A new theatre camp has wrapped up its inaugural run in Orange Beach this summer, bringing together 70 young performers and technicians from across Baldwin County. Orange Beach City Schools and the City of Orange Beach partnered to launch Coastal Spotlight Theatre Camp, an immersive two-week program that just completed its second and final week at the Orange Beach Middle/High School campus.
The camp marks the first time the two organizations have collaborated on an arts education program of this scale, and it was modeled after Troy University’s long-running Creative Drama Camp. Organizers designed the program to walk students through every part of the theatrical process, from creative exploration and imagination to technical theatre and large-scale production.
Grace Stanton, Director of Theatre at Orange Beach Middle/High School, and Stacie Brane, Manager of the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center, led the camp’s development. The pair set out to connect young artists with educators, student leaders and working theatre professionals through hands-on opportunities both onstage and behind the scenes.
Each morning, campers took part in Creative Drama and Stagecraft classes aimed at building confidence and introducing them to new corners of theatre. Afternoons shifted into rehearsal and production time, with students preparing a performance of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo KIDS. More than 40 staff members, including student leaders, classroom educators, and theatre and art teachers, helped run the camp’s first year.
The public is invited to the camp’s final performance on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., admission is free, and no tickets are required. The evening will showcase work from the Creative Drama and Stagecraft classes before the full cast performs Finding Nemo KIDS.