Here are some production facts taken from the 2007 Directory of Outdoor Drama in America:

• States with the most outdoor theatres: California (14), North Carolina (11), Texas (7),
• State with the most history plays: North Carolina (9)
• State with the most Shakespeare festivals: California (13)
• State with the most religious dramas: 10 tied with one drama
• Number of states with a historical drama: 13 (1 having only historical dramas)
• Number of states with a religious play: 10
• Number of states with a Shakespeare festival: 32 (18 having only Shakespeare festivals)
• States will all three types: Ohio, Tennessee, & Texas
  

Have any famous people ever acted in outdoor drama?

Of course! While some soon-to-be-famous people are currently acting in outdoor theatres across the country, take a look at this alumni list (far from complete) to see who either got their start or honed their craft on an outdoor stage.

What are outdoor historical dramas?

Outdoor historical dramas are original plays, often with music and dance, based on significant events and performed in amphitheaters located where the events actually occurred. Born in North Carolina, these 'symphonic dramas' – from the Greek sense of 'sounding together' – are uniquely American, epic in scope, and focus on people such as Andrew Jackson, Tecumseh, Stephen Foster, Abraham Lincoln, pioneers and war heroes, who shaped the heritage of the country, preserving and bearing witness to the great things we've accomplished as a nation. Both educational and entertaining, historical dramas often have memorable music and dance, spectacular special effects, elaborate costuming, fire-dancing, pyrotechnics, horse-drawn chariots, and Revolutionary and Civil War battle scenes. They are usually performed in expansive amphitheaters against scenic, natural backdrops, such as the massive canyons of the Southwest pine forests, and the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

What is the significance of outdoor historical drama in America?

It has been said that America can claim two truly unique contributions to the canon of world theatre: the Musicals of Broadway and the Outdoor Historical Drama. The outdoor historical genre is a dramatic form of storytelling, an examination of recorded events that reinforces the value of preserving cultural, political and social history. It is also a living memorial to the people who fought for religious and political freedom, laid groundwork for American humanistic movements, and blazed new trails in the cultural arts.

Why is outdoor drama popular and who attends?

According to the Institute of Outdoor Drama, the current roster of outdoor productions in 2007 includes 99 theatres; 31 historical dramas, 58 Shakespeare festivals, and 10 religious or 'passion' plays in 37 states. Tourism demographics indicate that what Americans traveling both in-state and nationally want most – educational, historical excursions, natural, scenic beauty – are the hallmarks of outdoor drama. Most theatres offer concessions, gift shops and pre-show entertainment which appeals to the largest portion of outdoor drama audiences: families on vacation. These shows are educational, "whole family" entertainment. And perhaps most importantly, outdoor historical dramas are unique in that they dramatize historical events on or near the sites where the events actually occurred.

With nearly 2.5 million people attending outdoor drama each year, these theatres have a $500 million economic impact on the national economy, adding much-needed tourism dollars to dozens of small-town communities.

What are passion plays/religious dramas?

These religious productions dramatize significant events in the life of Christ and are based on the text of the Bible. The Mormon dramas chronicle the founding and the early history of the Mormon church based on events described in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, a scriptural text of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published in 1830.

What are Shakespeare festivals?

These festivals, of which over a quarter are free to the public, celebrate the history and playwrighting of William Shakespeare, often featuring his most famous plays -- Hamlet, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth – as well as lesser-known works – Comedy of Errors, Love's Labors Lost, and Antony and Cleopatra. In addition, many festivals include works by other playwrights (classical and modern) to "round out" their season. It is not uncommon to find multiple play's either offered in repertory (alternating evenings), or offered one after the other during a three-month run.