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Bob Campbell [0:02]
Good afternoon. This is Bob Campbell reporting. The biggest news story of the decade in the opinion of this reporter broke today at Fort Macon State Park. It looks like there will be an outdoor drama to be written by world famous playwright and author Paul Green and an amphitheater to be constructed at the Fort Macon State Park. Mr. Green was here today to look over a beautiful site on the state owned property. Mr. Green was accompanied on his trip here by Mr. Mark Sumner, who is head of the outdoor Drama Association of the state of North Carolina. They were joined by leading citizens which included representative Nelson Taylor Carteret County, Mr. And Mrs. Harvey Hamilton Jr. of Morehead City, Mayor George Dillon Morehead City, Mrs. Claude Wheatley of Beaufort, Bud Dixon, Morehead City, Mrs. Dee Brady of Morehead City and Rob Stern of Morehead City along with numerous news reporters. The project is expected to cost some $500,000 with funds hopefully to come from state, federal, county, local foundations and private subscriptions along with the state line and what to expect from the North Carolina State Legislature. We talked with Representative Nelson Taylor of Carteret County.

Bob Campbell [1:24]
Mr. Taylor let me ask you this question. If this becomes a reality an outdoor drama based on the war between the states here on the grounds of Fort Macon where well actually the war well, the history is already here. What would this mean to Carteret County and to the state of North Carolina, and especially to eastern North Carolina?

Nelson Taylor [1:48]
Bob, I think it has fantastic possibilities, not as you are indicating just to Carteret County, but to the whole state of North Carolina, we have become sort of the center of tourist industry, particularly with these people who are interested in historic sites and in historic dramas, this would just be another tremendous feather in our cap to attract more people here to make the history of the past of this area live not only for this generation, but for many generations to come. I think it's about as exciting as anything could possibly be.

Bob Campbell [2:22]
Of course, the project itself has been one that has been going on now by the this organization, the Fort Macon Historical Association for something like a year. And of course, now the story has finally broken about this and they think that Mr. Green has consented to write this drama. And of course, everyone knows and connects the name Paul Green with The Last Colony this fantastic drama, which is a little bit north of us, but a drama like this now, for Carteret County and Fort Macon, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, it should be a tremendous thing. You are a representative to the North Carolina General Assembly. What legislation if needed is, is needed to get some sort of appropriation for this outdoor drama from the state of North Carolina, this is state owned property.

Nelson Taylor [3:12]
Well, Bob, this is a state park. And of course, if it's going to develop that this outdoor drama will be put on in the state park, we may first need some enabling legislation, which would allow state park property to be used for this purpose, that's probably the first hurdle that we'll have to get over. And then if we get over that one, the next thing would be money with which to start the things that are necessary to develop the park for the purposes of an outdoor drama. Obviously, there has to be an amphitheater built and to be parking facilities and all of the 1000s of implemented that go along with getting ready to put on this sort of drama. That means money from the state. And whether we can get that through this General Assembly tonight might be very problematical. We would certainly hope to get it through so that we can get the show on the road. We're not going to accomplish anything by waiting. If we can go forward with this. We ought to try to do it now.

Bob Campbell [4:06]
The scope of this is is so gigantic, it it's hard to to really vision, what could come out of this, do you think that the General Assembly would would meet this legislation or proposed legislation with with favor?

Nelson Taylor [4:23]
I would think so. We're very fortunate in having a man with the talent that Paul Green has to write this play for us. I think that in itself is a big selling card. And I think that the very idea itself will capture the imagination of the General Assembly as it has mine and everyone else who's come into contact with the program.

Bob Campbell [4:43]
Well, of course, now the story is where do we go from here? We just get the people in North Carolina excited what what needs to be done now.

Nelson Taylor [4:54]
Millions of things need to be done. We really have only taken the first step on a very long journey. And, of course, every trip begins with the first step. And I'm glad we've gotten this far, we've got an awful long way to go. The legislation we talked about is one thing that needs to be done the play obviously has to be written, then you have to start doing such things as saying, Alright, where in the state park is this going to be located? How do we take care of getting the traffic here and away from here? Where do we park them when they're here? They're just hundreds of thousands of details that have to be thought about and have to be prepared for right now.

Bob Campbell [5:29]
Next concerning this all important subject to Carteret County, the establishment of an outdoor theater and drama for the county. WBML Action News talk with Mr. Mark Sumner of Chapel Hill, who as we mentioned earlier, is head of the Outdoor Drama Association for the stake.

