LIVE ON STAGE

ELSINORE THEATRE
From Bach to rock and comedy to ballet, the Elsinore Theatre has it all. Once called the ‘living room of the Salem community,’ the wondrously restored former 1926 vaudeville venue located in the heart of downtown is an inspiration in itself, with stained glass windows, sweeping balconies, a Mighty Wurlitzer organ, and acoustics that will blow your mind. Nab tickets here.

HISTORIC GRAND THEATRE
Also in downtown Salem, the Historic Grand Theatre was originally built by the Odd Fellows in 1900 and holds only 402 seats, guaranteeing a very special and intimate comedy show, musical, dance performance, or concert. Get a front-row seat or a back-row seat, there’s not a bad seat in the house here. Check the website for events and tickets.

PENTACLE THEATRE
For a truly local theater performance, the volunteer-run Pentacle Theatre hosts performances in a rustic playhouse surrounded by towering Oregon oaks. Pentacle has been producing plays and musicals since 1954 and the productions involve hundreds of community members coming together to direct, perform, build sets, create costumes, and sell refreshments. Even the ticket prices are friendly; starting at $20.

KEIZER HOMEGROWN THEATRE
Another volunteer-run community gem, Keizer Homegrown Theatre offers a dramatic lineup of live theater directed by and starring local talent—and it’s located inside a historic schoolhouse. The company’s diverse production selections, such as the 1966 play by James Goldman, The Lion in Winter, will not only entertain you, they reflect on the current human condition. (All featured images of @keizerhomegrowntheater are credited to @shaleenholbrook)

THE AREA’S COLLEGE THEATERS
For a standout local performance featuring up-and-coming talents, visit one of the Salem region’s many college campuses. Willamette University’s non-profit Theatre 33 brings writers and performers together in the same room to craft, shape, and perform works that contribute to the regional and American theater landscape.

Chemeketa Community College’s auditorium hosts theater and dance performances showcasing the exceptional talents of Chemeketa’s students and staff, in conjunction with professionals throughout the Willamette Valley. Top off your campus-theater tours with a play at Salem’s Corban University and Monmouth’s Western Oregon University.

MUSIC TO YOUR EARS

SALEM ORCHESTRA
String ensembles, French horns and ukuleles, oh my! Classical music lovers can revel in the area’s vast musical talents with the Salem Orchestra, a collection of talented young professionals that performs unique iterations of everything from Mozart to pop music at theaters, and sometimes vineyards, around Salem. See the lineup and get tickets here.

SALEM PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
A world-class community symphony through and through, the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra performs about a dozen mesmerizing and affordable piano, cello, and classical performances at the East Salem Community Center every year. Check the website for upcoming events and tickets.

OREGON SYMPHONY IN SALEM
For an acoustic experience that will make your hair tingle, get tickets to the Oregon Symphony in Salem. Most shows are held at Smith Auditorium at Salem’s Willamette University and performances range from Beethoven’s Eroica to Nordic music and Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony.

SMITH FINE ARTS SERIES
A fierce rendition of Led Zeppelin performed on a ukulele and in a 600-seat theater? Yes, please. For music lovers into bluegrass, Latin fusion, brass quintets, and everything in between, the Smith Fine Arts Series at Monmouth’s Western Oregon University offers a lineup of genre-busting performances from all around the country. Check the website for events and tickets.

WILLAMETTE MASTER CHORUS
If choral music is your jam, the volunteer members of the Willamette Master Chorus perform a soul-stirring concert series in the Salem area. Catch a performance of Carmina Burana, the 1936 scenic cantata by German composer Carl Orff, or a sacred orchestra and choir at the Mount Angel Abbey. Get tickets here.