Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  A new theatre camp has debuted 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 create Coastal Spotlight Theatre Camp, an immersive two-week program. The camp is now wrapping up its second and final week at the Orange Beach Middle/High School campus. This marks the first time the two organizations have collaborated on an arts education program of this scale.

The inaugural camp just launched in July this year and was modeled after Troy University's long-running Creative Drama Camp. Organizers designed it to give students a comprehensive look at every part of the theatrical process, from creative exploration and imagination to technical theatre and large-scale production.

The camp is led by Grace Stanton, Director of Theatre at Orange Beach Middle/High School, and Stacie Brane, Manager of the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. Together, they developed Coastal Spotlight to connect young artists with educators, student leaders, and working theatre professionals. Their goal was to create meaningful, hands-on opportunities both onstage and behind the scenes.

Each morning, campers attend Creative Drama and Stagecraft classes designed to boost confidence, spark creativity, and introduce students to new areas of theatre. In the afternoons, the camp shifts into a rehearsal and production environment. Students have been preparing Disney and Pixar's Finding Nemo KIDS for their final performance.

More than 40 staff members have contributed to making the camp's first year a success. That group includes high school student leaders, classroom educators, theatre and art teachers, and working theatre professionals. All of them worked together to shape an engaging experience for the young artists in attendance.

The camp takes place on the Orange Beach Middle/High School campus, where students have access to high-quality facilities. The setting gives them the chance to learn and perform in a professional-grade theatrical environment, which organizers say enhances the overall experience.

The public is invited to attend the camp's final performance this evening, Friday, July 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and no tickets are required. The show is free and open to the community.

The evening will showcase work created by campers in their Creative Drama and Stagecraft classes, followed by the full production of Disney and Pixar's Finding Nemo KIDS. In its first year, Coastal Spotlight brought together students, schools, city leaders, educators, and theatre professionals around a shared goal. According to organizers, that goal was to create an unforgettable arts experience for young people on the Alabama Gulf Coast.