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Scott J. Parker, Former Director of the Institute, penned a short article on outdoor drama and the role the Institute plays in fostering this national phenomenon. Click here to read this article. Below is a detailed explanation of what types of services and activities occupy the Institute throughout the year. Feel free to scroll down or use the handy links to jump to a section of interest.
General OverviewEstablished in 1963, The Institute of Outdoor Drama is a public service agency in the College of Arts and Sciences of The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. It is the only organization in the U.S. providing national leadership in fostering artistic and managerial excellence and expansion of the outdoor drama movement through training, research and advisory programs. The Institute serves as a national clearinghouse for more than 103 constituent theatre companies across the nation. Outdoor historical dramas
are original plays, often with music and dance, based on significant
events and performed in amphitheatres located where the events
actually occurred. Born in North Carolina, uniquely American and
epic in scope, historical dramas focus on the people who shaped the heritage
of the country, preserving and bearing witness to the great things
we've accomplished as a nation. Outdoor dramas are part of the
travel and tourism industry, designed to attract families on vacation. Musical theatre is a production collaboration of dialogue, the musical score and lyrics, and the choreography. Each element contributes to the sum of the whole of the artistic performance. Song and dance from a Broadway-style musical can achieve a life of its own and stay with the audience long after leaving the amphitheater. Outdoor Shakespeare festivals produce full-length Shakespearean plays, often in rotating repertory with the works of modern and other classical playwrights. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been the nation's definitive center for information on writing and producing modern American Epic Drama. Since assisting in the 1927 production of the nation's first outdoor historical drama, Paul Green's famed history play, The Lost Colony at Manteo, North Carolina. The Institute gathers information related to outdoor drama writing, management, and production and distributes that information to production companies, planners, the news media and artists in the field. It works with writers, lawyers, directors, architects, managers, promoters, performers and designers, and experts in marketing and travel. Research by the Institute indicates that the outdoor drama field, consisting of 37 historical dramas, 9 religious dramas, 5 musical theatre, and 56 Shakespeare festivals, employs approximately 5,000 people and has an annual economic impact on the U.S. travel and tourism industry of approximately $500 million. The Institute is governed by an administrative board composed of distinguished faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and leaders throughout The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, an advisory council of American theatre professionals, who are valued consultants, assists in research and planning. The activities of the Institute are focused on fulfilling the mission of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an educational, public service, and research institution, and include the items listed below. The Institute on the National StageCONSULTING AND ADVISORY SERVICESThe Institute offers a professional consulting and advisory service for theatres, government agencies, groups and individuals to assist in every phase of planning and producing outdoor drama. It frequently provides both on-the-spot and long-term assistance on a wide variety of subjects. In addition, experienced professionals from across the country, including playwrights, architects, managers, directors, and designers are made available to assist with such areas as:
NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSEEach year the Institute generates and assists in the writing of numerous feature stories for national magazines and newspapers, and produces the Directory of Outdoor Drama in America. Every effort is made to develop public relations programs beneficial to the outdoor drama field. Articles which have been facilitated by the Institute have appeared in such publications as: PUBLICATIONSThe Institute produces reference bulletins, directories, and technical documents designed to keep professionals and the media informed. These include:
At any given time, the Institute is working with 15-20 communities across the country which are in various stages of developing new outdoor historical dramas, Shakespeare Festivals and religious dramas. For almost 45 years, the Institute has provided guidance to individuals and groups proposing the production of these new plays, conducting feasibility and planning studies and offering start-up and long-term assistance including:
NATIONAL CONFERENCEThe Institute organizes an annual conference, bringing together professional managers, directors, playwrights, promoters, designers, and composers, as well as representatives from communities planning new outdoor dramas. Workshops, tours, and open discussions on topics relating to the writing, producing, and management of outdoor drama in America are featured during the annual conference. Previous conference sites include:
AUDITIONSThe Institute sponsors annual auditions in Chapel Hill, NC,
for performers and technicians seeking employment in outdoor drama.
Typically, 150-200 auditionees from 70 or more colleges and universities
in 22 states vie for jobs offered by 10-15 theatres
from around the country. The Institute maintains personnel files on experienced professionals available for work and assists companies and developing dramas in locating personnel. Categories include:
ARCHIVESThe most extensive archival collection in the world on outdoor drama is maintained by the Institute. The archives are often used by members of the profession, scholars, students, and media representatives for research and information. Materials in the collection include:
RESEARCHTo assist theatres in planning and evaluation, the Institute conducts and publishes the results of research and nationwide surveys on attendance, management and production of outdoor drama, including:
LINKS TO ARTS ORGANIZATIONSTo facilitate the exchange of information and materials among theatre companies, professional service organizations, unions and guilds, the Institute maintains memberships or is in contact with the following national organizations:
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Institute and North CarolinaOn April 5, 1995, the Institute of Outdoor Drama was
awarded the North Carolina Governor's Business Award in the Arts and
Humanities by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. The award is given to those
organizations and companies which find "new and innovative ways
to enhance our cultural climate and make North Carolina a better place
to live for everyone." The Institute has written and contributed to many articles for state newspapers and magazines, including the
Feasibility studies are continuously requested of the Institute. The IOD is currently working with several communities within the state in determining the best approach to mounting a new outdoor drama. In its ongoing research, the Institute devotes a great deal of its time to North Carolina-centered studies, including Attendance Surveys, Economic Impact of North Carolina Outdoor Dramas, Government Aid to North Carolina Outdoor Dramas and others. On the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, the Institute hosts in March the only national outdoor drama auditions in the country to facilitate summer theatre employment. In 2008, more than 175 auditionees from across the country registered to audition with 10 drama companies. Applicants from 73 colleges (18 Colleges in North Carolina) and 22 states were represented. In 1990, the Institute created the annual Mark R. Sumner Award, which recognizes distinguished service in the field of U.S. Outdoor Drama. This award is presented at the National Conference on Outdoor Drama, held each year in October. Past Winners:
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