“I thought it would be a really great experience,” said Jenkins, who was at the helm of Disney’s “High School Musical, Jr.” presented this month as part of MSU Summer Theatre’s 60th anniversary season. “I was looking forward to working with our younger actors and helping to build and showcase their talents.”

Jenkins, who wears many hats as an educator, theater artist and tech director, is no stranger to the stage or the classroom. This summer’s youth production, a fast-paced camp-style experience featuring performers ages 11 to 18, has allowed him to combine both passions.

“Teaching and theater go hand in hand,” he explained. “Being theatrical in the classroom helps gain students’ attention, but more importantly, both worlds are about building confidence. Whether it’s onstage or in class, a lot of students don’t recognize their own potential. It’s incredibly rewarding to help them see it.”

That sense of discovery was on full display as Jenkins watched his cast bring the show together.

The cast of MSU Summer Theatre’s “High School Musical, Jr.” production are: front row, Roy White, Maddux Teets, Levi Mujule, Henry Nesdahl, Orion Bennett, Cabbage Lucy, Ackenna Hoffman, Landon Wyum, Temi Omole, Piper Nelson, Braya Monley, Taylor Nehring, Adelynn Naslund; back row, Ava Sveet, Izzie Taylor, Ezekiel Wilson, Harper Hanson, Tatum Schenfisch, Stella Franca, Olivia Lormejuste, Joslyn Slind, Bridget Romich, Jocelyn Mosser.

“We did our first full run,” he said, “and one student came up to me and said, ‘On Wednesday, I thought this was going to be a disaster … but now I think we have something good to show.’ That’s the magic. When they start to see what I’ve seen in them since day one.”

Jenkins’ love for theater was first sparked in his hometown of Rugby.

“The first Village Arts production I saw was ‘Annie,’ and I was blown away,” he recalled. “The next summer, my parents asked if I wanted to be in ‘My Fair Lady,’ and I said yes.”

That first step on stage introduced him to mentors who would shape his future.

“Glory Monson, along with Bill Monson, were huge influences,” Jenkins said. “Glory had such a gift for drawing talent out of people and had such a clear vision. She helped me discover who I was as an actor and a director.”

Another key figure in his early life was Rugby High School director and counselor Jerry Healy.

“He really believed in us,” Jenkins said. “In fact, he’s the reason I ended up at Minot State. He drove me to Minot, introduced me to professors, and helped me get registered.”

From there, Jenkins’ journey wove through MSU Summer Theatre, Mouse River Players and the mentorship of local legends like Kevin Neuharth, Dr. Conrad Davidson and Paula Lindekugel-Willis.

“Every turn in my life, theater has been there and so have these amazing people from North Dakota investing in me,” he said.

Looking back, Jenkins admits his career path was far from linear.

“When I graduated from Rugby High in 1995, I went to Bible college, planning to become a missionary aviationist,” he laughed. “Then I came back to Rugby, started studying marketing and broadcasting at Minot State … and eventually auditioned for a play after a chance conversation with Paula Lindekugel-Willis.”

From there, he changed his major to theater arts, earned two master’s degrees — one in English and one in educational leadership and even began work on a doctorate. Along the way, he worked as a newspaper copy editor, high school teacher and principal of Berthold Public School for seven years.

Now, Jenkins is returning to the classroom at Minot North High School to teach language arts. But theater remains firmly rooted in his life.

In addition to directing, Jenkins serves as a tech director — another role that echoes his leadership experience in education.

“Both require motivating people, solving problems, and bringing energy,” he said. “Of course, tech directing also involves building, painting, working with costumes, lighting, props … It’s hands-on and different every day.”

He also wants people to know just how much effort goes into staging a production, especially one at the scale of MSU Summer Theatre.

“We start planning next season as soon as this one ends,” he explained. “Auditions are in spring, and by Memorial Day we’re building sets. During the summer, we’re often rehearsing two shows at once while another is being performed. When one show ends, the set comes down that night and the next one goes up the next day. It’s a whirlwind.”

For Jenkins, theater isn’t just about entertainment, it’s about connection and transformation.

“It’s a great way to socialize, build confidence and step outside of yourself,” he said. “I know so many actors who are anxious or introverted, but through a character, they find freedom.”

He added that theater provides a space where every talent has a place, from lighting and construction to costuming and sound.

“There’s a spot for everyone to shine,” he said.

And Jenkins plans to keep shining that spotlight. This fall, he’ll direct “Scrooge! The Musical” at Mouse River Players and continues his work with MSU Summer Theatre — bringing stories to life and helping young performers find their voices, just like he once did.

“I see myself continuing in both education and theater,” he said. “They’ve shaped who I am and I want to keep using them to shape others.”