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Contact: Judy Via August 31, 1990
919-962-1328 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SET FOR "THEATRE UNDER THE STARS"
It is often said that the United States has made two original contributions
to the theory and practice of world theatre: the American Musical, and Outdoor
Historical Drama of the kind Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green created
half a century ago on Roanoke Island, North Carolina with The Lost Colony.
On October 5-7, outdoor drama professionals from across the country will
gather on the Federal Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina to discuss
their remarkable brand of "theatre under the stars" at the 28th Annual Managers,
Directors and Promoters Conference sponsored by the Institute of Outdoor Drama.
Outdoor drama brings to life actual historical events which took place at or
near the sites where the plays are performed. This strong sense of place, along
with the larger-than-life portrayals and generous portions of song and dance,
often supplemented by spectacular special effects, combine to create a unique
form of theatrical entertainment, seen last year by more than 2 million people.
The annual meeting of these theatre professionals traditionally draws
representatives from more than 70 outdoor historical drama companies located in
30 states from Kodiak Island, Alaska to St. Augustine, Florida. Together, they
produce historical plays, Shakespeare festivals, religious dramas, and pageants
which, in 1989, generated a travel industry impact of $6 billion. Creating more
than 4,500 jobs each year, outdoor historical drama is one of the largest
employers in the American theatre.
Highlighting this year~s Conference will be a 3-hour tour of the majestic
Mountainside Theatre, home of Kermit Hunter�?�s long-running drama, UNTO THESE
HILLS. Built in 1949, and extensively renovated in the late 1980s, the
Mountainside Theatre is an outstanding example of an older facility which has
been maintained in excellent condition.
The tour will include front-of-the-house and backstage areas, company
housing {dormitories and cottages), dining facility, canteen theatre, and the new
administration building, which houses historical exhibits of the Cherokee
Historical Association.
The 3-day meeting also features panel discussions and workshops interspersed
with tours of local historic attractions, an evening of live theatre, an
authentic Indian feast (featuring smoked trout, bear meat, buffalo and venison),
and informal social events throughout the weekend.
Delegates may tour the adjacent Oconaluftee Indian Village, a re-created
early 18th-century community featuring Cherokee in authentic costume
demonstrating an ancient way of life, and The Museum of the Cherokee, portraying
300 years of tribal history.
The Cherokee Historical Association, producers of Unto These Hills, will
serve as local host for the Conference. The Holiday Inn at Cherokee is the
Conference hotel and will host meetings and meal functions.
Registration deadline for the Conference is Tuesday, September 25, 1990.
To receive Conference registration brochure, contact: The Institute of Outdoor
Drama, University of North Carolina, CB 3240 NCNB Plaza, Chapel Hill,
NC 27599-3240; 919-962-1328.
