Celebrating 20 Years of Wight Hall

*As seen in the December 2025 edition of the Bagpiper. Written by Lian Azqueta ’27.

It’s difficult to imagine Saint Andrew’s without the current performing arts building at its heart, and yet that’s exactly what it was like 20 years ago, before it was built. This year, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the most beloved buildings on campus: Wight Hall.

To commemorate the occasion, for every performance in Wight Hall throughout the 2025-2026 school year, they will acknowledge the anniversary and everything that the space has done for students on our campus. 

“We will be inviting former teachers and people from the past to come in and participate in our concerts, and perhaps give a shout out to the teachers and students into the community to let us know what they're doing now, where they are, and how the arts really helped them become who they are today,” said Mr. Jason King, the Director of Performing Arts at Saint Andrew’s.

The space has done so much for both current and former students and will continue to do so in the future as it evolves, such as the addition of Studio 19 this year, which is an open space near the backstage entrance to Roberts Theater where students can sit, relax, collaborate, and socialize when they aren’t in a class.

“I'm so glad Mr. King installed Studio 19 because there is no other place on campus quite like it. You see people from all different social circles come together here. Sophomores, seniors, freshmen, juniors; they all come to Studio 19 to relax or decompress or prep for an audition,” said sophomore Bella Nazzaro. 

In addition, Roberts Theater offers much for students who want to both perform and watch. The 655-seat theater allows as many people who want to come to enjoy the work students have put into their performances, and the stage allows students to showcase what they have put so much effort into practicing.

“The stage itself allows for almost anything to happen on it, relating to any concerts or theatrical productions,” said Mr. King.  

And, because Wight Hall is at the heart of the campus, it is easily accessible. 

“The building is a nice introduction to our campus. It is one of the very first buildings that you can access when you come in from the main gate,” said Ms. April Warren, the performing arts coordinator.

With all of the building’s classrooms and practice rooms, Wight Hall has everything a performing arts student would want to fully engage with their interest. It is a place of learning and creativity, and the theater itself is included in this. 

“I look at Roberts as a classroom, whether we're having actual class on stage or bringing some students to work on stage,” said Mr. David Nail, the technical director.

Wight Hall is more than just a building for students like junior Jordan Jaffe, who is a part of the performing arts program. 

“I think it's a building much like other theaters with its own personality and its own soul,” said Jaffe.

“For me, it's about joy. It's about inspiring. In here, it's about creating. It's about having a home for students and performing arts, who can gravitate here, know that they can work on whatever it is that they need to work on, and that it's okay to fail, because through those failures, we grow, and we become stronger and better at what we are trying to achieve,” said Mr. King.