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Theater Under the Stars OUTDOOR HISTORICAL DRAMAS
Canyon, Tex. The story highlights the
of Pound Gap provides the perfect
deliver artistic entertainment and pro-
early struggles between cowboys and
backdrop for the bittersweet story of a
vide cultural tourists a unique opportu-
ranchers in the Texas panhandle.
country divided.
nity to experience local heritage.
Green’s Trumpet In The Land in New
Through music, dance, costumes, folk-
Philadelphia, Ohio, dramatizes the
formed all over the country: Honey In
lore and more, the live performances
conflicts that erupted on the Ohio
The Rock and Hatfields and McCoys
offer vacationers a taste of regional fla-
frontier during the Revolutionary War.
vor. With such great group discounts
Outdoor historical dramas are per-
in Beckley, W.V.; Laura’s Memories in Mansfield, Mo; The Miracle Worker in
being offered this summer, these desti-
WORLD PREMIERE
Tuscumbia, Ala; The Old Homestead
nation theaters are looking especially
The driving force in the creation of
in Swanzey, N.H.; Tecumseh! in Chilli-
these historical presentations is a com-
cothe, Ohio, and Viva El Paso! in El
munity’s overwhelming desire to tell its
Paso, Tex.
attractive to the group travel planner. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green is credited with fathering America’s outdoor drama movement. Green’s The Lost Colony, the story of the first English settlement in America, opened in Manteo, N.C., in the summer of 1937. Originally conceived to
Outdoor historical dramas reflect a community’s desire to tell its story.
be a one-year celebration of the birth of Virginia Dare, the first English child
story. That is certainly the case for this
in the New World, the play proved so
summer’s most anticipated new out-
olina have to best opportunity to take
popular that it has been running ever
door drama. The world premiere of
in an outdoor drama. Besides The Lost
since.
However, travelers to North Car-
Lincoln by Ken Jones is being pro-
Colony, theater goers can enjoy From
duced at Lincoln State Park in South-
This Day Forward in Valdese, Horn In
is that they are site-specific. Most are
ern Indiana on the very grounds where
The West in Boone, Miracle on the
performed on or near the actual site of
Abraham Lincoln grew up. Performed
Mountain in Crossnore, Tom Dooley:
the events portrayed in the play. For
in the park’s 1,500-seat, roofed am-
A Wilkes County Legend and Moon-
example, The Lost Colony’s Waterside
phitheater, Jones’s script promises to
shine and Thunder: The Junior John-
Theatre is on the grounds of the Na-
leave audiences with a deep under-
son Story in North Wilkesboro,
tional Park Service’s Fort Raleigh Na-
standing of the role Indiana played in
Pathway To Freedom and The Sword
tional Historic Site, the very place of
forging the character of America’s 16th
Of Peace in Snow Camp, and Unto
that first British colony.
president.
These Hills in Cherokee.
What makes these dramas so special
Three more of Green’s symphonic
This summer also brings the long-
dramas are performed annually in such
awaited revival of The
site-specific amphitheaters. In My Old
Little Shepherd of King-
Kentucky Home State Park in Bard-
dom Come, based on
stown, Ky., Stephen Foster: The Musi-
the Civil War novel by
cal brings alive the music of America’s
John Fox, Jr., in Letcher
first great composer. TEXAS! Musical
County, Kentucky. A
Drama is staged in the breathtaking
new amphitheater built
Palo Duro Canyon State Park near
at the site of the Battle
16 April 2009
Outdoor dramas also serve as a Rob Franklin Fox is the director of the Institute of Outdoor Drama (IOD), a public service agency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The IOD serves as a national clearinghouse for over 100 outdoor dramas nationwide. Contact: 919-962-1328, unc.edu/depts/outdoor. LeisureGroupTravel.com
training ground for up-and-coming
professionals from all over the Eastern
young actors, providing an opportunity
United States travel to Chapel Hill,
about outdoor drama and access the on-
to learn and hone their craft in a profes-
N.C., to take part in the National Out-
line Directory of Outdoor Drama by
sional environment. Each spring, hope-
door Drama Auditions on the campus of
visiting the website of the Institute of
ful college students and young theater
the University of North Carolina.
Outdoor Drama, unc.edu/depts/outdoor.
Group travel planners can learn more
Pennsylvania Arizona
Arizona Broadway Theatre Peoria 623-776-8400 azbroadwaytheatre.com Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre Mesa 480-325-6700 broadwaypalmwest.com
Arkansas
Murry’s Dinner Playhouse Little Rock 501-562-3131 murrysdinnerplayhouse.com
California
Ben Bollinger’s Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre Claremont 909-626-3296 candlelightpavilion.com Garbeau’s Dinner Theatre Rancho Cordova 916-985-6361 garbeaus.com
Welk Resort Theatre Escondido 888-802-7469 WelkTheatreSanDiego.com
Florida
Alhambra Dinner Theatre Jacksonville 904-641-1212 alhambradinnertheatre.com
Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre Goodfield 309-965-2545 barn2.com
Tommy Gun’s Garage Chicago 312-225-0273 tommygunsgarage.com
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre Indiana Derby Dinner Playhouse Fort Myers Clarksville 239-278-4422 812-288-8281 broadwaypalm.com derbydinner.com Sleuths Mystery New Jersey Dinner Theatre Hunterdon Hills Playhouse Orlando Hampton 407-363-1985 908-730-8007 www.sleuths.com hhplayhouse.com
Illinois
Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse Rock Island 309-786-7733 circa21.com
North Carolina
Barn Dinner Theatre Greensboro 336-292-2211 barndinner.com
Allenberry Playhouse Boiling Springs (717) 258-3211
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre Lancaster 717-898-1900 DutchApple.com
Tennessee
Chaffin’s Barn Nashville 615-646-9977 dinnertheatre.com
Gaslight Dinner Theatre Dickson 888-700-2300 rcenter.org
Freedom Chapel Virginia Dinner Theatre Mystery Dinner Playhouse Christiana Richmond 610-593-7013 freedomchapeldinnertheatre.com 888-471-4802 mysterydinner.com The Pines Dinner Theatre Wisconsin Slatington The Armory 610-894-9630 Janesville pinesdinnertheatre.com 608-449-4278 janesvillearmory.com Rainbow Dinner Theatre Lancaster The Fireside Theatre 800-292-4301 Fort Atkinson rainbowdinnertheatre.com 800-477-9505 firesidetheatre.com The Riverside Inn Dinner Theatre Wyoming Cambridge Springs Jackson Hole Playhouse 800-964-5173 Jackson theriversideinn.com 307-733-6994 jhplayhouse.com
P E N N S Y LVA N I A
P E N N S Y LVA N I A
A R K A N S A S
F L O R I D A
I L L I N O I S
I N D I A N A
P E N N S Y LVA N I A
• Superb Dining • Professional Broadway Shows • Award-Winning Hospitality • Beautiful Gift Shoppes
W I S C O N S I N
More than you’d ever expect.
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 • 800-477-9505 • www.firesidetheatre.com
ndta.com
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