Piper High School names theater lab after illustrious alum Eric Stonestreet

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - It was a homecoming for a Hollywood celebrity this morning at Piper High School.

Eric Stonestreet sat at a table surrounded by his family as he was inducted into the Piper Educational Foundation Hall of Fame.

Stonestreet, who is a KCK native and graduate of Piper High School, attended the school district from kindergarten through graduation following his senior year. During his high school campaign, he was active in band, track and field and football.

“I had the most fun I could in school while I was here, doing the least amount of actual school I could,” quipped Stonestreet during remarks following his induction.

After his induction and brief remarks, Piper superintendent Jessica Dain took the actor and family by surprise when she revealed the new theater lab name during an update on the construction of the new high school.

“It is my distinct pleasure to reveal to you today the rendering of the new Eric Stonestreet Theater Lab.”

The stunned Stonestreet was nearly at a loss for words after the presentation, saying that even though he didn’t get into acting after high school, Piper was the genesis of his dreams and aspiration of making people laugh with his performance.

“I was always looking to entertain people — and I got to do it on the big stage and get to do it in Hollywood and California movies and TV. And so it’s really neat that they have the theater that’s got my name on here,” said Stonestreet.

Seeing Eric walk the halls of his alma mater meant a lot to the current students.

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“The fact that the students that walk these halls knew he was here today. And they realize ‘wow, you went to the same high school that I’m going to.’ He’s amazing. He’s a celebrity. You know, he advocates. He’s a philanthropist. I can do great things like that, too” said Dain.

When asked what advice he has for those current students, Stonestreet said it begins with the parents.

“Encourage your kids, let them find themselves, let them do whatever they want, and you never know where that’s gonna take you. And for the kids, you know if you have a belief and a dream and have something you want to do, you have to have an unwavering amount of belief in yourself, a thick skin and be able to proceed knowing that you’ve got the goods and nobody can shake you off that path” said Stonestreet.

The Eric Stonestreet theater lab will open when the new Piper High School opens its doors to students, in August of 2024.

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