tion, technology and innovation,producing and administration.�?oWhile we hope to presentthe award annually,�?� notedParker, �?oto ensure its place as thehighest national recognition inour profession, the SumnerAward will be presented onlywhen, in the opinion of theInstitute�?Ts Administrative Board,a nominee warrants such prestig-ious recognition.�?�Nominations for the SumnerAward are open and can be madeby individuals or organizations.Each nomination should includea statement of rationale and ap-propriate supporting materials.Nominations submitted forconsideration in 199] must bepostmarked no later than Mon-day, August 5, 1991. The 1991Sumner Award will be presentedat the annual conference ofoutdoor historical dramas inOctober. 1aOutdoor dramasfeatured inSouthern TheatreThe summer issue of SouthernTheatre, the quarterly magazineof the Southeastern TheatreConference, featured an inter-view with Mark Sumner, direc-tor emeritus of the Institute ofOutdoor Drama, in which hereflected on the growth of theoutdoor historical drama move-ment in the U.S. over the last 25years.The front cover of the maga-zine (circulation 3,300) sports aproduction photo from MarkTwain (Elmira, NY), and theinterview was illustrated withphotos of the Oregon Shake-speare Festival (Ashland, OR),Stonewall Country (Lexington,VA), The Lost Colony (Manteo,NC), Trumpet in the Land (NewPhiladelphia, OH), Unto TheseHills (Cherokee, NC), The LoneStar (Galveston, TX), and Texas!(Canyon, TX).The Southeastern TheatreConference is the nation�?Ts largestregional theatre organizationand is based in Greensboro, NC;919-272-3645. C|U.S. Outdoor Drama 3Auditions continued from page 1 aperformers and technicians is $15.DNEWSThe Special Trust Fund issupported by voluntary annualcontributions from outdoorApplicants must be 18 years of ageand have had previous theatre training or credits.Applications will be available in late January andthe deadline for registration to audition is March18, 1991. To receive an application, send astamped, self-addressed envelope to: AuditionsDirector, Institute of Outdoor Drama, CB 3240NCNB Plaza, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3240; 919-962-1328.Institute names new board memberThomas L. McKeon, director of the Division ofContinuing Education and the William and IdaFriday Continuing Education Center at the Uni-versity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has beennamed to the Administrative Board of the Instituteof Outdoor Drama. McKeon came to Chapel Hillin January from Charlottesville, VA, where heserved as associate dean for administration andassociate professor in the Division of ContinuingEducation at the University of Virginia. He re-places Edgar Marston, former program coordina-tor for the UNC Division of Continuing Educa-tion, who is currently director of ContinuingEducation and Professional Development at NorthCarolina State University in Raleigh.Job openings to be publishedOutdoor historical dramas and planning groupsinvolved in developing dramas are welcome tosubmit brief listings of available senior level jobsfor publication in U.S. Outdoor Drama. Listingsmust be limited to 50 words or less for each or-ganization and will be published without charge.Deadlines for the four 1991 issues of U.S. OutdoorDrama are as follows:Newslettermailed:Copy must beIssue: received by:March 15June 14September 13December 13SpringSummerFallWinterFebruary 11May 13August 12November 18Companies support Special Trust FundContributions to the 1990-91 Special Trust Fundof the Institute of Outdoor Drama totaled $2,896by mid-November. Among the outdoor dramacompanies contributing to the fund so far this yearare: The Aracoma Story (Logan, WV), Black HillsPassion Play (Spearfish, SD), Hatfields and McCoys(Beckley, WV), Hill Cumorah Pageant (Palmyra,NY), Incident at Looney�?Ts Tavern (Double Springs,AL), The Living Word (Cambridge, OH), OregonShakespeare Festival (Ashland, OR), Ramona(Hemet, CA), The Reach of Song (Hiawassee, GA),The Stephen Foster Story ( Bardstown, KY), Te-| cumseh! (Chillicothe, OH), Texas! (Canyon, TX),and Unto These Hills (Cherokee, NC).historical drama companies andindividuals interested in supporting outdoordrama. The Institute relies on its Special TrustFund to cover the cost of travel, research, publica-tion of U.S. Outdoor Drama, responding to com-pany inquiries, promoting outdoor drama, andmaintaining membership in national theatre andtravel/tourism professional organizations. Contri-butions to the Fund are tax deductible.Conference delegates from 23 outdoor dramas andsix planning groups assemble prior to a tour of thenew administrative facilities of Unto These Hillsduring the annual conference of the Institute ofOutdoor Drama in Cherokee, NC.Annual Conference draws nationwideRepresentatives of outdoor historical drama com-panies from 21 states coast to coast gathered re-cently in Cherokee, North Carolina for the 28thAnnual Conference of the Institute of OutdoorDrama, the only national meeting for those in-volved in the planning, production and manage-ment of outdoor historical dramas in the U.S.Also in attendance were representatives fromcommunities in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee,Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, all ofwhom are currently planning the production ofnew outdoor historical dramas. Together withgeneral managers, directors and playwrights, theyparticipated in three days of panel discussions andworkshops interspersed with social events andtours of local historic attractions.Co-hosted by the Cherokee Historical Associa-tion, the 1990 conference featured an inside lookat the amphitheatre and support facilities of one ofthe nation�?Ts premiere outdoor historical dramas,Kermit Hunter�?Ts Unto These Hills.A special event this year was the evening oftheatre presented by members of the cast of TheReach of Song, the official historic drama of thestate of Georgia. Written by playwright/producerTom DeTitta, the musical drama celebrates inmusic, song and dance the heritage of AppalachianGeorgia through the lifestory of mountain poetByron Herbert Reece. 1