Inside the auditorium, workers have been removing more than 1,000 seats that had remained in place for decades. Crews disassembled the aging chairs piece by piece, stacking and hauling them out for disposal.
Jake Yeager, the school's drama director, said it was time for the upgrades.
"A lot of the old seats were damaged over the years, and many of them didn't work anymore," Yeager said.
Built in 1939, the auditorium has long been a centerpiece for performances and events, hosting hundreds of productions and leaving a lasting imprint on generations of students.
Now, it is undergoing a transformation that will include new seating and refreshed interior finishes.
"We're looking forward to kind of a classic theater look with some dark red tones and some warm paint on the walls," he said.
Despite the updates, school leaders are taking steps to preserve the auditorium's history. Backstage walls filled with handwritten notes and student handprints remain a testament to the many performers there over the years.
The venue has also hosted notable performers. Yeager said the Fresno Philharmonic was a frequent guest, and at one point, musician Louis Armstrong performed there.
To honor that legacy, a portion of the original seating will be saved. Several chairs from the balcony will be donated to a local museum, while others will be sold to community members through a "legacy seat sale." Proceeds from those sales will benefit the school's drama program and future productions.
For Yeager, the project brings a mix of nostalgia and optimism.
"It's definitely bittersweet, but probably more exciting to get an update," he said.
Once construction is complete, students and the community will experience the new space during upcoming performances.
"We're planning to premiere 'The Addams Family' in the fall as our big musical show for the year," Yeager said. "Students are already talking about how that's going to just go right with the show and add that classic look to everything."
All renovation work is expected to be completed before the start of the new school year.
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