Managers, Directors, and Promoters Conference, 1990 (1/2)


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NEWS

INSTITUTE OF OUTDOOR DRAMA

CB# 3240, NCNB Plaza
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3240 For Immediate Release

919/962-1328 October 16, 1990

Outdoor Dramas Outperform Travel Industry & Broadway

Even though the U.S. travel and tourism industry was down 5-10 percent this past
summer, the nation�?Ts outdoor historical dramas posted an overall increase in paid

attendance of more than 13 percent.

The Institute of Outdoor Drama, a national service and advisory office of the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reports that total paid attendance
for the 1991 summer season, based on early October figures from just 44 of the 75

Outdoor drama companies across the country, stood at 1,939,237, compared with

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1,712,515 in 1989 for the same number of theatre companies.

Between June 4 and Labor Day, more people attended outdoor history plays,
religious dramas, Shakespeare festivals, and historical pageants across the
country than saw all plays on Broadway. Total paid attendance for Broadway
productions this summer was 1,854,146--only slightly above the 1988

Broadway summer season.

This was good news to representatives of outdoor historical drama companies from
21 states who gathered recently in Cherokee, North Carolina for the 28th Annual
Conference of the Institute of Outdoor Drama, the only national meeting for

those involved in the planning, production and management of outdoor historical

dramas nationwide.





Outdoor historical drama, which got its start in this country in 1937 with Paul

Green�?Ts The Lost Colony, now celebrating its 50th season in Manteo, North

Carolina, involves the production of an original play depicting historical events
which took place on or near the theatre site. The strong sense of place and of
basic human values, along with the larger-than-life portrayals and generous
portions of song and dance -- often supplemented with spectacular special

effects -- combine to create a unique form of epic American theatre, viewed

last year by more than 2 million people.

Attending the conference in Cherokee were representatives from communities in
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, all
of whom are currently planning the production of new outdoor historical

dramas. Together with general managers, directors and playwrights, they
gathered in Cherokee for three days of panel discussions and workshops

interspersed with social events, tours of local historic attractions, and an

evening of live theatre presented by members of the cast of The Reach of Song,

the official historic drama of the state of Georgia.

In light of the recent controversy swirling around the National Endowment for the
Arts, of special note at the conference was guest panelist Jessica Andrews,
director of the NEA�?os Theatre Program, who traveled from Washington, DC, to

participate in a discussion of "Ethics and Professional Theatre Practice."

Highlighting the conference was the announcement by Institute director Scott J.
Parker of the creation of the Mark R. Sumner Award, honoring the lifetime

contribution of the man who for 25 years headed the Institute of Outdoor Drama.

"Introduced wherever he goes in America as �?oMr. Outdoor Drama,�?o" noted Parker,

"Mark Sumner is the one person in the country who knows more about this unique





form of theatre than anyone else; the one person who, more than anyone else, has
nurtured and encouraged it. To establish the first nationwide award for
Significant contribution to outdoor historical drama in Mark�?Ts name is an
altogether fitting and appropriate honor. Future recipients will take genuine

pride in being associated with his name and reputation."

The award will recognize significant contribution by an individual to a specific
drama, or to the outdoor historical drama movement as a whole, including, but not
limited to, playwrighting, directing, acting, design, theatre architecture,
patronage, scholarship, musical composition, technology and innovation, producing

and administration.

"While we hope to present the award annually," Parker said, "to ensure its place
as the highest national recognition in our profession, the Sumner Award will be

presented only when, in the opinion of the Institute�?�s Administrative Board, a

nominee warrants such prestigious recognition."

Co-hosted by the Cherokee Historical Association, this year�?Ts conference featured
an inside look at the amphitheatre and support facilities of one of the nation�?Ts

premiere outdoor historical dramas, Kermit Hunter�?os Unto These Hills. Since

opening in the Mountainside Theatre on July 1, 1950, the play, with its cast of

130, has been seen by nearly 5 million people.

The Mountainside Theatre, built in 1949, is an Outstanding example of an older

facility that has been maintained in excellent condition. During the mid-1980s
the Cherokee Historical Association spent $243,000 renovating the then-35-year-
old amphitheatre, installing new seats, trails, ramps and electrical wiring.

A new administration building was completed in 1986 and in 1987-88 CHA

refurbished the theatres backstage, at a cost of just under $1 million.


Title
Managers, Directors, and Promoters Conference, 1990 (1/2)
Description
News Clipping, Letter, Pamphlets
Extent
Local Identifier
1250-s4-b317-fb
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East Carolina Manuscript Collection
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https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/56153
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