THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610180254
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: BEACH BEAT
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: 68 lines
STEP RIGHT UP to the ``Haunted History Tour of Waterside Theatre,'' which debuts Friday, Oct. 25. The production, a collaborative effort between the Dare County Jaycees and ``The Lost Colony'' runs through Halloween night.
``This is a classy, reflective interpretation of Outer Banks history,'' says ``Lost Colony'' marketing director Eric Hause, who also directs the tour.
``The Haunted History Tour'' is a 45-minute, lantern-guided adventure that introduces visitors to 13 Outer Banks legends and tales. Among the terrifying tales are ``Blackbeard's Lost Treasure,'' ``The Witch of Nags Head Woods,'' ``Gray Man of Hatteras'' and ``The Legend of Virginia Dare and the White Doe.''
Ghosts, goblins and other mysterious characters, such as Blackbeard the Pirate, will greet guests who dare to walk the dark path that winds through Fort Raleigh and the Waterside Theatre.
``Anyone who has ever visited Waterside Theatre at night,'' says planning chairperson Audrey Gudger, ``knows how the ominous atmosphere of the site lends itself to this kind of project.''
Hause says more than 50 volunteers, including performers from ``The Lost Colony'' outdoor drama and The Theatre of Dare, will be involved in the production. Mike Campbell is the technical director.
``He's working on some special effects, including pyrotechnics for `The Flaming Ship of Ocracoke' story,'' Hause said.
The Elizabeth I prop that is used during ``The Lost Colony'' performances will take an acting stretch to serve as the flaming ship.
Proceeds from ``The Haunted History Tour'' will benefit the Dare County Jaycees' community projects, and ``The Lost Colony'' outdoor drama.
The Play's The Thing
Auditions for The Theatre of Dare's special Christmas presentation, ``Sorry Wrong Chimney,'' will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. in the former Water's Edge bookstore in the Outer Banks Mall.
``I've been wanting to do a Christmas show for a long time,'' says first-time director Julia Scheer. ``I just picked this show out of a script catalog.''
Described as a ``yuletide farce,'' the Jack Sharkey-Leo W. Sears script calls for a cast of three women and four men.
``It's just real wacky,'' Scheer says. ``When I read the script, I kept laughing out loud. My roommates kept asking me what was wrong.''
``Sorry Wrong Chimney,'' will run Dec. 12-15 at the Atlantis nightclub in Nags Head. MEMO: For more information, call Julia Scheer at 441-6726 or Kathy
Morrison at 441-3088. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
The earthworks at Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island is one of the stops
on the ``Haunted History Tour of Waterside Theatre,'' which debuts
Friday.
Graphic
WHAT & WHERE
What: Haunted History Tour of Waterside Theatre
When: Oct. 25-31. Tours begin nightly at 7:30 and run every 15
minutes.
Where: Tour starts at The Lost Colony box office at Fort Raleigh.
Admission: Tickets may be purchased in advance at various Outer
Banks locations or the night of the performance. For more
information or to charge by phone, call 473-3414.
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for those 16 and under by CNB