A Space for All Students: Hopkins Opens the Academic and Performing Arts Center

For over two years, there were construction trucks, cranes, metal fences, and other large machinery surrounding Lovell Hall. For so long, the promise of turning the storied building into a state-of-the-art facility lived only through digital renderings and hype. 

Then, in a flash, on January 21, 2025, the doors were open. Students poured in for a first look, explored the space, admired posters of previous casts of Hopkins plays hanging on the walls, and took in all its offerings. By the next morning, the surrounding parking lot was full of cars, students were already lounging in common areas, classrooms were buzzing with activity, and a brand new theater was ready to showcase the next generation of creative minds. 

What had taken decades to imagine and two years to build had only taken a few hours to become what it promised to be: a welcoming space for all students.

At the heart of APAC is the new theater—more than double the capacity of Lovell Hall, which held 130 seats. Equipped with a full orchestra pit, fly house, and professional-grade sound and lighting systems, it immediately elevated the School’s performing arts capabilities. From scene and costume shops to a tension grid, catwalk, and professional rigging, the building offers students access to industry-standard tools and technologies. For the School’s drama instructors, expanded spaces allow their casts to better prepare for shows.

“Having that space meant that for the first time the spring show and the Junior School play, which rehearsed at the same time, both had adequate rehearsal space. It made the rehearsal process so much easier,” said Drama teacher Hope Hartup.

Drama teacher Mike Calderone felt an immediate kinship with the facility.

“Being in APAC is like living in a dream: It’s beautiful, functional, and, amazingly, very comfortable already,” said Calderone. “There is no mistaking that my room is a ‘drama room’ with costumes, makeup mirrors, props, and cast photos all so neatly arranged around the space.”

The theater is already supporting orchestra, band, and choir performances. To fully utilize the theater’s sophisticated features, Hopkins brought in David Kenton as the facility’s technical director.

Kenton, who also currently teaches math at Hopkins, has become a fixture in the back of the theater, constantly tweaking every element to make things look and sound the best they can.

“The levels we’re able to achieve in this new space—and the ability to fill not just the horizontal but also the vertical space—are what really help productions feel bigger,” said Kenton, who collaborates closely with anyone using the space. 

“Having David to work with students, to help ready shows, and to support programming outside of the drama department has enriched the experience of our drama students as well as the entire School community,” said Hartup.

Beyond the theater, APAC houses 10 modern classrooms that support a broad range of academic subjects, from drama, music, and technical theater to STEM fields. These versatile spaces also accommodate English, foreign language, and visual arts classes, fostering creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration. Large common areas with comfortable seating have also made APAC a coveted space for students working together on group projects or finding some time to relax.

“It’s refreshing to have such modern spaces where there’s so much room for students to spend time with one another,” noted Beatrix V. ’27 in a spring issue of The Razor, the School’s student newspaper.

Since its opening, APAC has hosted a variety of events showcasing its versatility. The winter musical Cabaret, which debuted in February, marked the first play performed on the new stage.

 

“I just feel so excited to be working in a space that feels so professional, but at the same time that feels like ours,” said Asher Joseph ’25 a day before the curtain opened for the first time in APAC history. 

 

In March, APAC hosted a special screening of 2020: Chaos and Hope, a documentary written and produced by Ceci Chan, who founded the production company ACE91 with a mission to create film and TV programs that inspire audiences to drive positive change. The evening included a discussion with Chan led by Head of School Matt Glendinning, giving attendees a chance to reflect on the themes of resilience and change highlighted in the film.

April brought the high-energy comedy-thriller The 39 Steps to the APAC stage. Directed by Hartup and featuring Kenton’s technical direction, the production showcased the versatility of both students and the space itself. With rapid costume changes, physical comedy, and inventive staging, the show highlighted the many possibilities the new theater offers for creative expression.

The music program also took full advantage of APAC’s capabilities, presenting three spring concerts in late April and early May. The concerts featured choirs, the orchestra, jazz ensembles, and chamber groups, including the debut of Ensemble 1660, a new group dedicated to Baroque and Renaissance music. Hopkins’ musicians performed a wide range of selections, from “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, demonstrating the depth and talent of the student body. The concerts concluded with a rousing joint performance by the Jazz and Concert Bands of “The Pines of Rome” by Ottorino Respighi and “Takarajima” by Hirotaka Izumi.

In early May, APAC welcomed its youngest performers as Junior School Drama staged The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Directed by Calderone, the play brought C.S. Lewis’ classic tale to life with imaginative staging, choreography, and strobe-lit battle scenes. 

“These 7th graders will be the first generation of Hopkins students to brave the challenges and adventures of APAC, with their 8th-grade cast and crew mates, for their entire Hopkins career,” Calderone wrote in the program.

On May 4, APAC hosted a community celebration honoring Errol C. Saunders II, recipient of the Hopkins Medal for two decades of transformative service to Hopkins and New Haven. (Read more about Errol’s life, career, and the ceremony itself here.) 

Later that month, APAC became the stage for a meaningful rite of passage for younger students as the Junior School held its inaugural 8th Grade Stepping Up Ceremony in the theater. The event featured opening remarks by Glendinning and a heartfelt address by Ian Guthrie, Head Adviser to the Class of 2029. Family and friends gathered to celebrate the moment, as each 8th grader received a special certificate of recognition. The ceremony marked a culmination of the students’ time in the Junior School and a celebration of their growth and readiness for the next chapter at Hopkins.

In its first semester, APAC has already established itself as a comfortable hub for learning, performance, and community. The doors are finally wide open, and so are the possibilities.