For many young actors, the stage is a second home. However, as they gain experience, they might wonder: what’s the difference between acting in a play like High School Musical at Day Creek or performing in a local community theater like Steelworkers Auditorium in Fontana? Both offer great opportunities, though they shine in unique ways.

In a school play, the stage often acts as an extension of the classrooms on campus. Fellow Coyotes take the stage alongside their friends and receive direction and encouragement from some of their favorite teachers.

“What makes school plays special is that you know everyone, and you know that they are going to be your peers,” said Regan R. “You want to impress your peers.”

This comfortable setting may mean less pressure and a more enjoyable experience. It’s a great place to learn foundational acting skills, like memorizing lines and staging, without worrying about an unfamiliar city-based audience. Performing in a school play can also boost skills in the classroom, like clear reading or confident public speaking.

“It’s more of an education-based thing. I’m teaching while we’re also building the show. And it’s such a close-knit community. The students are supporting each other to get up on that stage and talk to each other and speak out in front of a large crowd, which they may not do normally,” said a sixth grade teacher and theater director Mrs. Harris.

Community theater could be the next step. Budgets may be bigger, and performances are advertised to a citywide public audience, drawing a wider group of unfamiliar faces of all ages and backgrounds. The audition process can be more formal.

“You show up at the theater, in the back rooms, and you go by yourself,” said Hazel H. “You tell them your name, your age, and what song you are going to sing, and you sing a little snippet of your song.”

Community theater also offers the opportunity to meet people outside of school and tackle more challenging material. The schedules are different, too.

“For an in-school play, it is usually more during the week, while my out-of-school plays are during the weekend, so it does not get in the way of school,” said Caroline M. a 7th grader on campus.

Many parents and young performers find that starting with campus theater is an ideal strategy. It builds confidence in a safe, familiar space before moving on to community productions. School plays provide a necessary foundation, while community theater builds on school experience.

“When you do campus theater, it’s really inclusive. It allows lots of people to have an introduction to the world of acting and putting on a show. It can make it really accessible, especially for students who don’t know about local productions or haven’t thought about it, so they might be interested. It opens the world to them about acting or being in a musical and working together to put on a show,” said Adrianna H.

Ultimately, both environments are perfect for what they work to accomplish. Regardless of the stage, theater builds valuable life skills, like empathy and confidence, no matter where the lines are read or the choreography is performed. But there’s something special when a play happens on campus, reminiscent of Dorothy’s famous line in “The Wizard of Oz.” “There’s no place like home,” she declared.

“It’s different to be in your school play because you are with people you usually do tests and take classes with, and it’s really fun to see them in the light and to be on stage with them,”  said Reagan R.

This story was originally published on The Day Creek Howl on December 16, 2025.