(Manteo, N.C., February. 11, 2008) – North
Carolina’s favorite son, Andy Griffith, began
his show business career here. So did five time
Tony Award-winning costume designer William Ivey
Long. Locals, Woody Fearing, George Spence, and
Marjalene Thomas have also trod the boards, in
addition to these familiar Outer Banks
residents: Stuart Bell, Mike Campbell, Barbara
Hird, Gail Hutchison, Nicholas Kiousis, Bill
Rea, and Hunt Thomas—just to name a few. Robert
Midgette performed for an impressive 34 years.
The honorable NC Senator, Marc Basnight, played
the role of a colonist boy when he was growing
up. The Senator’ mother, the late Cora Mae
Basnight, performed the role of Agona for what
is believed to be the longest-continuing run by
an actress in a single role in American theater.
One can hardly turn around in Dare County
without bumping into someone with ties to
The Lost Colony.
In the spirit of this tradition, America’s
premier symphonic outdoor drama will host its
local auditions Saturday, February 23th
at its business headquarters at the Fort Raleigh
National Historic Site in Manteo. Director
Robert Richmond is hoping area thespians will
answer the call.
Photographs
and
résumés
are required for all auditions. No preparation
is
needed
for the children’s audition at 9 am,
however, children must be at least 6 years of
age. Dancers should report to
The Lost Colony
business office at 10:30 a.m. to participate in
a dance movement audition. Production staff and
actor/technician interviews will also take place
at 9 a.m. Actors and singers will audition at
1:15 p.m. and should prepare one minute of
memorized dialogue and singing (an accompanist
will be provided; please bring sheet music).
Executive Director/ Producer Carl Curnutte joins
Richmond at the Manteo auditions. Casting began
at the United Theatre Professional Auditions
held in Memphis, TN earlier this month.
Auditions will also be held at the Southeastern
Theatre Conference and Institute of Outdoor
Drama auditions.
In addition to performing six nights weekly at
Waterside Theatre, company members will have the
chance to participate in other performances,
seminars, lectures, and master classes through
The Lost
Colony’s Joe Layton Performance
Series and the Professional Theatre Workshop
program. This year’s performance line-up
includes
Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened on the
Way to the Forum, Sleeping Beauty,
and Reaching for the Stars—a song and dance
revue.
These additional productions provide the cast
and crew with an opportunity to manage, produce,
direct and perform in full-scale productions.
There’s also an opportunity to earn an annual
cash stipend, the Evelyn Russell Layton Award,
as well as college funding assistance through
the Cora Mae Basnight Scholarship.
Rehearsals for
The Lost Colony
begin May 12 and continue through May 30, when
the production opens to the public.
Additionally, there will be a specially-priced
Preview Night performance of the production on
May 29th. The show continues nightly
except Saturday through Aug. 20. For ticket
inquiries, call 252-473-2127.
Presented on the site where the real-life events
occurred more than 400 years ago,
The Lost Colony
combines song, dance and comedy to depict the
story of America’s first English settlement and
its mysterious disappearance.
The Lost Colony business office is
located on the grounds of the Fort Raleigh
National Historic Site on the North end of
Roanoke Island. Once inside the park, take the
first left, following the signs to the
Elizabethan Gardens.
The Lost Colony
headquarters is next to the Gardens’ entrance.
