Heather Arnold, a member 2006-present, tells our story and why theatre is a necessary part of our community.
Places!
The familiar term can often be heard echoing through the backstage hallway and dressing rooms of The Stage Oconee. One simple word inciting dozens of talented singers, actors and dancers to experience that all too familiar buzzy feeling of opening night and the thrill it brings to perform a show in front of an audience for the first time. From box office to bows, that audience’s experience with a theatre may only span the two and a half hours it takes the performers to deliver an entertaining story, but for everyone else involved, the process of creating a successful show started months, if not years, before that “places” call.
For twenty years The Stage Oconee has been an integral part of the Watkinsville and Athens area, not only supplying quality theatre going experiences for patrons but also fostering a community of artists and their loved ones. Through countless performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events, our theatre has provided opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the arts in many facets, not simply as audience members, but as directors, actors, stage crew, volunteers, designers, and many more. Families have had the opportunity to experience live theatre together, lifelong friendships have been formed and so many people have gained valuable skills and memories that will linger with them their whole lives.
Our story begins in 2006 as the solution to the end of a beloved holiday tradition in Athens. The fall after the final performance of the longstanding Singing Christmas Tree, a small group of adults, teens and children gathered in Rocket Hall Gymnasium to rehearse All on a Christmas Day, a faith-based Christmas musical. What began as a small gathering of willing hearts and eager voices would become the start of a new Christmas tradition that would create cherished memories for years to come. All on a Christmas Day was a labor of love and the foundation on which this family friendly community was built. Our theatre, at the time called Cornerstone Productions, continued producing only Christmas musicals for the first few years, kicking off every holiday season with a festive performance heavily anticipated by those involved and those attending. We could never imagine the growth spurt we would have over the next few years!
As the years went on, we kept growing, gaining bigger audiences and larger casts and quickly the demand for more performance opportunities was heard and fulfilled! Over the span of two decades, two name changes and a venue relocation, we expanded from one show every December to eight shows and an abundance of summer camp options each year. That growth brought in so many new faces, adding to the expanding community that was being fostered through a shared love of the arts.
Connection.
Confidence.
Creativity.
In a world where people can sometimes feel increasingly disconnected, a community theatre such as The Stage Oconee provides a safe place to gather in person, participate in shared experiences and celebrate local talent. We have new people of all ages joining us for each show, performers, audience members and volunteers alike, and it is so wonderful to witness the blossoming of multigenerational friendships. Through our all ages performance opportunities, our adults, teens and children get to work in tandem to create the final product for audiences. Our youth get the chance to learn from directly working with more seasoned and longstanding actors and designers in the community while our adults are reminded of the reason they choose to start making art in the first place, all while encompassing a mentorship and connection that is so magical to witness. Our community truly feels like one big family that is waiting with open arms for anyone who needs a safe space to call home.
Perhaps one of the greatest contributions to come from our twenty years as a community theatre is our impact on younger generations. For children, teenagers and even young adults, participating in theatre can teach lessons that extend far beyond the stage. Performing in front of an audience builds confidence and conquers fears. Working as part of an ensemble teaches cooperation, respect for others and teamwork. Memorizing lines and choreography builds discipline and consistency. When you look around the Stage Oconee, many of our creative team members, admin staff and adult performers began as children and teenagers in our youth programs! When working with our children it’s amazing to think that we are training up the next generation of our directors, choreographers and administrators. It’s a phenomenon that not a lot of people get to witness and we are so thankful for the artists who have called us home since childhood and have stuck around as adults to welcome in people from all over the area! Whether a young person eventually pursues a degree and career in the arts or simply carries those learned skills into a different profession of their choice, the experience can have a lasting impact.
Theatre also gives a community an opportunity to tell its own stories. While large professional theatres can bring acclaimed productions to audiences, community theatres have something uniquely local in that they are created by and for the people who live there. The performers may be neighbors, business owners, teachers, students, retirees, or parents. The people sitting in the audience may know someone in the cast, recognize a familiar name in the program or simply come to every show because it’s a fun outing for them.
I have been a part of The Stage Oconee since day one and have had the privilege of witnessing so many people connecting, learning, growing and healing through the arts and that unique experience is what makes a theatre company become a community and a family.
Let’s go on with the show...
Reaching this twenty year milestone is about so much more than celebrating two decades of productions. It is about celebrating the thousands of people who have walked through the doors of The Stage Oconee over the years and the many incredible memories this place has given. It is about remembering the performers who took their first steps onto a stage and discovered that true joy and pride that comes from theatre. It’s about the volunteers who gave their precious time to set up the seating charts, stock concessions, build sets and so many other tasks we could never complete without them. It’s about the creative and design teams that give their talent to create art that withstands the test of time and the audiences who return season after season to support our institution both financially and emotionally.
Most importantly, twenty years is a reminder that community theatres do not thrive on their own. They exist because people believe they are worth supporting. Every ticket purchased, volunteer hour donated, sponsorship provided, and applause given from the audience helps us continue our legacy for years to come.
As The Stage Oconee looks forward to its next twenty years, its greatest achievement may not be any single production. It might just be the community it has built around a stage in what used to be a hay barn in Watkinsville, Georgia. A community that is connected by creativity, friendship, shared experiences, and a belief in the power of storytelling.
Each and every person that sets foot in The Stage Oconee has a story to tell and what better place to write the next chapter than with a longstanding community that is eager and excited to nurture the growth and artistry of everyone we encounter.