The Skyline Theater is going to be outfitted with modern technology beginning now and going through January, 2010 that will give it the capability to host full-fledged productions. The technology that the theater was originally installed with was built in 1969, and has not been upgraded since then. However, technology has improved vastly in the last 40 years, making the processes much quicker, simpler, and easier.It is for this reason that Alan Ceccarelli, the Theater Events Manager, and the rest of the people involved with the theater department wanted desperately to upgrade Skyline’s theater.”Ever since the very second I walked into the theater one year ago, I have wanted to make changes,” said Ceccarelli.The lights and sound systems are being completely replaced with modern, state of the art equipment. The new lights, known as ETC Source 4 instruments, will produce twice as much light as the originals, and only consume half of the wattage. To Ceccarelli, the difference couldn’t be clearer than night and day.”It would be like comparing the Model T to a Prius,” said Ceccarelli. “They are the industry standard. Anybody who is anybody in the theater business uses them.”Their antiquated light system is dependent on using analog dimmers and a “stiletto” hard patch system, which are extremely difficult to operate compared to modern systems. All of those are about to be abandoned, however, in favor of the more convenient digital dimmer packs, 240 of which are going to be installed. This new lighting system will be run by network control, and the digital circuits will be under one-to-one control.The sound system is also being replaced with modern equipment later this month – at least part of the new system is scheduled to be installed in the theater Nov. 17-19.The funds for all of this remodeling come from a couple of bonds voted on a while back, one of which granted the theater program 425 thousand dollars. There is a law that exists that states if money was voted on to be given as a bond to a construction project, then that money can’t be used to pay for other services, such as making payroll. These upgrades may actually indirectly boost the economy because of all the construction jobs that are being created. Garrett Hom, President of the Theater Club, is extremely excited to see just how much the new lights and sound will enhance the theater experience. Hom is hoping that these new upgrades will spark a resurrection of the theater program that was disbanded many years ago, in 1983. “You get to be someone else while on stage,” says Garrett. “Your hard work comes alive.”