Strangely, the middle school's auditorium is significantly larger and nicer than the high school's,
This stems from the fact that the Middle School auditorium was built about 15 years LATER than the h.s. auditorium.
When JHS was built, you must remember it was just a 2A high school - built to accomodate 400-600 students or so, for a whole district enrollment that wasn't much beyond what the h.s. alone is now! So for that time - the h.s. auditorium was perhaps one of best spaces of its type for a school that size.
However, as the city grew (and grew, and grew) it quickly became outdated. It really is an insult now - and Johnston isn't alone in that regard (I know Urbandale's auditorium isn't much bigger than Johnston's, though it is much better equipped).
The current Johnston middle school was built in 1985, then added to 5 years later I believe, doubling it to it's current size (when it was still in use for grades 5-8. Now it just holds 8th and 9th graders! Guess that tells you something about the crazy growth of the district). While the auditorium is newer, and I suppose nicer - I still have to complain about some SERIOUS design flaws. One, the ceiling is too low - both in the house and on the stage. For a normal set up, it's fine - but for choirs that stand on high boxes etc, you face the risk of singing in the rafters! Two, the seating rise is also too low. And three, no 'arc' to the rows of seats. Sit in the front row on the end and I'll tell you what you're facing - a brick wall.
I can only hope that as the school continues to grow (and grow and grow) that a new grand auditorium specifically outfitted for the high school will be built. When they doubled the size of the h.s. (after my graduation, naturally!) they built the new gym - but now's the time to fix this long standing problem in my opinion and build the auditorium (of course, I have NO idea of where to stick the sucker on - but that's not my problem either!)
So - there you have, as they like to say, the rest of the story...
I really look forward to seeing all the groups Specially West Connection and Totino Grace "FS" hasnt seen either of these choirs since my sophmore year (2004) i cant wait to meet and see you all there and hopein for some great people to meet
Side note: did anyone thats going to this comp...go to SCA? If you did thats awesome and id be cool to see you again!
It's really cool that you want to see us... but it probably won't happen since you go right after us!
Mr. Brosseau - what's the difference between MS Center and HS Center?
Johnston's middle school and high school are right next to each other, and share a parking lot. Strangely, the middle school's auditorium is significantly larger and nicer than the high school's, so that is where the varsity competition is held. The high school auditorium is used for prep groups and (sometimes) small-class schools. Both centers are going on at the same time for the day round, then finals are held in the middle school.
Johnston is a suburb on the northwest side of Des Moines, IA. Should be about a 2 to 2 and a half hour drive from your neck of the woods. See you there this Saturday!
Thanks alot...great...that means an early morning for me...jeez oh well see ya there
So im anthony from "Free Spirit" Ne, its our first year at the johnstoun comp. and im really interested on where johnston actually is located?! I really look forward to seeing all the groups Specially West Connection and Totino Grace "FS" hasnt seen either of these choirs since my sophmore year (2004) i cant wait to meet and see you all there and hopein for some great people to meet
Side note: did anyone thats going to this comp...go to SCA? If you did thats awesome and id be cool to see you again!
Johnston is a suburb on the northwest side of Des Moines, IA. Should be about a 2 to 2 and a half hour drive from your neck of the woods. See you there this Saturday!
So im anthony from "Free Spirit" Ne, its our first year at the johnstoun comp. and im really interested on where johnston actually is located?! I really look forward to seeing all the groups Specially West Connection and Totino Grace "FS" hasnt seen either of these choirs since my sophmore year (2004) i cant wait to meet and see you all there and hopein for some great people to meet
Side note: did anyone thats going to this comp...go to SCA? If you did thats awesome and id be cool to see you again!
wow this is a GREAT line-up of judges! Linn-Mar is representin with 3 judges, but the Anderson's and Mrs. Schmidt really know what they are talking about!
I know Randy Sage and Jill Anderson are also judging. I also think Alex told me that Steve and Randy are the only judges not from Iowa. Alex knows the full list. We have not gotten a new schedule yet, but I would guess we will.
I hope i made it clear that i really do still respect totino, last year they were one of my favorite groups that i saw alll year. Just one thing about the hip hop dancing. I think that there are a lot of show choirs who could pull out 4 guys and 4 girls and have them dance like that, i know mine could. But i believe (it may be old fashioned) that show choir is about doing things as a full group, so i have always disliked it when small parts of the group are onstage for entire songs. Again, i'm not taking anything away from the performers, they all did a great job, its just that the show wasnt my proverbial cup of tea.
You must not get around enough to see groups with layered choreography, Im sorry.
i have to admit (and i loved totino) but i did find myself thinking... wow they dont have very many people onstage... i thought about how controversial that was with GCS.... i do hafta comment that it was noticeable that not everyone was onstage....
however, there was a lot of dancing involved.... (honestly i cant remember the closer though). the good thing about the dancing is it didnt hinder the vocals...
greg, you are right. it was not clean during the day. but i got to watch the show on the tv while changing for our performance and it was honestly 100% cleaner in the night round. so you probably didn't see the night round performance but it was much cleaner, and had a lot more energy than night round!
Johnston Showzam 2006
lol sorry ana! 
