more than just a performing arts building; it is and has been a home since becoming the official theatrical building in 1974. With its renovation, many emotions from Players alumni and upperclassmen have arisen over simultaneous loss and benefits that it will bring.
For many Players, the renovation of The Rec stems from how Players shaped and impacted their lives during their time in the community. Many students found lifelong friendships within the program and, by extension, the building where these bonds were made.
Meghan Curry Rogers ’03, an SCH music teacher, Upper School dean and former Players member, met her current husband during her time in the program. She even bonded with various other students who are currently working at SCH and are involved in the renovation and Players today. This includes Carolina Millard ’06, who is the current director of Players, and CEL teacher Edward Glassman ’03, who was involved in the fundraising by writing thank you cards to donors, attending fundraiser events, and donating.
“The connection you make with people backstage or at late-night rehearsals where you’re just trying to pull together this elaborate, ambitious show, and there are just a bunch of high school kids that don’t know anything about anything. Those bonds are indelible,” said Glassman regarding his past Players experiences.
Players has allowed students to make a lot of memories and friends in high school, and has even contributed to helping some students discover themselves in a judgment-free atmosphere. “It’s like, once you are a theater kid, you understand why people love being in theater,” says Players alum Jack Allison ’16. “There are no prejudices. There are no judgments based on anything except the kind of person you are.”
The opportunity to truly be yourself is what many people have found valuable about Players. It is why so many of them have grown an attachment to The Rec as a building.
For some, the renovation is difficult because The Rec is like a physical representation of their experience in Players. Tearing down and rebuilding everything aside from the original outside walls and foundation is similar to having to let go of that important part of their lives; however, according to many, including junior Colin Salas, The Rec “needed a renovation … and I think that was understood by everybody.” He added, “There’s a lot of dust. The floorboards are creaky. Things were falling apart,” he added.
“The Rec is a jewel and the Players an important part of the school’s DNA. But, while the productions sparkle, the building has been decaying in place – like a grand old tree,” said lead donor and Class of 1960 Players president Bruce Whelihan.
The new Rec will be a complete expansion of the old. The backstage (the Green Room) and seating capacity will be bigger, along with improved lighting and sound rigging. But the most important change is that it will become a space specifically designed for theater performances.
The Rec building was designed, up until this renovation, for everything except for theater. It was a horse stable and a badminton court before it was a makeshift performing arts center. When recalling the Green Room from his time, Allison said, “It feels like that wasn’t supposed to be a green room, and we just forced it into becoming one.” With this new renovation, the foundations will stay, but this time, an authentic theater facility will emerge.
There are many positives that will come with the renovation. This doesn’t, however, invalidate the complex emotions the renovation has given rise to, many of which are over the longstanding traditions of Players.
‘Traditions,” a years-old gathering held in the Green Room before every performance, is agreed to be vital to the lifeblood of Players and represents its “magic,” some say. The current generation of Players plans to continue Traditions.
“I think that keeping our tradition alive is integral to honor the people who came before us and the classes who built Players. I think that you have to remember what Players was,” said junior Roman Bostick. “I get The Rec is changing, but doesn’t mean it’s time to change everything up.”
Many current Players and alumni have come to accept this renovation as positive, since the core idea and community aspect of Players will never change.
“The spirit is the same, the humans are similar, and moving through the program, the passing of the torch and the magic is going to be the same. It’s just going to be in a slightly different space,” said Rogers.
Once the Players adjust to the space, it will feel like a home again. “In fact, it’s going to be more special because they’re going to have all of the amenities,” said Allison.
And for those with lingering feelings of loss, once they see all the positive benefits that come with the new Rec, Allison said, “they’re going to understand the compromise they had to make.” 
It remains to be seen how adaptable the Players community can prove themselves to be when the renovation is complete, especially with the memories attached to The Rec from the 20th century. It will certainly be hard to acclimate, but with a new space, a new chapter of Players can begin. With access to bigger and better amenities, the SCH community should be excited for what comes next.
As they say, when one door closes, another opens. If you love something, let it get renovated!
