5 shows that come back year after year
Live theater in the Mountain State ranges from classic tales to contemporary dramas. Several are so popular, they return year after year.
Here are 4 shows (and 1 theater festival) that have become annual favorites.
1. “The Aracoma Story”
Based on a mix of historical facts and local legend, “The Aracoma Story” tells the 200-year-old story of Aracoma, daughter of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk, and her ill-fated love for the captured British soldier Boling Baker. Chief Logan State Park presents the drama as part of its summer series at the park’s outdoor amphitheater.
2. & 3. “Honey in the Rock” & “The Hatfields and McCoys”
Theatre West Virginia’s 2 historical drama mainstays usually run on alternating summers at Grandview’s Cliffside Amphitheater in the heart of the New River Gorge.
“Honey in the Rock” recounts the birth of West Virginia, with historical figures like General Stonewall Jackson and soon-to-be president Andrew Johnson. “The Hatfields and McCoys” tells the wild and bloody history of the country’s most famous feuding families. The 30-year feud left a colorful history of a stolen pig, forbidden romance, arson and murders in its wake.
4. Contemporary American Theater Festival
Shepherd University’s Contemporary American Theater Festival is a 3-week long celebration of live theater, and debuts several original new plays every season. Since it began in 1991, more than 100 new plays have been produced, including 40 world premieres by 77 American playwrights.
The festival is so popular,it brings in an annual attendance of approximately 14,000 people from all over the world. As an added bonus, historic Shepherdstown’s hip college culture setting gives visitors a charming and eclectic mix of lodging, dining and shopping.
5. “The Nutcracker”
The West Virginia Symphony and the Charleston Ballet team up to present the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” every December at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. The timeless story of Clara and her encounters with the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy and of course, The Nutcracker, come to life to the score of Tchaikovsky, performed live by the symphony. The ballet has become a holiday tradition for many families in the Capital City.
Which shows have you seen?
This post was last updated on July 21, 2020