Bob Campbell [5:48]
Mr. Sumner I guess the most obvious question would to use here who traveled throughout the entire nation setting up these outdoor dramas would be what would an outdoor drama like this mean to Carteret County and North Carolina?

Mark Sumner [6:02]
I think the best thing to say is to say look at under these hills at Cherokee, or look at the last colony of Manteo. At Cherokee, probably in terms of the economic influence, things are more immediately visible in the area where about $2 million in tourist money comes into the area because of the drama itself every summer. And there's something over a million dollars attracted just by the people attending the drama into the Manteo and Roanoke Island area. However, the second and perhaps not so noticeable factor is the cultural impact and the promotional impact of having an event that is unique. In other words, a drama, an outdoor drama written specifically about an area and that has importance for people who live in other parts of the country. This this specific unique drama tends to attract publicity, and papers faraway which name not just the play, but obviously the town and the area that the play is in, it tends to lead to feature stories, it leads to stories in the travel sections, it also leads to stories in the entertainment sections. This sticks the name of the town in the ears of people who may be locating industries, who may be for some reason or another looking for vacation holidays, looking for places to invest money in other ways so that the economic impact is not just in terms of the tourist who comes but in terms of the result of the promotion on other people who are not necessarily summer drama customers at the time. Also, the tendency for the play to attract people who are interested in painting, who are interested in all the other arts to the area, the formation of groups that are year round groups within the county or multi county area where the players take place tend to change the culture of life, and to make it perhaps more expressive of all the people than it was before the drama appeared. And that's a long winded answer. And I'm sorry.

Bob Campbell [8:13]
Yes, sir. And of course a good answer to but let me ask you this question, Mr. Sumner that concerns the amphitheater itself and staging of a drama. How long does it generally take? I know this is a loaded question, because really first, I guess, the acquisition of the land. Second, the construction of the amphitheater and the most importantly, the play and the production of the play.

Mark Sumner [8:34]
Well, you gave a pretty good answer for me, Bob. While I was in

Mark Sumner [8:40]
That's true, that's true. I would say that the time it takes is ranges from about two years from initial idea to opening date. And that's a very, very minimum time limit to about six years, some of the plays have taken as much as eight or nine years to start. And I don't mean to be discouraging in those terms, but just saying that this happened. It is dangerous Of course, as in any business to rush too fast or too hastily amount of production any more than you would hastily decide to build and would build a factory. In other words, you might not be able to sell what you turned out. You might not be able to if it was done too quickly to turn out a quality product. And obviously you want the drama to be the best that you can possibly make it in terms of the general community type organization that will be producing the drama, and in terms of the professionals and the semi professionals and school people who will be employed to fill the roles. For those who do not know and have not seen our other North Carolina dramas or the ones in Virginia. I like to say that Columbia, South Carolina is expecting to start construction on an amphitheater this month for a drama on the American Revolution in the state of South Carolina. And I'm sure many people who live in this area have seen the common glory of Williamsburg, Virginia. I'm only saying that where the where the the plans to start a drama have been launched. It takes time. Williamsburg the plans were initiated before World War Two started, the play opened in 1947. In Columbia, South Carolina planning started there in 1962. And now they're starting work on the amphitheater. There are many other cases where this has been much quicker. For instance, people in Morehead City have been working on this for almost a year already.

Bob Campbell [10:35]
Right? And of course, you know, you made mention of these other outdoor dramas, going back through the history of the last colonies was back in the 20s. I believe this idea of first originated, but it was hard getting local enthusiasm built up. Do you find much enthusiasm and support of an outdoor drama here for Carteret County, Fort Macon? Well, that's how that's an important thing.

Mark Sumner [10:59]
That's an important thing. But it's hardly a fair question to me. Because, as I have met people here, I have not met anybody who is not interested, I have met some people from here and from across the river and other counties, and so on. But they have asked questions there, there had been questions raised, but I haven't found anybody who is who is violently opposed to the idea of historical drama, which would sum up the meanings of the early history of this area.

Bob Campbell [11:25]
State owned property, you always run into a lot of problems there, especially setting up anything on state owned properties. We were planning an exposition, and this is how this whole thing got started. So I understand that you've had a connection with state governments on state owned property that owns the state property, with these outdoor dramas before did you get much cooperation out of the state government in relationship to putting up and constructing an amphitheater for an outdoor presentation?

