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2012

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As you all know, Mark Sumner could not be with us thisweekend. He is taking it nice and easy in Chapel Hill,recovering from a little minor surgery. He sends everyonehis best and promises to be back in the saddle soon.I°m sorry Mark couldn�?ot be here tonight, because I wanted himto hear this next announcement. So, I�?Tve brought a taperecorder with me and I will take it back to him on Monday.It°s generally accepted that America has made just twooriginal contributions to the theory and practice of worldtheatre: what is commonly known as the Broadway musical, andthe outdoor historical drama of the kind created by PaulGreen more than half a century ago with The Lost Colony.Today, there are nearly sixty of these outdoor dramasscattered over the nation from Kodiak Island, Alaska to deepin California; from St. Augustine, Florida, to northern NewYork and many points in between. All of them are based onhistorical or religious themes and all are family-orientedentertainment. The more successful of them have run for 35and 40 years, or more, and have been seen by millions ofAmericans. It has also been said that the people of thiscountry have learned more about the plight of the AmericanIndian from these dramas than from lessons in schools. Notonly do these plays educate and delight the public, they alsohave a huge economic impact on the rural communities where

most of them are situated. Unto These Hills, Shepherd of theHills, Tecumseh, and The Lost Colony, for example, aredestinations in their own right.There is one person in the country who knows more about thisphenomenal development than anyone else; one person who, morethan anyone else, has encouraged and nurtured it. Thatperson is, of course, Mark Sumner, who, for the past 25 yearshas been the Director of the Institute of Outdoor Drama atthe University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. WhereverMark goes in America, he is introduced as "Mr. OutdoorDrama."Tonight, I°m pleased to announce that the AdministrativeBoard of the Institute has established a national award inMark�?�s name which honors his lifetime contribution to outdoorhistorical drama in the United States. To be known as theMark R. Sumner Award, it may recognize an individual�?Tscontribution to a specific drama, or to the outdoorhistorical drama movement as a whole, including, but notlimited to, playwrighting, directing, acting, design, theatrearchitecture, patronage, scholarship, musical composition,technology and innovation, production and administration.While we hope to present the award annually, to insure itsplace as the highest national recognition in our profession,the Sumner Award will be presented only when, in the opinion

of the Administrative Board, a nominee warrants suchprestigious recognition.The winter issue of U.S. Outdoor Drama, the quarterlynewsletter of the Institute, will officially announce theestablishment of the Sumner Award and will outline thenomination procedure. It will state that nominations areopen and can be made by individuals or organizations, andthat nominations should include rationale and supportmaterials. Deadlines for nominations will also be announced.Whe the award is presented, it will be at the Institutesannual conference.I know you all feel as I do, that to establish the firstnationwide award for significant contribution to outdoorhistorical drama in Mark�?�s name is an altogether fitting andappropriate honor, and that future recipients of the SumnerAward will take genuine pride in being associated with hisname and reputation.So, Mark, tonight we send you our best, and God�?os speed, andwe collectively thank you for all you�?Tve done to foster thisunique American art form.