The auditorium is one of the most heavily-used spaces at EHS. It’s a performance venue, meeting space and gathering spot. It’s used by students, teachers, administrators and parents; it’s at the center of everything for the high school.

So, it makes sense that it would wear down over time.

At the beginning of the last school year, drama teacher Ashley Melton noticed that the seats looked rougher than before.

“When school started, I noticed the yellow foam,” Mrs. Melton said. “[It] was the first time I’d ever seen it exposed.”

Because the seats are seen and used by so many people, the auditorium is what some picture when they think of EHS. And when the picture they imagine contains torn-up seats, it’s not a pretty one.

This demands a change.

“It really makes sense for our inside of the theater to match our talent level,” history teacher Erin Kloster said. “A lot of people walk through there, and it looks kind of bad when the seats are popping at their seams.”

Getting fed up with the wear and tear of the auditorium seats, Mrs. Melton brought the issue to administration.

“When we brought it to district leadership, they were immediately accepting, like ‘yes, this needs to be done as an upgrade because it’s nearly 30 years old,’” Mrs. Melton said.

While it’s an impressive feat that some parts of the building have remained original and untouched for so long, age and wear warrants improvement for future students to have the best environment possible.

Many students have noticed the state of the seating as well, and agree that a change is necessary.

“The seats are in really bad condition,” junior and drama club officer Story Johnston said. “It’s honestly pretty ugly. It takes away from the experience of seeing a show or concert in our auditorium.”

Because the auditorium is at the heart of so many EHS activities, it’s one of those spaces that should be updated or remodeled regularly. The school has seen significant efforts over the last several years to improve the visual space, and these seats shouldn’t be excluded.

Though the auditorium would benefit visually from complete remodeling – including new carpeting, new seating and backstage expansion – settling for new upholstery seems to be more manageable.

“To replace the seats in their entirety, it was going to be around $500,000,” Mrs. Melton said. “To reupholster them, we’re looking at $50,000, so a much more reasonable cost.”

Though there is no concrete date for the reupholstery, Mrs. Melton is anticipating the change to take place over winter break. She believes the new look will be reassuring to those who frequently use the space and seating.

“I feel like that visual is important because it makes people feel like our space is important to people,” Mrs. Melton said. “So I think all of our programs will feel supported. And then our audience members will also feel like their money that they contribute to the booster organizations … is being put in a place that is visible.”

Johnston is hopeful that the new seats will help illustrate the development of EHS and its programs that utilize the space, while giving it the updated and more modern look that it needs.

“The new seats will match our newly renovated cafeteria,” Johnston said. “They really needed an update. They’re going to improve the experience of seeing EHS shows.”

Ms. Kloster agrees that, with the success of the drama club, it is time for an auditorium that reflects that success.

“I think it will be amazing,” Ms. Kloster said. “We have such a great drama program, all the seats are sold out all the time, so I think it’s appropriate to have seats that are well upholstered and not ripping or tearing apart.”