Show t 71 A 4 TP I 1 w AM V LOST COLO NY drama presented on roanoke island firof ENGLISH COLONIES N C above are scenes of dances SITE OF FIRS open air theater settlements IN NEW the stage an in WORLD 1585 7 birthplace than god and the sign that stands on OF DARE the site of the first CHILD BORN of EMI I 1 settlement PARENTS ic G is 1587 wh LOST COLONY histo historic ic roanoke island has opened summer theater cheate season MANTEO N C with a new and spectacular stage which includes udes roanoke sound the lost colony paul greens great drama has been revived for the 1946 summer season and is now playing to capacity crowds it is an epic of the first attempted settlement of the carolinas first shown in 1937 this le lc drama became nationally famous and was seen by more than people before the war forced its suspension in 1941 the story of sir walter raleight Ra leighs attempt to plant an english colony in the new world is presented in a large amphitheater on the site of the original settlement itself performances will be given each week wednesday through sunday during july and august the audiences of the new performances will see the first colonists row in small boats right up to their feet at the very spot the landing was made in 1585 the new plans fumu fulfill the original staging ideas of playwright Play right paul green who wrote the opus in 1936 to commemorate the anniversary of the first english attempts to settle america will play ro forever rever at first only an extension of the anniversary celebration the production of the play is now a north carolina state agency by special act of the legislature and lost colony will be played forever on this windswept island lost colony re enacts one of the most poignant tragedies in american history but leaves unanswered a mystery which has fascinated historians tor for over aver three centuries it Is the mystery of CROATAN the word found carved on a tree in fort raleigh by a relief expedition in 1591 only legacy of the men and women who had dared the wilds of america it was the only clue to the disappearance of raleight Ra leighs colonists and little virginia dare first child of english parentage to be born in the new world hundreds of stories based upon possible solutions to the mystery have been written and legends about it still abound in the region ot of the dare country but paul green wrote the drama which was so corn compelling that it grew from a one season commemorative drama into an institution and it was green who set the piece to music and dance music of the old elizabethans and the wild ari id dances of Amet american ican indians with a background of organ and choir in a combination which was described by D herbert grat graf stage director of the new york metropolitan ro politan opera house as the basic art form for the new american opera over in company As staged by sam selden head of the university of north carolina dramatic school losi los colony is sheer spectacle A company of is employed and they play on a stage where scenes are shifted by strong spotlights which effectually blackout black out all but the playing scenes A narrator mounted in a cupola on the side keeps the action moving in the brief interludes and the westminster choir and the organ provide a most impressive background with the new shifting facilities the lights will play upon the waters of the sound and bring spectacular realism to the presentation paul greens story of the lost colony is an historical rendering of his version of the fate of the colonists but it has within it all the elements of romance of strife of tender pas Z 1 3 0 A am WA RIGHTLY KIGHTLY PROUD this chubby tar heel has just caught a trout lie ile used a hook pole and worm in the linville river in north carolina sion of final tragedy in a new land it starts with the historical landing of the colonists and their establishment of 0 a new someplace homeplace home bome place in cabins around the chapel in which they give thanks to providence for a new life it proceeds with the little things which go into the making of homes and a nation and to the birth of virginia dare first new life in a new world finale Is tragic mysteriously the brother of chief wanchese Wan chese is killed the indians become hostile and the tragic finale of the lost colony plays itself out in mystery but the dramatists epilogue rampant with stirring lines and inspiring music leaves no doubt that the colony was really the beginning of a new nation of america paul green wrote lost colony as his contribution to the culture of his home state lie ile presented present ed it in toto to the people of the virginia dare country and received no royalty from its production nor has he allowed rights to any dramatic or cinema companies the entire performance for mance was broadcast by the columbia broadcasting company in 1939 and the author has prepared a book on the text which is on general sale saw it first presentations were sponsored and managed by the roanoke island historical society a local group organized to take care of the multitudinous details of the actual staging in five years almost a half million spectators among them president and mrs roosevelt and lord or halifax brought an estimated in total revenue to the island of roanoke and the dare country As it begins its new perpetual series of seasons the books of the organizations are evenly balanced the new association headed by former gov J melville boughton and operating under especially en acted laws of the north carolina state assembly presented the opus through a five man committee au all of whom reside in manteo near fort raleigh scene of the production during the season melvin R daniels is chairman of the committee which is composed of I 1 P davis secretary C S meekins treasurer theodore S meekins and D sel den the director |