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Molasses Creek at the Lost Colony Waterside Theatre, Roanoke Island, NC
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Hi friends!
This last week was a busy one with 4th of July activities here at home on Ocracoke Island, and a Sunday opening for
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys at the Lost Colony Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island.
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| Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys |
The Waterside Theatre is a beautiful and fascinating place to perform. The set for the world famous Lost Colony outdoor drama, we fully expected colonists and natives to come surging out on to the stage during a fiddle breakdown. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green,
The Lost Colony outdoor drama is celebrating its 76th season this year! You can read more about it at
http://thelostcolony.org.
As the sun set, the light on the sound waters behind the theater palisade faded and the starry night sky formed a seamless backdrop, joining with the canopy of live oak trees that border the audience and the stage. We couldn't think of a more beautiful place to enjoy a concert by one of the cultural treasures of our country. At 86, Ralph Stanley stood on stage for the entire concert, gracing the audience with sounds and songs from the mountain communities of old.
Here are some more pictures around the stage of the Waterside Theatre.
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| Costumes from the Lost Colony production |
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| Louie, Marcy, and Gerald in the costume greenroom (Marcy had to be dragged away!) |
4th of July Fun on Ocracoke Island
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| Blackbeard getting a picture with a young fan |
While we are talking about famous historic places and characters of the Outer Banks, we will give you a shot of Emmet Temple as Blackbeard the pirate. Blackbeard met his fate off of Ocracoke Island in November of 1718 when he was hunted down by Lt. Robert Maynard. Ever since then, his ghost has reappeared (with head) at holiday events around the island . . . and 4th of July is no exception.
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| Blackbeard being interviewed Ocracoke Radio personality, Daphne Bennink |
The 4th kicked off with a flag raising, a sandcastle contest, and a fig cake bakeoff. Fiddler Dave joined Captain Rob Temple for two pirate shows during the afternoon, the Ocracoke parade wound its way through the village, and the evening rounded off with Molasses Creek playing for a traditional Ocracoke squaredance, hosted by local caller and island historian Philip Howard. Unfortunately a quick storm popped up right as Martin Garrish and the Ocracoke Rockers were set to perform . . . but other than that weather event, the day went perfectly.
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| A stunning beach day for the 4th! |
Here are some sandcastle contest entries . . .
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| Alice in Wondersand and the Mad Hatteras |
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| Sea Serpent |
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| Fat Tub |
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| SPF Infinity |
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| A model of Ocracoke Island (looking on Silver Lake Harbor) |
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| Octopus |
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| Sandgloo |
The parade is always an audience favorite!
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| Showering with a friend . . . an Ocracoke tradition. |
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| The Holy Mackerals barbershop (with Donald Davis, Bill Jones, David Senseney, and Gary Mitchell of Molasses Creek) |
That's about all for now. If you are heading to Ocracoke Island, come and visit us at our weekly shows at our Deepwater Theater. Wednesday nights are the Ocrafolk Opry and Thursday nights, Molasses Creek. For tickets and more information visit
http://www.molassescreek.com/deepwatertheater.cfm. Our next off island performance is on August 18 for Greenville, NC Sunday in the Park. Visit our calendar for more information.
Don't forget, our new "Festival Release 2013" album is now available at our
online store, along with T-shirts, hand-through pottery mugs and more!
Thanks!
Your Molasses Creek crew
Gary, Fiddler Dave, Marcy, Lou, & Gerald.
