Mold invades Kennedy Theatre

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Posted: August 10, 2005 05:47 PM

http://khon.com/khon/displayStory.cfm?storyID=6275

Mold invades Kennedy Theatre

Marisa Yamane

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii is dealing with a pesky problem. Mold has

invaded Kennedy Theatre on the Manoa campus, forcing the

cancellation of the first play of the season.

While experts say the mold at Kennedy Theatre isn't hazardous to

most healthy people, the school isn't taking any chances.

The mold is everywhere inside University of Hawaii's Kennedy

Theatre.

The white fuzzy stuff coats the wooden railings, armrests, seats and

walls. There's even some on the carpet.

" I think everyone that works here and is a part of this theater is

just really sad right now, " says Wyllie, UH theater major.

School administrators believe the problem started in late June.

Crews turned off the theater's air conditioning system while doing

repair work.

The mold was discovered two weeks later.

" In comparison to other areas of the university, I've seen where

people say there's mold in my office. It's pretty bad, " says Emma

Kennedy, UH Environmental Health and Safety.

Kennedy Theatre is part of University of Hawaii's theater and dance

department.

Approximately 500 students use the venue to showcase their talents.

Classes are also held here.

" For everyone, all the students, faculty, staff, anyone who works

here, this building is our livelihood, " says Wyllie.

The mold has forced the theater to cancel its first show of the new

season, " The Boy Who Tricked the Moon. "

Classes are also being moved.

Fortunately, they won't have to replace any of the carpet or

furniture. Crews will use a hepa vacuum, then a disinfectant to

clean up the mold.

This isn't the first building on campus faced with this problem.

Sinclair Library has been battling mold for many years.

And Hamilton Library had its share following last year's flooding.

School officials hope to get rid of the mold from Kennedy Theatre by

late September.

The theater and dance department is also taking a financial hit by

canceling its play.

They say they'll lose about $25 thousand in revenue.

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Mold Problem Forces UH Theater To Cancel Production

Officials Say Mold Cleanup Will Be Done In Time For Next Production

POSTED: 6:16 pm HST August 10, 2005

UPDATED: 8:57 pm HST August 10, 2005

HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii is struggling with a serious

mold problem at its Kennedy Theater. Thousands of school children

were scheduled to see one of the theater's biggest productions of

the year, but the cleanup has forced officials to cancel it.

The auditorium has been shut down since the end of June. It will be

closed for at least two more months. The university believes the

mold problem developed during the cleanup of some asbestos this

summer.

" The contractor suggested we turn off the air conditioner so the

fibers did not circulate within the system and we believe it was

during that week the mold began to grow, " UH spokesman Jim Manke

said.

The discovery of the mold was a real shock. The facilities manager

discovered the problem on July 12 and staffers said it seemed to get

worse overnight.

" The next day we went in and it wasn't just a little bit of mold, it

was everywhere, " UH Theater Arts Chairman Gregg Lizanbery said.

The mold growth is heavy. It's on the walls, the armrests and on the

fabric on some of the chairs as well as railings, theater walls and

stage.

The university sees no need to test to identify the mold and doesn't

believe the problem is bad enough to replace the carpets and fabric.

UH administrators hope to know by the end of the week how much the

cleanup will cost.

The cancellation will mean a loss of $25,000 to the theatre program.

Some classes will have to be relocated. Fortunately the theater

operates on separate air conditioning systems so it can be isolated.

The cancellation of the show " The Boy Who Tricked the Moon " is

heartbreak for one of two students, who now wont be able to build

his winning set design.

" For us to get this opportunity was a real treat. And for it not to

happen under these circumstances is a real disappointment, " UH

senior Wyllie said.

Wyllie is a senior whose parents were set to fly in from Texas to

see the show.

The university expects the cleanup to be completed by October, in

time for the season's second production.