The production was commissioned to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the birth of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America.
The amphitheater was specifically constructed for this play in 1937 under the direction of the WPA Federal Theatre Project.
Paul Green, the playwright, coined the term 'symphonic drama' to describe the blend of music, dance, and speech used in this production.
The performance takes place on the exact site where the historical English colonists landed in 1587.
Andy Griffith, a North Carolina native, began his professional acting career playing the lead role of Sir Walter Raleigh in this production.
The play has survived significant interruptions, including a hiatus during the height of World War II.
The stage utilizes the natural landscape of the sound and forest to provide a backdrop for the historical events.
The production crew utilizes pyrotechnics to heighten the dramatic impact of the battle scenes.
The Lost Colony is a long-running outdoor symphonic drama located at the Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. It dramatizes the 1587 disappearance of the first English settlement in the New World. Originally written by Paul Green, the play has been performed annually since 1937, making it the nation's longest-running outdoor historical drama. The production features a large cast, elaborate period costumes, and choreographed battle sequences. The theater itself is an open-air amphitheater situated directly on the shores of the Roanoke Sound. The show incorporates elements of dance, music, and dramatic acting to portray the tension between the colonists and local Indigenous peoples. It is a historical pageant that serves as the official state play of North Carolina.
The elevated seating area overlooking the sound before the sun fully sets.
Bring insect repellent as the outdoor theater is located near the water and dense woods.
Dress in layers because the temperature can drop significantly after sunset near the sound.
Arrive early to walk through the adjacent Elizabethan Gardens before the performance begins.
Do not wear bright colors that may attract mosquitoes or distract other audience members in the dark theater.
Operates as a seasonal summer production only; closed during the fall, winter, and spring months.
No photography or video recording is permitted during the performance.
