New Performing Arts Center Wows Students and Visitors

State-of-the art facility named for SHU President John J. Petillo and his wife, Sabina Petillo

Sacred Heart University President John J. Petillo and his wife, Sabina Petillo, were surprised and honored to learn the University’s remodeled performing arts center bears their name.

The John & Sabina Petillo Center for the Performing Arts was officially unveiled to the community, board of trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni at a recent event, “Opening Night: A Celebration of the Performing Arts.” The celebration included speeches, a ribbon cutting and an open house featuring choral, dance, band & orchestra and theatre performances. Special guest Dan Lauria, known for playing the father, Jack Arnold, on TV’s The Wonder Years, hosted the event.

The performing arts wing, located in the former Naclerio Commons, was renovated over the last year. Instead of classrooms with whiteboards and an old gym, there are new offices for performing arts staff, a spacious area for costumes and wardrobe fittings, a large shop for set construction, the Black Box Theatre for rehearsal and performance space, three rehearsal rooms for dance, and a band and a choral room, each outfitted with special acoustics.

Jerry Goehring, executive director of SHU’s performing arts program for the last two decades, recounted SHU’s performing arts history when he spoke at the center’s opening. “I want to take you down memory lane for a few minutes,” Goehring began, noting that the performing arts program has grown tremendously over the last 61 years.

He said that when he joined the University, only 100 students were involved in SHU’s choral, band, dance and theatre productions. Now there are more than 1,000 students.

Until now, each performing arts cohort had to get creative with rehearsal space because they did not have a designated location. “Throughout all of the challenges, these groups have reached national recognition,” Goehring said. The new center represents a culmination of a dream, he continued, adding, “We stand here on the shoulders of the people who created this.”

Goehring thanked a number of people and groups, such as Dean of Students Denise Tiberio, the construction firm SLAM and the Sacred Heart University Board of Trustees. His biggest “thank you” was saved for Petillo. “The person who has truly made this happen is Dr. Petillo. I just want to brag for a moment,” Goehring said. “The students know when he is in the audience; he’s always in the audience. This [facility] wouldn’t be here without his support and his guidance.” The new center “exists because of him,” Goehring added.

Minutes later, John M. Vazquez, MBA ’93, SHU Board of Trustees chair, announced that the center would be named after the Petillos. “Today, we want to thank Dr. Petillo and Dr. Sabina Petillo for valuing education in the arts. Their passion and commitment have helped us realize the dream of this space,” Vazquez said. “Now and forever, this location will be known as the John & Sabina Petillo Center for the Performing Arts.”

The audience erupted in applause and cheers, and Petillo expressed his gratitude. “Thank you. I cannot be any prouder of our students—that’s why we did this, for the students. They not only have talent, but they have passion,” Petillo said. “Through the arts, our young people learn to get confidence in themselves, to take initiative and be creative.”

Petillo was in one for last surprise. Alum, comedian and former Saturday Night Live star, Kevin Nealon ’70 painted a caricature portrait of SHU’s president. Vazquez handed the wrapped gift to Petillo who unwrapped the artwork in front of the audience. The painting will be featured in the center near a caricature portrait of Nealon.

After speeches and refreshments, guests split into groups and visited the various performing arts spaces. They sat in on performances and got a small taste of the students’ talents.

The band & orchestra amazed visitors with their rendition of Brian Balmages’ “Opening Night,” and theatre students delighted attendees when they sang and danced to a medley of songs, including “Day by Day” from Godspell and “All That Jazz” from Chicago. Guests saw what each dance ensemble could do and were awed by the Claddagh Dancers and other dance groups. The choral 4Heart Harmony sang “Zion’s Walls” and BlendedHearts performed “Apple Tree” to an engrossed audience.

Alum Paul Richard Keegan ’23 said seeing the new space was “surreal.” “I took classes in these spaces and now it’s where students will be rehearsing,” he said.

Keegan was heavily involved in theatre arts throughout his time at SHU. He even wrote an original romcom musical that was performed in Scotland’s Festival Fringe over the summer with SHU students. Keegan said he believes the space is going to be a “game changer” for performing arts as it will provide more opportunities for students. He also believes it will foster a lot of collaboration among all the performing arts cohorts.

Junior Alli Weir of New Fairfield said the new space is fantastic. Her favorite feature is the Black Box Theatre, an intimate performance area for theatre arts students. “It’s such a great space, and the technology is all state-of-the-art.” Weir handles tech work for the theatre arts group and is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn and grow in the space.

Lauria also praised the Black Box Theatre. The renowned actor had worked with students earlier in the day in a special workshop and joked with them about the new theatre’s impressive quality. “You’re going to be disappointed when you get to New York,” he quipped. He described the new space as impressive. “I know it’s a big expense to promote the arts, but I don’t think people realize how important the arts are,” he said. “The arts are our oral and visual history of our culture.”

Two high school seniors at Saint Joseph Hill Academy in Staten Island, NY, attended the celebration to see where they could be learning in just one year. Samantha Musarella and Sean Woods were inspired by the center and said SHU is their number one college choice. “[The center] is just so modern, and it’s so breathtaking,” Musarella said. “SHU takes the arts seriously.”