The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-06-05
FIVE OUTDOOR
DRAMAS GOING
NOW IN STATE
The Lost Colony Began 16
Years Ago, and Has Civ
en- Ideas to Other
Communities

More than a quarter million
vacationists saw them last sum-
mer, and North Cardinals sum
mer outdoor dramas are pre-
pared for larger audiences this
year.
There are five of them - three
in the Great Smoky and Blue
Ridge Mountains, one on Roa.
noke Island and one in the Pied
mont. The outdoor drama season
is from the last week end in
June through the first week in
September.
A tour of the Variety Vaca-
tionland" outdoor drama circuit
leads to some of the most famous
scenic and recreational areas in
America. The Blue Ridge Park
way and scenic hi G h ways
through the Great Smoky Noun
tains National Park are favorite
routes to the mountain dramas,
while on the coast ''The Lost
Colony" is near the entrance to
Americas first national seashore
park, the Cape Hatteras Nation
al Seashore Recreation Area.
Production dates for the dram
as have been announced as
follows: THE Lost Colony,
Manteo, June 9th through Sep
TENDER 6; unto These Hills,
Cherokee, June 81 through Sep
TENDER z; Horn In The West"
Boone, and "Thunderland" at
Asheville, June 26 through Sep
TENDER Z, "The Sword Of Gid
con-, Kings Mountain, July % :
August Is. Performances nightly
except Monday is the predomin-
ant outdoor drama pattern.
The outdoor drama, a relativ-
ely new form of theatrical art
with a wide appeal for specta-
tors of all ages, was pioneered
in North Carolina. The first was
Paul Green's '"The Lost Colony.
This portrayal of the first Eng
lish settlement in America is now
entering its 18th season on his
toric Roanoke Island, where a
restoration of Fort Raleigh marks
the site of the first settlement
In 1850, unto These Hills,
Kermit Hunters drama of the
Cherokee Indian, opened at the
North Carolina entrance to the
Great Smoky Mountains Nation
al Park and was an overnight
success. In 1852, the lights went
up on two new dramas: Horn
In The West, written by Ker-
NIT Hunter and presented at
Boone, and 'Thunderland, writ
ten by Hubert Hayes and pro-
duced at Ashville.
A cast and technical staff of
from 100 to IT'S is required for
each outdoor drama. Acting, mu-
sic and dancing are interviewer
to present a story based on his
torical events which took place
in or near the regions where the
shows are staged in amphi-
theatres seating up to 5000 peo-
pie. The amphitheatres are de-
signed not only for effective
theatrical productions, but for
beauty, comfort and accessibility.
Free parking areas, refreshment
stands, comfortable seats and pic
mic grounds are among the con-
veniences offered patrons. Ad-
mission preces range downward
from $500. Comfortable accom-
modations are available in the
community where each drama is
presented, as we'll as in the sur
bounding locality.
A large percentage of produc-
ton supervision and acting tai
ent is drawn from the Depart
ment of Dramatic Art of the
University of North Carolina,
and its famous Carolina Play
makers. A typical outdoor drama
cast, like typical audience, in
cludes people from many states
but local residents appear in all
of the dramas. In the Cherokee
/ drama moro than an Der rent nj
the cast in 1852 were Cherokee
Indians.
The dramas depict widely diff
ferent chapters of history.
In writing ''The Lost Colony
the Chapel Hill playwright, Paul
Green, was inspired by the my
stery surrounding the disappear
ance of little band of English
settlers from Roanoke Island ir
the 1905. The play portrays
historical events and PERSONAL
ties associated with the founding
of the colony: Sir Walter Raj,
eigh; Queen Elizabeth 1; the
Indian leader Manteo, whom
Sir Walter Raleigh took to Eng
land for presentation at Court
and the baptism of Virgin;
Dare, first child born in Americ;
of English parents. The dram;
does not attempt to solve the
mystery of what happened t.