'The Lost Colony' Opens 77th Season

Posted By Matt Artz on May 29, 2014

An Outer Banks mystery more than 400 years old and America’s original urban legend, The Lost Colony will premiere its 77th anniversary production as the country’s longest-running outdoor symphonic drama this Friday, May 30, at the historic Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island. 

While most people throughout the country were busy making plans for Memorial Day cookouts and weekend trips, a group of actors, directors, designers, technicians, dancers and singers were in the final days of rehearsal for the May 30th opening of Paul Green’s The Lost Colony.

Even though the show is in its 77th season, every year it is reinvented by new actors and technicians who join returning company members to create a new show.   

About two thirds of the cast and crew have worked in previous seasons, allowing room for many new additions to the company. 

The 2014 company will perform together for the first time on Thursday, May 29 for a special Preview Night performance. 

Tickets are available at a discounted price and this traditional dress rehearsal is a way of saying thank you to the members of the community, many of whom have been involved in the production for years.  

The official opening is on Friday, May 30, 2014 at 8:00 pm. 

This season’s production is under the direction of Ira David Wood II who is returning for his second season as director.  Other returning members of the artistic staff include: William Ivey Long as Production Designer, Robert Midgette as Fight Director, Paul Gallo as Lighting Designer.

Featured returning actors include: Abby Sheridan as Eleanor Dare, Diana McQueen as Queen Elizabeth, Jesse Bates as Father Martin, Della Basnight as Dame Coleman, Robbie McCraken as Manteo, Christopher Manns as Wanchese, Nancy Mellichamp Savo as Agona, Payne Hopton-Jones as John Bordon, Gary Gatling II as Uppowoc and Damien Gregory as Wano.

The company will continue several traditions in 2014 including its annual gift to the residents of Dare County on June 6, 13 and 20.  Dare County residents are encouraged to be our guest for a performance of The Lost Colony – while helping the Outer Banks food pantries replenish their supplies.  Admission to these performances is free for Dare County residents who attend and bring at least two can goods or two dry goods as a donation for the Outer Banks food pantries.

Last year a new tradition was born:  Character Dinners.  The dinners were so popular last year that the company will be more than doubling the number of dinners for 2014 and will be presented each Tuesday and Wednesday night during the season.  Hosted in the Sound Stage Theatre, tickets include a pasta buffet with our characters, backstage tour and the show.  Seating is limited and several nights are already sold out. 

In addition to The Lost Colony, the cast will present its annual children’s show on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from June 17-August 13 at 2PM in the Sound Stage Theatre.  This year’s title is How I Became A Pirate and is based on the beloved book of the same title.

Over 400 years ago, 117 men, women and children sailed from Plymouth England in an attempt to settle on Roanoke Island; they vanished just two years later. 

Today over 117 men, women and children gather at the Waterside Theatre to reenact the story of America’s beginnings here on Roanoke Island.  They perform nightly except Sunday from May 30 to August 22 in the Waterside Theatre located in the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site at the north end of Roanoke Island.  The 77th Anniversary Season is produced by the Roanoke Island Historical Association.

First staged in 1937, The Lost Colony is America’s longest-running outdoor symphonic drama.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony’s 77th anniversary season plays May 30 through August 22, 2014 at Manteo’s historic Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island.

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