New Performing Arts Center set to open at Milpitas High School in August 2025

At the end of January, the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) broke ground on a new Performing Arts Center at Milpitas High School (MHS), funded with monies from Bond Measure AA, which residents voted to pass in 2018. Weather permitting, the center will open in August 2025.

The Beat caught up with MUSD School Board President Minh Ngo, who highlighted the extent to which the district has been striving to provide its students with improved performing arts opportunities. “We haven’t had a Performing Arts theater of this capacity in our community,” Ngo explained.

The space will be used not only as a performance venue for plays and musicals, but also live music performances. Previously, MHS was reliant on the gym for such events. In addition, music classes will be able to make use of the new space. 

Notably, the Performing Arts Center isn’t restricted to MHS students. Although MHS will take priority, performers from all over the district will have the chance to make use of it.

Said Ngo, “It’s an opportunity for students to discover and express themselves. I’m excited as a father for the opportunity to take advantage of this…”

In a separate interview with The Beat, MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan shared that the new space can hold over 500 people, an upgrade from the previous theater, which maxed out at 240. In the old setting, performances and events would require four seatings, but now, according to Jordan, they’ll probably be able to do them in two. “I’d like to be able to do it in one,” she added.

Jordan further underlined the presence of high-quality sound and lighting equipment, which she described as “very professional.” In addition, the amount of room in the center will allow different groups of students to work in different areas at the same time: “When the band is practicing,” Jordan explained as an example, “then the Performing Arts class will no longer hear them.”

Jordan also spoke of how learning about performing arts can enhance students’ confidence and presentational skills, which will be applicable in a wide array of job settings. “Performing Arts is really essential for long-term success,” she said. 

Moreover, she cited the positivity of learners being able to work together in a performing arts setting toward a “coordinated outcome.” 

On a more personal note, Jordan, who was shy as a kid, stressed how performing arts can broaden kids’ ability to show the world who they really are. She pointed to the case of Barbara Streisand, who famously suffers from horrible stage fright yet, once onstage, becomes a bigger version of herself. 

Said Jordan, “Drama class is an opportunity for [students] to be more of who they are.”