The Dunwoody High theater got a major renovation, and the first show in the new space was the Broadway musical Little Women. In Podcast 322, Amanda Lower, Director of Theatre at Dunwoody High School, told me what changed, why the tech side matters, and how the Wildcat Theatre program is growing.
The Dunwoody High theater was recently renovated with a new sound system and digital LED stage lighting after years of community advocacy. The first production in the space was Little Women in March 2026. Director of Theatre Amanda Lower leads acting, technical theater, public speaking, and the speech team.
Listen on Apple Podcasts or watch the full episode above.
Meet Amanda Lower
Amanda Lower is the Director of Theatre at Dunwoody High School and the leader of the Wildcat Theatre program. During the school day she teaches acting classes that heavily incorporate improvisation, technical theater where students learn the behind-the-scenes side of production, and public speaking classes designed to help students become confident communicators. She also leads the school’s speech team, which competes alongside the debate team coached by Bill Kearney.
This episode was recorded the week Little Women opened as the first production in the newly renovated Dunwoody High theater. For the community, the renovation was a long time coming.
The Dunwoody High Theater Renovation
For years, parents and teachers connected to the arts at Dunwoody High School knew the theater needed an upgrade. Amanda explained that the renovation was the result of several years of community advocacy and support. Parents, faculty, and local supporters pushed for improvements that would allow students to learn on equipment that actually reflects what professionals use in the real world.
The result is a dramatic transformation. The Dunwoody High theater now features a completely new sound system and an entirely modern lighting system. Electricians removed old wiring and installed infrastructure that supports today’s digital lighting technology.
One of the biggest changes is the shift to LED stage lighting. The previous lights ran extremely hot and required physical color filters called gels to adjust the look of the stage. If a director wanted a different tone of blue or red, someone literally had to climb a ladder and swap pieces of plastic in front of the light.
Now everything is controlled digitally. Amanda can sit at a control board and adjust colors instantly, shifting a light from blue to teal or from red to purple with the turn of a dial. The flexibility opens up creative possibilities that simply didn’t exist in the old space.
For the audience, that means a more professional visual experience. For students working backstage, it means something even more valuable. They are learning on equipment that mirrors what they would encounter in professional theaters, concerts, and film productions.
Why the Tech Side of Theater Matters
When people think about theater programs, they often imagine actors on stage. Amanda emphasized that a huge number of careers in theater and film actually happen behind the scenes. Lighting designers, sound engineers, set builders, stage managers, and technical directors are all essential parts of a production.
That is where the technical theater class becomes so important. Students in the class learn how to build sets, operate lighting systems, manage backstage coordination, and support the production team during performances. The theater includes a shop area behind the stage where students can work with tools and materials used to build sets.
For the current production of Little Women, the timeline was compressed because the renovation wrapped up so close to opening night. A local contractor, Alex Sessions of Cherry Blossom Designs, helped build the set so everything could be completed in time. Under normal circumstances, students would be deeply involved in that process, gaining hands-on experience constructing the stage environment themselves.
Going forward, Amanda expects the technical theater class to play a larger role in building and designing future productions. It’s a perfect example of how arts education blends creativity with practical skills.
What Students Learn in Amanda’s Classes
Amanda teaches several different courses during the school day that form the foundation of the Wildcat Theatre program. Her acting classes cover a wide range of performance skills, starting with fundamentals like speaking clearly, controlling body movement, and understanding storytelling. Students also explore the history of theater, studying early playwrights and eventually working their way toward modern performances.
Improvisation plays a major role in these classes. Students are given scenarios and must respond in real time, making creative choices about how their characters move, speak, and react. The goal isn’t simply to be funny. Instead, improv teaches students how to think quickly, adapt to unexpected moments, and confidently make decisions while performing.
Amanda also teaches technical theater, which focuses on the production side of live shows. Students learn how lighting systems work, how sets are constructed, and how a full production comes together behind the scenes.
Public speaking is another major component of the program. Students study and perform speeches from history, politics, and sports. Amanda even sneaks in Shakespeare from time to time, showing students that the same acting and storytelling skills apply whether they are delivering a modern speech or performing a classic monologue.
The Speech Team and Competitive Success
Outside the classroom, Amanda directs the Dunwoody High School speech team. The team travels to competitions around the metro Atlanta area alongside the school’s debate program, which is led by debate coach Bill Kearney. These events typically take place over several weeks, with schools hosting tournaments that bring together students from across the region.
Students compete in several categories including original oratory, dramatic interpretation, and humorous interpretation. One standout competitor has been junior Olivia Beazley, who captured the championship in humorous interpretation and impressed judges.
Competitions rely heavily on parent volunteers who serve as judges during the events. Amanda attends as the faculty representative for the speech team while Bill Kearney represents the debate team. It’s another example of how involved Dunwoody families are in supporting school programs.
Little Women Opens the New Theater
Little Women was the first major production in the renovated Dunwoody High theater, with six performances on March 6 to 8 and March 13 to 15, 2026.
Opening night included a special gala celebration that highlights the new theater. Guests enjoyed refreshments while watching a short highlight video produced by the renovation company that demonstrates the new lighting and sound capabilities of the space.
While Little Women itself is more of a story-driven musical than a high-tech rock show, the gala gave the audience a glimpse of what the new theater can do. Amanda joked that the upgraded system almost feels like a candy store for directors and students experimenting with lighting and sound.
Building a Creative Culture at Dunwoody High
Amanda’s philosophy about theater is simple. The arts change lives. Theater provides a safe space for students to express themselves, build confidence, and connect with others who share creative interests.
The Wildcat Theatre program functions like a large umbrella that includes classroom instruction, stage productions, and competitive speech events. Amanda is also working to expand opportunities for students who may not want to commit to a full production but still want a creative outlet.
She is exploring several new initiatives, including a school variety show that would feature different talents across the student body. She is also planning a Coffee House Night where students could perform music, spoken word, or small performances in a relaxed setting. Another idea in development is a Cabaret Night that would highlight musical theater performances in a more intimate environment.
Events like these help the Dunwoody High theater build a culture where creativity becomes part of everyday school life.
The Real Lesson Behind Theater Education
Toward the end of the conversation, Amanda shared something that really captures the spirit of the program. Most students in a high school theater program will never become professional actors. And that’s perfectly fine.
The real value comes from the skills they gain along the way. Theater teaches collaboration, communication, creativity, and resilience. Students learn how to perform under pressure and how to support each other as a team when the curtain goes up.
Those lessons stick with them long after graduation.
And for the Dunwoody community, the renovated theater represents something bigger than a new building. It represents an investment in the next generation of storytellers, creators, and leaders.
Why the Arts Matter to Dunwoody Families
As a Dunwoody REALTOR®, I hear parents ask about more than test scores. A renovated Dunwoody High theater with professional-grade lighting and sound tells families that this community invests in the arts, not just athletics.
My Take: Go see the next Wildcat Theatre show. The new theater is worth the ticket on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Dunwoody High Theater
What was upgraded in the Dunwoody High theater?
The theater got a completely new sound system and a modern digital LED lighting system, replacing old hot lights that needed manual color gels.
What was the first show in the renovated Dunwoody High theater?
The Broadway musical Little Women, which ran March 6 to 8 and March 13 to 15, 2026.
Who directs theater at Dunwoody High School?
Amanda Lower is Director of Theatre and leads the Wildcat Theatre program and the speech team.
What theater classes does Dunwoody High offer?
Acting with improvisation, technical theater, and public speaking.
Does Dunwoody High have a speech team?
Yes. The speech team competes around metro Atlanta in events like original oratory and dramatic and humorous interpretation.