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INSTITUTE OF OUTDOOR DRAMANEWSINSTITUTE OF OUTDOOR DRAMACB# 3240, NCNB PlazaUniversity of North CarolinaChapel Hill, NC 27599-3240 For Immediate Release919/962-1328 October 16, 1990Outdoor Dramas Outperform Travel Industry & BroadwayEven though the U.S. travel and tourism industry was down 5-10 percent this pastsummer, the nation�?Ts outdoor historical dramas posted an overall increase in paidattendance of more than 13 percent.The Institute of Outdoor Drama, a national service and advisory office of theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reports that total paid attendancefor the 1991 summer season, based on early October figures from just 44 of the 75Outdoor drama companies across the country, stood at 1,939,237, compared with1,712,515 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 thecountry than saw all plays on Broadway. Total paid attendance for Broadwayproductions this summer was 1,854,146--only slightly above the 1988Broadway summer season.This was good news to representatives of outdoor historical drama companies from21 states who gathered recently in Cherokee, North Carolina for the 28th AnnualConference of the Institute of Outdoor Drama, the only national meeting forthose involved in the planning, production and management of outdoor historicaldramas nationwide.

Outdoor historical drama, which got its start in this country in 1937 with PaulGreen�?Ts The Lost Colony, now celebrating its 50th season in Manteo, NorthCarolina, involves the production of an original play depicting historical eventswhich took place on or near the theatre site. The strong sense of place and ofbasic human values, along with the larger-than-life portrayals and generousportions of song and dance -- often supplemented with spectacular specialeffects -- combine to create a unique form of epic American theatre, viewedlast year by more than 2 million people.Attending the conference in Cherokee were representatives from communities inAlabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, allof whom are currently planning the production of new outdoor historicaldramas. Together with general managers, directors and playwrights, theygathered in Cherokee for three days of panel discussions and workshopsinterspersed with social events, tours of local historic attractions, and anevening 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 theArts, of special note at the conference was guest panelist Jessica Andrews,director of the NEA�?Ts Theatre Program, who traveled from Washington, DC, toparticipate 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 lifetimecontribution of the man who for 25 years headed the Institute of Outdoor Drama."Introduced wherever he goes in America as ~Mr. Outdoor Drama,~" 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, hasnurtured and encouraged it. To establish the first nationwide award forsignificant contribution to outdoor historical drama in Mark~s name is analtogether fitting and appropriate honor. Future recipients will take genuinepride in being associated with his name and reputation."The award will recognize significant contribution by an individual to a specificdrama, or to the outdoor historical drama movement as a whole, including, but notlimited to, playwrighting, directing, acting, design, theatre architecture,patronage, scholarship, musical composition, technology and innovation, producingand administration."While we hope to present the award annually," Parker said, "to ensure its placeas the highest national recognition in our profession, the Sumner Award will bepresented only when, in the opinion of the Institute�?Ts Administrative Board, anominee warrants such prestigious recognition."Co-hosted by the Cherokee Historical Association, this year�?Ts conference featuredan inside look at the amphitheatre and support facilities of one of the nation�?Tspremiere outdoor historical dramas, Kermit Hunter�?Ts Unto These Hills. Sinceopening in the Mountainside Theatre on July 1, 1950, the play, with its cast of130, has been seen by nearly 5 million people.The Mountainside Theatre, built in 1949, is an outstanding example of an olderfacility that has been maintained in excellent condition. During the mid-1980sthe 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 CHArefurbished the theatre�?os backstage, at a cost of just under $1 million.