Mark Sumner [11:54]
Well strangely enough, North Carolina, which has led in the development of long term, outdoor drama with The Lost Colony, and Under These Hills, and of course, Horn of the West at Boone are three of the best known examples in the country today. We don't hear so much in this area about such a play as the Black Hills Passion Play, which is in terms of attendance, about the size of Under These Hills. But it too was started by community effort, even though they brought a professional producing company is now almost totally a community effort in the area. By that I mean community sponsorship. We have started in this state, something that is spreading not only to outdoor dramas in other states, and they have maybe improved it a little, but we started something that is becoming general to theater, and I must say to symphony and other performing arts development in this country. And that is this community cooperation between individuals and local businesses, local foundations, and government. And there is the difference and government nonprofit development for something that is really good for the area, both culturally and economically. And in North Carolina, some minor aid has been given in launching certain amphitheaters. But I must say that, and we have also in the state given aid at various times to The Lost Colony, when they were the fire in the hurricane and at certain years when the weather was very bad. And we've also done so it Boone, $25,000 was given to the production up there at one time to rebuild the amphitheater because they didn't have the money to keep it up. But these were times when the shows playing a long time had made some money that lost some money, then made some money than lost some money. Well, right now, I'm happy to say they're all making money, which isn't an answer to your question, but as part of my example, we did not build and equip the amphitheaters in the state. We assisted in several cases, and then we help the drama's over the years when they happen to have a bad period in Virginia, in Kentucky, and just before I came down here, I was meeting with a representative from state government in Pennsylvania, where a quarter of a million dollars has been appropriated directly for the construction of an amphitheater in state park, Kentucky has constructed for amphitheaters and state parks for outdoor historical drama. Virginia, deeded this land to the College of William and Mary, but the state assisted in the construction of the amphitheater there. The construction of the Cross and Sword amphitheater at St. Augustine, Florida is in Anastasia State Park and government assisted along with a local citizens. Now, that's a long, long winded answer to your question. But in other states that development is even beyond in terms of cooperative effort between the local citizens and state government for not just something that's good for one town but for something that is an artistic and economic advantage to a group of counties as it would be in the case here.

Bob Campbell [14:55]
Well, of course we would have your expert help I'm assured of to help us with this outdoor drama with me,

Mark Sumner [15:03]
Certainly my office, which by the way is fairly unique, I think my office is set up to research, the outdoor dramas that are operating all over the country, and those that fail to operate for some unfortunate reason. And of course, the show business of any type, including outdoor drama is this little riskier than opening a museum. The comment I wanted to make here was that my office was set up because the leadership that North Carolina and the University of North Carolina through the Carolina Playmakers had in developing outdoor dramas, not only in this state, but in assisting in other states led to such a tremendous demand that in 1963, this office was set up to research as I said, but also to advise and to answer these inquiries that flowed into the university. And since now, we have been definitely tagged over the nation at the Institute of Outdoor Drama who will help we find new groups calling on us two or three week and the work continues to expand. Of course, we position that when we do work outside of the state, they pay for it. And that helps us to continue to expand the operation although we've not expanded the in state budget. Now when we help a group in the state of course, we're functioning as a state agency and do everything at cost.

Bob Campbell [16:22]
Well, Mark will be looking forward to you returning to Carteret County many times between now and the time the amphitheater actually presents its first play.

Mark Sumner [16:30]
Well, thank you very much for this visit. And I look forward to an opportunity. But of course, what I do is help the people who have to do it live right here.

Bob Campbell [16:37]
Now here is the man who will actually write the drama based on the war between the states to be staged in the new amphitheater to be constructed at the Fort Macon State Park, Mr. Paul Green of Chapel Hill. First of all Mr. Green, let me tell you how happy I am to see you again, sir. It's been a long time for me. I've kept up with your activities. But first off, I guess I might might as well let the radio audience know that we go back a long ways together because I played the part of an Indian. And perhaps the your best known outdoor drama The Lost Colony that was back in the 40s, sir,

Paul Green [17:15]
Well, certainly good to meet you again. And think of these old days, and we still looking forward to doing something together down here,

Bob Campbell [17:24]
Mr. Green just a few minutes ago sir we were at the site that you would like to put this outdoor drama, this sample or amphitheater, and it's a beautiful location. Now, of course, the job comes up trying to convince the the Department of Conservation and Development that this is the ideal location for it. Do you expect any difficulty from them sir?

