Harry S. Truman High School has completed renovations to the Lou Volpe Auditorium, home of the award-winning Truman Drama department as well as the esteemed music department.
Renovations included a complete overhaul with brand new seats, stage, windows, lighting and sound.
“Truman invites the community to visit the new auditorium and enjoy shows from our band, orchestra, choral and theatre programs,” said Principal Jon Craig. “We are proud of this revitalized space and are excited to highlight our talented students here.”
Most notably, the new auditorium will showcase the legendary Truman Drama department. It was formed with the help of Lou Volpe, who served as director for Truman’s ground-breaking theatre program for 44 years and was awarded Music Theatre International’s first Lifetime Achievement Award for Theatre Education. After he retired in 2013, the auditorium was renamed Lou Volpe Auditorium in his honor. His former student and Truman alumna, Tracey Gatte, filled his shoes and has been directing the program ever since.
Truman Drama is often the first high school to pilot musicals, including “Kinky Boots,” “Rocky,” “Rent,” and “Les Miserables.” In March 2024, Truman Drama will add to its established history once again, presenting Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray” and “Some Like It Hot”) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including "Candy Man," "I've Got a Golden Ticket," "Oompa Loompa Song" and "Pure Imagination. A new take on the classic will be released in December of this year in the movie “Wonka.”
In addition to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the 2023-24 Truman Drama season includes “Just A Stage He’s Going Through,” “The Door” and its first-ever children’s show, Disney Pixar’s “Finding Nemo Kids.”