June 28, 2008

Roanoke play must go on

'Lost Colony' returns to North Carolina's Outer Banks"The Lost Colony" production, which has been performed at the Waterside since 1937, bills itself as the longest-running symphonic outdoor drama in the U. S. Producer Carl V. Curnutte said the show was bound to return despite last year's blaze, which caused more than US$2.7 million in damage. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Long and his New York-based staff spent the month of May at the production's costume shop, but many others also helped recreate what was lost. The state of North Carolina and the National Park Service each donated $500,000 and various groups also raised money at small fundraisers, with titles such as "Dimes for Drama" and "Cookies for Colonists." HBO donated fabric and other items from its "John Adams" miniseries; more items came from the set of a movie about a jazz musician, Buddy Bolden, that was filmed in Wilmington.
Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

actually it's not the longest running outdoor play.

Rob said...

Okay, I give up. What do you think is the longest-running outdoor play? Ramona?

According to the article, The Lost Colony "bills itself as the longest-running symphonic outdoor drama." Note the word "symphonic." Unless a symphony orchestra accompanies the play you're thinking of, it doesn't qualify.