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Remember when

Shown is a program from the final production of the theatre’s inaugural 1977-1978 season Jesus Christ Superstar which was held at the Salem High School Auditorium as the company had not yet purchased and renovated the State Theatre. Superstar was chosen because it was the favorite show of the theatre’s first director Cathy Verhoff. Superstar proved to be a controversial choice with local religious leaders criticizing the show during services and in statements to local news outlets and picketing outside the building during performances. However, Superstar was popular with theatregoers and a much-needed major financial success for the nascent theatre company selling out the 1,000 seat auditorium for its first performance. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)
Fundraising Chair Kathleen Lassiter has said that the effort to replace the 270 seats which were installed used in 1981 when the theater was first renovated and some of which are experiencing stability issues requiring sections to be roped off for performances was amongst the biggest challenges the theatre is hoping to remedy through their capital campaign. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)
When the building was first purchased by the Community Theatre much of it was unusable, with long-neglected spaces requiring heavy cleaning and many of the seats in deplorable condition requiring painstaking re-building and re-upholstery. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)
Attendees are taken on a guided tour of the theatre. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)
The music room is one of several spaces on the second floor which will become a key element of the theatre’s expanded slate of community programming including dancing and music lessons as renovation are completed. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)
Posters for the theatre’s slate of exciting shows for the 2025-2026 season were also on display during the open house. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)

The Salem Community Theatre officially launched its capital campaign Saturday as part of its ongoing efforts to secure the future of live theater downtown and ensure that its historic building can continue to serve Salem’s next generation of dramatists and theatre goers. The campaign began with an open house and is intended to fund infrastructure repairs, safety enhancements, and renovations to improve the overall experience for actors, volunteers, and audiences. During the open house attendees were taken on guided tours of the theater with photos and memorabilia from its rich history including posters, playbills, and photos from past productions and even from its time as the State Theatre on display, and given information about how the community can support the restoration efforts. One of the projector rooms preserved from the Community Theatre’s long history as the State Theatre was on display during the open house. See gallery at www.morningjournalnews.com. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

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