Horn hosts Stages of History

Horn in the West is only part of the story.

This month the High Country will get a chance to experience even more drama as nine additional theatres come to Boone to showcase their productions through the presentation of The Stages of History.

"Four hundred years of history is going to take place in one night," Horn in the West spokeswoman Virginia Roseman said. "This is a way to help people understand that North Carolina is so rich in history. North Carolina has been the crossing point for so many dramatic things that have helped us be where we are today, and we want to share it."

Thanks to the North Carolina-based Institute of Outdoor Drama (IOD), High Country residents will have a direct link to multiple out door dramas statewide in one night.

More than a dozen outdoor dramas will congregate at the Horn in the West Amphitheatre and present small vignettes of their performances through The Stages of History.

"They chose [Boone] because we've been able to show how much community support we have," Roseman said. "What we want to do is take our community, let them see everything, then share [our community] with everyone."

Out of all the outdoor dramas statewide, Horn in the West was one of the two theatres whose profits went up in 2009. The profit margin was instrumental in IOD's decision to bring "Stages of History" to Boone, and Roseman wants the High Country to live up to its reputation.

"We want a full amphitheater," she said.

On Monday, Dale Metz of Snow Camp-based Sword of Peace and Pathway to Freedom was in Boone to promote both his shows and Stages.

"Sword of Peace [in its 37th year] deals with the Quakers during the Revolutionary War and how they fought the moral and ethical battle of 'Should we join the Continental Army and fight for our freedom or ... take a sword of peace?'" he said.

Pathway to Freedom deals with the Underground Railroad.

Both shows take place in Snow Camp, just outside Burlington, and, if you bring a ticket stub from another outdoor drama, like Horn in the West, you gain free admittance to Sword of Peace or Pathway to Freedom.

Likewise, if you bring a ticket stub from an outdoor drama to Horn in the West, you get a Horn ticket for one dollar.

Fans of Horn will particularly enjoy Stages, Roseman said.

"It's a window of opportunity to learn more learn about what happened before, learn what happened after," she said. "The story didn't just end there. Each show ... gives you hope."
Stages benefits IOD, which, in turn, benefits shows like Horn and Sword.

"[IOD] are like our parents," Roseman said. "They help us find our actors, help us find ways to advertise."

Stages of History happens at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 15. Bring your Stages ticket stub to any production of Horn and get in for $1. For more information on Stages, or for a schedule of the 59th season of Horn in the West, visit http://www.horninthewest.com.

For more information on out door dramas in Snow Camp, visit http://www.snowcampdrama.com.
For a list of other productions across the state, visit outdoordrama.unc.edu.