T he Institute is governed by an administrative board composed of distinguished faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and leaders throughout The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, an advisory council of American theatre professionals, who are valued consultants, assists in research and planning. T he activities of the Institute are focused on fulfilling the mission of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an educational, public service and research institution, and include the items listed below. The Institute offers a professional consulting and advisory service for theatres, government agencies, groups and individuals to assist in every phase of planning and producing outdoor drama. Each year the Institute generates and assists in the writing of numerous feature stories for national magazines and newspapers, and distributes the Directory of Outdoor Drama in America , production photographs, color slides and theatre brochures to travel writers, arts editors and members of the print and broadcast media.
Every effort is made to develop public relations programs beneficial to the outdoor drama field.
The Institute publishes more than 50 reference bulletins, periodicals, directories, and technical documents designed to keep professionals and the media informed. At any given time, the Institute is working with 30-40 communities across the country which are in various stages of developing new outdoor historical dramas, Shakespeare Festivals and religious dramas. The Institute organizes an annual meeting bringing together professional managers, directors, playwrights, promoters, designers, and composers, as well as representatives from communities planning new outdoor dramas, for workshops, tours, and open discussions on topics relating to the writing, producing, and management of outdoor drama in America. The Institute sponsors annual auditions in Chapel Hill, NC, for performers and technicians seeking employment in outdoor drama. The Institute maintains personnel files on experienced professionals available for work and assists companies and developing dramas in locating personnel.