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…