Zach DuFault went to Western Oregon University to be a football player.

He left an actor.

The South Salem High School alumnus moved to Los Angeles from the Mid-Valley to pursue acting in 2011. Almost eight years later, the 29-year-old has returned to Salem.

You can catch his first performance since moving back at the Elsinore Theatre.

DuFault and Emily Karlsson, an actress and director based in Los Angeles, will star in "Gruesome Playground Injuries" for one night only Saturday, Oct. 19.

The production follows the lives of two childhood friends, Kayleen and Doug, over 30 years starting at age five. It's a minimalist set and only features the two characters.

"It's just so poignant," Karlsson, 32, said. "We've all ... skinned our knees or fallen down in life and we have these scars physically and emotionally, and we carry them with us."

DuFault moved back to Salem, where he was born and raised, in April. His father, Scott DuFault, is the South Salem High School football coach, and their family is ingrained in the community.

He wants to contribute to Salem through acting.

From the Mid-Valley to Los Angeles

DuFault had never taken an acting class before college.

Needing an elective, he decided to take an introduction to acting course on a whim.

"I grew up watching movies. I went to the Pentacle a lot. I said, 'screw it, I'll ... see how it goes,'" he said. "Literally day one, I was like, 'this is it.'"

Leaving Western to move to Los Angeles was a "huge culture shock." DuFault started taking acting classes at the Beverly Hills Playhouse shortly after.

Actors including George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jorge Garcia studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. It's where DuFault met Karlsson and performed "Gruesome Playground Injuries" for the first time.

It's also where the Amazon show "How It All Began" started.

"Zach & Dennis: How It All Began" was a web-series, starring DuFault and Dennis Nollette, that was featured in film festivals hosted by the Beverly Hills Playhouse.

The series follows the relationship between Dennis, a middle-aged gay man, and a younger man, Zach. The first episode has more than 1.4 million views on YouTube.

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The show made its way onto Amazon Prime Video, and seasons one and two of "How It All Began" are available on the streaming service.

DuFault said he isn't sure if there will be a season three, but he looks forward to focusing on theater in Salem.

'Gruesome' at the Elsinore

DuFault and Karlsson were practicing in the South Salem High School auditorium on a cold Tuesday night.

Karlsson, who had never been to Salem, has been flying to and from Los Angeles for rehearsals this month. Before that, they rehearsed over FaceTime.

She said she grew a lot as an actor working with DuFault at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, which is why she agreed to come to Salem to do "Gruesome Playground Injuries" with him.

"When Zach says jump, I'll jump," Karlsson said.

The Elsinore will be the largest audience they've performed the show in front of, DuFault said. Performing at the downtown venue has been a dream of his.

Tom Fohn, the executive director of the Elsinore, said he is amazed at the level of talent that comes out of Salem-Keizer.

"Seeing youth leave the community and start careers in the performing arts is a wonderful thing, having them back in town is even better," he said. "I have seen the script, and all I can say is, knowing Zach, we’re in for an interesting night."

Abby Luschei is the arts and entertainment reporter for the Statesman Journal and can be reached at aluschei@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6747. To support her work, consider subscribing. Follow her on Twitter @abbyluschei or facebook.com/luscheiabby.

Interested in telling at one of the upcoming Salem Storytellers Project events? Submit your story: www.storytellersproject.com/tell

If you go

What: "Gruesome Playground Injuries"

When: 7 p.m. (doors at 6) Saturday, Oct. 19

Location: Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. SE

Cost: $15-30

Tickets: elsinoretheatre.com or 503-375-3574