Behind the Stage: Space Pirates at The Stage Oconee
Welcome to the blog for The Stage Oconee! We periodically post information and theatre-related content here, sharing what’s happening in our studio, behind the scenes of our productions, and within our theatre family. If you’re new here, welcome!
Today, we’re featuring our elementary school production class for Spring 2026, Space Pirates. This adorable show was directed by Maggie Dukes, and she and her team spent Tuesday afternoons from January to April working with these talented students as they brought the production to life.
From rehearsals to costumes to performance weekend, Space Pirates gave our elementary students the chance to experience every step of the theatrical process while building confidence, creativity, teamwork, and stage skills along the way.
What Is a Production Class?
What’s a production class, you say?
At The Stage Oconee, we normally have two production classes running each semester: one for elementary students and one for middle and high school students. Production classes take a kids’ or junior show and break it down for our students in a way that is educational, exciting, and accessible for young performers.
Our class members go through the audition process just like they would for a regular show. Students learn how auditions work, practice theatre etiquette, and gain valuable performance experience from the very beginning. The creative team then has the difficult job of casting the show, and rehearsals begin!
The Rehearsal Process
Each rehearsal is divided up into components, helping students learn all the moving pieces that come together to create a live stage production.
Blocking Rehearsals
Blocking is where our director or assistant director walks the students through the scene, showing them how to move and where onstage to deliver their lines. Students learn stage directions, character movement, and how to work together on stage.
The students then run the scene several times, and the creative team gives notes and suggestions to help strengthen the performance.
Music Rehearsals
Music is pretty self-explanatory! In music rehearsals, the music director divides the students up into parts and teaches them all of the songs—both melody and harmony—that they’ll be singing throughout the show.
Students learn vocal technique, performance skills, timing, and how to sing confidently as part of an ensemble.
Choreography Rehearsals
During choreography rehearsals, the choreographer teaches our students the dance steps they’ll be using for each song on stage. These rehearsals are often full of energy, excitement, and lots of movement as students bring the musical numbers to life.
You’ll see all of those rehearsal components featured in our vlog footage from rehearsals!
Behind the Scenes of Space Pirates
Also during the rehearsal process, costumes are chosen and fitted, props are assigned, and sets for the show are put together and painted. Students get to see how many people and creative elements work together to make a production happen.
From pirate costumes to exciting set pieces, Space Pirates gave students a chance to fully step into the world of the show while learning how theatre productions are built from the ground up.
Tech Week & Performance Weekend
After our students have rehearsed for 3–4 months, it’s tech week time!
That’s when our tech crew joins in—lights, sound, stage managers, and backstage volunteers—and works their magic. Students are fitted with microphones, lighting and sound cues are added, and the show is run several times throughout the week.
During tech week, students also receive notes and touch up any songs or scenes that need revisiting before opening night.
Then it’s finally performance time—time for our students to shine and receive accolades from their adoring fans!
Our Space Pirates students performed in late April for sold-out audiences, and we are so incredibly proud of what they and our whole Space Pirates team accomplished. Watching these students grow in confidence and skill throughout the semester was truly special.
Summer Camps & What’s Next
If you’d like something creative and exciting for your student to do this summer, our summer camps are still open for registration!
Head over to the Classes and Camps section of our website for more information about upcoming camps, theatre classes, and performance opportunities for students of all ages.
Our Season Reveal in July will also showcase our production classes for next season, along with all of the other shows and happenings coming to The Stage Oconee during our upcoming season.
There is so much to look forward to, and we can’t wait to continue creating theatre magic with our students and families.
