June 17, 2025

The Ella Webb Theater on the campus of Hughson High School is a busy place. It is the popular site of drama and music performances featuring students from around the district and also serves as a convenient place for speakers during teacher training sessions, awards presentations, club meetings, conferences and community events.

All that wear and tear takes a toll, however. This summer, for the first time since it opened in 1991, the theater is undergoing a much-needed renovation. The $174,000 project is one of the first that will use money from Measure B, a $46 million construction bond approved by Hughson voters last fall.

The first phase of the makeover began June 9 when works from American Seating began to remove the original 264 seats. That is expected to take about a week, said Andy Fontana, the district’s director of maintenance, operations and transportation.

Next will come the installation of new carpet on the bleacher platforms by Turlock Flooring. By the end of June, the theater will be ready for its new seats to be installed. The final piece of the project will come in mid-July when new carpet is laid in the hallways and offices.

All the work will be completed well before students return to campus in early August.

“This upgrade ensures a more functional, clean, and welcoming space for student performances, assemblies, and community events,” Fontana said.

The theater was renamed in 2022 after Ella Webb, a beloved music teacher who taught in the district for 40 years before retiring in 2015.