The San Jacinto College South Theater Department is literally reaching for the stars these days as students are hard at work putting together an extraterrestrial production featuring planets, aliens, and space adventures of all kinds.

“The Anaconda Lounge” features the adventures of Egghead, a character from the planet Tete-Duff, who embarks on a journey to a new planet while meeting new people and facing challenges along the way.

Student Director Mariah Harmony said the show is about finding ways to happiness and being brave enough to be happy.

“I think everyone can pick up on that message no matter who they are or what they are in life,” she said.

Moreover, Harmony said the show is unique not only because it is an original script, but because it is very “weird and creative.”

“You can have a show that’s a giant spectacle, and it can be the most expensive show you’ve ever seen, but if you don’t have that heart in it, then there’s really no point in doing it,” she added.

Meanwhile, Theater Professor Kevin Holden is supervising the production but turned key management roles over to students so they can acquire a better understanding of what it means to create theater.

“I hope my students gain an appreciation of the art form,” Holden said, “from experiencing all the work it takes from so many different people to complete a cohesive theatrical production.”

Performances of “The Anaconda Lounge” are March 28-30 and April 4-6 at 8 p.m. in the Black Box Theater of the Flickinger Fine Arts Center (S5) on the South Campus. Matinee performances are March 28 and April 4 at 1:30 p.m.