The outdoor drama is an art form rarely found anymore, but typically uses open-air amphitheaters purpose-built for seasonal performances. North Carolina is unique in that it has three long-running shows, including two in Western North Carolina and one on the coast, which came to prominence in the years following the Great Depression, covering different periods of history.
Two of the three dramas were penned by the same playwright, Kermit Hunter, who wrote over 40 historical dramas following his time in the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These dramas offer a unique way to experience North Carolina’s rich history, which starts long before European arrival.
Horn in the West, Boone
Horn in the West is the nation’s longest-running drama on the Revolutionary War and covers the difficulty of life on the frontier of what became North Carolina, interrupted by the war and battles like that of Kings Mountain. Penned by Kermit Hunter, it was developed to follow the success of the state’s other outdoor dramas and includes characters like Daniel Boone.
The theater is a part of a complex that includes the Hickory Ridge History Museum, a 35-acre living history museum operated by the Southern Appalachian Historical Association. It features costumed interpreters who describe the outbuildings like a blacksmith shop and a hand-hewn log cabin.
The Lost Colony, Manteo
The Lost Colony is one of the most famous plays in the country, staged every summer in Manteo, a community within North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It was first produced in 1937, and its alumni include Andy Griffith and Schitt’s Creek‘s Chris Elliott.
It tells the story of the Roanoke Island colony of English settlers that mysteriously disappeared around 1587. The long-running outdoor drama has been honored with a Special Tony Award, and an estimated four million people have seen it since the opening year.
Until recently, the Indigenous characters were played by non-Indigenous people. Twenty actors were cast for these roles, a much-needed step forward in acknowledging the people that lived on the land before European colonization.
Unto These Hills, Cherokee
Hunter was the winning entry into a call for plays by the Cherokee Historical Association to tell the story of the first arrival of Europeans and the forced removal of the tribe on the Trail of Tears. What resulted was Unto These Hills, which has had hundreds of thousands of attendees every year.
Alumni include Michael Rosenbaum of Smallville and Adam Richman of the Travel Channel. In 1969, Hunter also wrote a follow-up to be performed by the tribe in Oklahoma, which ran until 2005. The play is best paired with visits to the Museum of the Cherokee People and Oconaluftee Indian Village to learn more about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
5 More Southern Outdoor Dramas to See
The Miracle Worker, Tuscumbia, Alabama
Based on the life of Alabama native Helen Keller, this performance focuses on her life with teacher Annie Sullivan, with the famous scene at the water well. It’s held seasonally at Ivy Green, Keller’s childhood home.
The Great Passion Play, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The Northwest Arkansas town hosts a religious performance every season based on the last week of the life of Jesus Christ. The surrounding campus includes the Christ of the Ozarks statue, a Bible Museum, and even a section of the Berlin Wall.
The Stephen Foster Story, Bardstown, Kentucky
While Bardstown may be known for its Bourbon Trail location, you can also see this performance on the life of the composer of “Camptown Races” and “My Old Kentucky Home” between June and August.
Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals, Elizabethton, Tennessee
Tennessee’s official outdoor drama is also set around the American frontier, specifically Fort Watauga during the late 18th century. Sycamore Shoals also has an interpretive museum to add more context to the performance.
Trail of the Lonesome Pine, Big Stone Gap, Virginia
The charming town that inspired a book and film is also the setting for the state’s outdoor drama, based on the novel of the same name by John Fox, Jr. It describes a family feud interwoven with the discovery of coal.
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