Theater: The Next Generation

The impact of theater programs on high school students might best be demonstrated by the “before” and “after.”

Before: teens interested in acting or stagecraft, but not super confident, quieter, slower to open up to strangers, hesitant to get up in front of a group.

After: Well, meet 18-year-old senior Juliana Justman.

When I visited North Salem High School’s after-school theater program on a recent afternoon, I asked the students if anyone wanted to talk with me for this article. Juliana thrust her hand up before I’d finished the question.

Her eyes sparkled, and a smile lit up her face as she poured out all her enthusiasm for theater. She noted, “For those of us who do theater, like, all the time, it’s our sport, you know what I mean?”

After describing how she got into the program (her older sister encouraged her to try it), the parts she had played (most recently, Queen Lillian and one of the three little pigs in Shrek the Musical), and why community members should attend a local high school performance (“there’s so much energy and passion”), she paused for breath and considered how theater had changed her.

“I feel like the biggest thing for me is, honestly, not just confidence, but the ability to kind of talk to anybody. Obviously, I’m doing it right now,” she said with a laugh. 

“Our community is really close and tight-knit. We work really hard, and we uplift each other in a way that I feel like I don’t see in other communities all the time.”

Juliana’s teacher, Alyssa Bond, described theater as a great way for students to develop “soft skills that employers look for.” “Communication, time management, problem-solving, teamwork, empathy — all those kinds of things that are just inherent in the experiences that come through theater arts,” she said.

And, as Juliana showed, confidence.

“When we finish the first semester, my classes fill out a questionnaire about what they got out of class,” Alyssa said. “A lot of kids said, ‘more self-confidence, getting out of my shell, being able to speak in front of people.’ Teens nowadays tend to be pretty focused on tech, their phones, things that are pretty insular to themselves, so giving an opportunity for them to experience real things with their peers in a way that is free and not judgmental helps students grow a lot.”

Remember the “before” state of theater students? That describes Gabriel Philips, a 16-year-old junior who has only been participating for a year. He was quiet, paused while thinking about what to say, and only responded with a few words at a time.

Still, as he participated in the afternoon’s stage combat workshop, he didn’t shy away from trying anything — even as the actors got vulnerable while pretending to pull hair and slap each other.

And, he volunteered to be interviewed, something his teacher intimated he wouldn’t have done a year ago.

“Before I would do theater, I was very closeted and quiet. But…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Now I’m me.”

Check Out a High School Theater Performance

In some respects, high school theater is one of the most local forms possible, with six high schools located throughout Salem and Keizer.

You can seek out a specific show you are interested in or just check out what’s happening at the school closest to you. 

Either way, you’re bound to experience youthful energy, enthusiastic performances, high-quality costumes and sets, and actors you might end up seeing later around the neighborhood.

McKay High School

2440 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem

Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is a clever and fast-paced comedy that follows the overlooked students of a certain magical school. Don’t miss your chance to see this ridiculous show.

On stage: May 15-23
Tickets: (to be announced)

McNary High School

595 Chemawa Road N, Keizer

Into the Woods — In one of Stephen Sondheim’s most popular musicals, the Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairy tale about wishes, family, and the choices we make.

On stage: May 13-16
Tickets: mcnarytheatre.ludus.com

North Salem High School

765 14th St. NE, Salem

Pride and Prejudice — Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, this bold, surprising, and boisterous story explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life.

On stage: May 14-23
Tickets: nshstheater.com

South Salem High School

1910 Church St. SE, Salem

Clue — This iconic mystery story, based on the classic board game and the beloved film, is set on a dark and stormy night and asks, “Whodunit? And how?”

On stage: Apr 30-May 2
Tickets: saxondrama.ludus.com

Sprague High School

2373 Kuebler Blvd., Salem

Grease — With a hip-shaking rock ‘n’ roll score, this show celebrates Rydell High’s class of 1959 in all their duck-tailed, bobby-soxed, gum-snapping glory.

On stage: Apr 23-25
Tickets: events.hometownticketing.com

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is an Tony Award-winning musical about six awkward spelling champions learn that winning (and losing) isn’t everything.

On stage: May 14-16
Tickets: (link coming soon)

West Salem High School

1776 Titan Drive NW, Salem

The Great Gatsby — Adapted for the stage by Simon Levy, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic Jazz Age story comes to life on stage with all the glamour, passion, and heartbreak of the Roaring Twenties.

On stage: Apr 27-May 1
Tickets: westsalemdrama.com

This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 27 (Spring 2026)

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Author: Sarah Evans

Sarah Evans is a former journalist and lifelong writer who will never get curiosity and storytelling out of her blood. She is a longtime Salem supporter who loves sharing Salem gems with friends and who gets really irritated by Portland people who knock her city.