The drama program has faced a lack of actors over the last couple of years due to COVID-19, a time in which teenagers have been hesitant to express themselves, but this is now changing. Students who were not robbed of their drama experience in middle school are increasingly showing interest in the program at SRHS.
“Just within the last year or so, [the amount of students who are curious about drama] have increased a lot,” said Kevin Allen, an alumnus who is a teacher and the theater director at San Rafael High School. Mr. Allen performed for San Rafael‘s Pit Orchestra when he was a student and became inspired to act on stage. Later in college, he pursued a career in film school, where he continued to coach and direct.
Allen felt that “it was really hard after COVID for students to want to express themselves.” But now, 5 years after lockdown, we are beginning to see a shift in the behavior that developed during the pandemic. Students are finding a passion for theater again.
“The community has become more tight knit, especially in the past year,” commented Ella Clark, a junior at San Rafael High School. She is currently casted in the Twelfth Night and has been performing in school productions since 8th grade.
During the 2025 spring musical, the actors were found laughing during rehearsals and spending breaks on the stage together. The students at SRHS “are becoming more comfortable with their self [image],” Allen said. Covid behaviors are beginning to dissipate, as seen with the new wave of excited actors.
A recent report, published in March of 2025, from the Student Experience in the Research University at UC Berkeley, Igor Chirikov explored the impact of covid on classrooms immediately after virtual learning. One of the findings focused on extracurricular activities involvement. They found that, “there was a notable decline in students taking on leadership roles within these organizations.” The decrease of participation in school activities, such as drama, created an empty drama classroom.
“Everyone used to be more talented by doing outside productions,” said Ella Clark. Actors post-pandemic don’t seem to be as involved in outside community productions, showcasing the negative effect of covid on actor’s confidence.
Other departments, such as the music program at SRHS, have had this same issue. Underclassmen have progressively become more involved in music, including the Wind Ensemble, where the majority of the class are freshman and sophomores.
Davidson Middle School also has a drama class, which seemed to be in a similar position as SRHS after lockdown. A freshman at SRHS who took the drama course in middle school, Ciaran McCan, said, “The class was really unorganized because it was the first year it had been brought up again since Covid.” The class may not have been able to support young actors who wanted to pursue an interest in theater.
The teenage years are crucial for establishing a sense of self and self-esteem. Covid stole that from many students, replacing live audiences with zoom.
In an article published by Monash University in May of 2023, the writer, Tanya Stephanson discussed the importance of self-identity. She focused on the creation of foundations for life and the value of personal growth. Stephenson stated that, “adolescence is a time of self-discovery.” Seconding that middle school is an essential time for teenagers to find out who they are and what is meaningful to them. Without these experiences teenagers are left unguided.
The underclassmen at SRHS make up the majority of the drama class and casted roles. Covid hit these students in elementary school, allowing them to have a middle school experience.
Collaboration and communication have been forced after Covid, boosting meaningful connections. McCan said that drama is “a fun way to connect with new people,” which came from his experience in the 8th grade elective production of The Brothers Grim Spectacular.
The cast spent August and September working hard after school, getting ready for their first semester performance of The Twelfth Night.
Later this year, a new student directed play will be performed as well as the yearly spring musical. Allen “wanted students to have more agency,” in the program. A talent show will also be added to the queue of events. To further expand the program, community outreach and involvement are being considered, such as field trips to see live theater or communication with local schools.
The drama program at SRHS has many upcoming events and a revived class, proving students’ comfort level with expressing themselves is continuing to grow post-Covid.