Paul Green [17:46]
I don't think so. I think that they, the department like all of us is interested in making nature and the land in North Carolina and our historical heritage and all the things that are meaningful in the state to make them all more meaningful to the people more and more as the years go by, and I can't conceive of of any state organization and being contrary to these, its own philosophy,

Bob Campbell [18:14]
Of course or, you know, most interviews that I have the occasion to do you ask someone an obvious question, but with you I can almost answered the question. And that is that knowing you so well, I know that you first off have got to be sold on the idea of a play. You would you have to want to do the play itself to to write the actual drama. What made you decide to accept this challenge of writing one for Fort Macon here?

Paul Green [18:44]
Well I, this is a long story. But I'll say briefly that some 35 or 40 years ago, I rode a boat, across from Beaufort with my wife. And we went all over the old fort and in the I guess you'd call it parade ground or inside the fort the trees were growing up. And we were both took off our hats in a salutation to this old ancient piece of folk art. It was beautiful. And my wife went home and wrote a poem about it, which was later published, I have it somewhere in my files. And I hadn't seen the old fort in many days. But as part of this whole historical interest on my part and a growing interest on the part of everybody. We people in America are more and more interested in cherishing our landmarks, our historical heritage, the things that mark the pathway and the struggle of the people who preceded us. And so, when Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Wallace spoke to me a year or so ago, about the idea of having a drama down here connecting with old Fort Macon, why cross the 35 or 40 years, my interest led to that day my wife and I stood there and admired the old place. And I've talked to many leading people in the state, including the governor and his wife, about this old fort. And everywhere that I've spoken with them and other people immediate interest is the same sort of interest and expectation and purpose that the people in Beaufort, Morehead have. So, actually, my interest is 35 or 40 years old, and I didn't have to decide so when they said how about writing drama for us connected with Fort Macon and the heritage of a history in the region of Beaufort Morehead I said I certainly would like to do it. Now the place is, and I'm talking fast here because time's running out. The The idea is where where shall we do it? So right here today, we all gathered here and good people in this region meeting, and walking over the land, because all ideas, all religions, all people finally got to have a home. So we looking for a home and we found a place here. And we're sitting right here at it now looking at the wind blowing through the trees and the grasses. And I can't imagine that Willie Yorke, or that Mr. Ellis or Mr. Paris or any of the people connected with preserving our historical sites could object to us amplifying and intensify and making more meaningful this part down here? In fact, we will do here exactly what we've done in Manteo. I mean, we the people down in St. Augustine recently in Texas, state park in Texas, we will make something so beautiful, the grounds the amphitheater, and the production that 1000s of people will come to see it and thereby enjoy Fort Macon more enjoy the ocean and in their spirit and in the attitude maybe get out on their knees and thank the good God that made all this.

Bob Campbell [22:01]
Well Mr. Green, you couldn't have put it any better way and of course were we here in Carteret County and and eastern North Carolina are very excited about this. This the possibility of having an outdoor drama written by you here in in our at at our home and and of course so I just can't wait. I just hope maybe that that that opening night there will be a small apart from me because I've been in one of the Paul Green dramas before and I just can't wait to be in another one.

Paul Green [22:30]
Thank you a lot and we'll cast you first.

Bob Campbell [22:33]
Thank you very much, sir. Monday, Mr. Green, along with local officials will travel to Goldsboro to appear before the State Board of Conservation and Development. It is hoped that the state board will approve the suggested site for construction of the amphitheater. There are a lot of people locally who should be complimented, especially the Fort Macon Heritage Foundation Incorporated, and its board of directors Miss Ruth Peeling. Mrs. Dee Brady, Mrs. Laura Wallace, Mary George, still, Mr. Jim Bob Sanders and Mrs. Betty Hamilton. They put in many, many countless hours of work. Also, as Mrs. Hamilton mentioned to us today, a lot of credit and thanks for their cooperation should go to Mr. Tom Ellison, his staff of the parks committee of the State Department of Conservation and Development. Yes, it is a big story for Carteret County, but even bigger for the state of North Carolina and the nation. We think that everyone here and Carteret County should join in with their support of this great project. This is Bob Campbell news director of WNBL All Action News reporting.