The creative staff of Paul Green's The Lost Colony, assembled by Executive Director & Producer Carl V. Curnutte III is working for what promises to be a dynamic and riveting 2010 production season. In addition to Curnutte, the team includes the director, production designer, music director, choreographer, lighting and sound designers, and fight director that breath life into Pulitzer Prize-winning Paul Green's timeless script.

According to Curnutte, "It is the task of the artistic staff to interpret the author's play, maintain its integrity and create a meaningful and entertaining experience that will resonate for modern audiences." The 2010 artistic staff is capable of doing just that. Curnutte explains that The Lost Colony's artistic staff is top-notch and he is thrilled to bring their artestry to the production.

Robert Richmond returns as Director of The Lost Colony, America's longest-running symphonic outdoor drama. In theatrical circles Richmond is known for his ability to breathe new life into centuries-old theatrical works. The English-born director has staged more than 40 productions for off-Broadway, national tours, regional theatres, universities and special engagements-including a command performance of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing for a special reception at the White House for President Bush.

"We are thrilled with Richmond's direction of the production," said Chris Seawell, Chairman of the Roanoke Island Historical Association, which produces The Lost Colony. "We know our patrons can once again expect an entertaining and fantastic season."

He adds, "One of our Board members with an extensive family history in the drama commented that Robert Richmond 'got it-he understood what Paul Green wanted to say!'"

Richmond inspires his actors to exceed their expectations. Lost Colony Company Members will soon become familiar with Richmond's oft-coined inspirational motif, "We are in the pursuit of excellence!"

Excellence has followed throughout production designer William Ivey Long's career. Long's costume design work on Broadway has won him five Tony Awards. First associated with the production at age eight, he joined the company as a colonist boy. While his mother performed in front of the footlights as Queen Elizabeth I and his father worked as property master, technical director and director, Long spent numerous hours backstage under the eye of costume designer Irene Smart Rains, whose guidance and encouragement helped lay the foundation for his renowned and award winning career as a Broadway costume designer. The 2010 season will be Long's 40th year with the drama. Tony award-winning Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long returns for his 40th season with the production. First associated with the production as a young child of eight, Long's costume wizardry is now legendary. While his mother performed in front of the footlights as Queen Elizabeth I and his father worked as property master, technical director, and then director, Long spent numerous hours backstage under the eye of costume designer Irene Smart Rains, whose guidance and encouragement helped lay the foundation for his career as a Broadway costume designer.

Long's Broadway credits include Young Frankenstein; Curtains; Grey Gardens (Tony Award); The Producers (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards); A Streetcar Named Desire; La Cage Aux Folles; The Boy from Oz; Hairspray (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards); Cabaret; Contact (Hewes Award); The Music Man; Annie Get Your Gun; Swing; Steel Pier; Smokey Joe's Caf�; Crazy for You (Tony, Outer Critics Circle Awards); Guys and Dolls (Drama Desk Award); A Christmas Carol; Six Degrees of Separation; Lend Me a Tenor (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards); Nine (Tony, Drama Desk, Maharam Awards). Beyond the bright lights of Broadway, he has also designed for such artists as Mick Jagger, Siegfried and Roy, the Pointer Sisters, and for choreographers Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Peter Martins, David Parsons and Susan Stroman.

Ken Clifton is glad to be back on the familiar sands of Roanoke Island. This marks his eighth-year Clifton as music director for The Lost Colony. Clifton recently moved to Charleston, SC. His career spans from Maine to Minnesota, Carolina to Florida and several points in between. Clifton is also a vocal coach, and worked with the national tours of Oliver!, The Full Monty, Rent, and Sweet Charity. He prepared Jennifer Hudson for her award-winning role in Dreamgirls-the movie. Clifton has coached vocals for the Steinhardt School of Music at NYU, and written two full-length musicals produced in Florida: Midnight Clear and a musical version of A Christmas Carol. His work has been heard at Walt Disney World Orlando, Tokyo Disney, and the Disney Cruise Line.

In 2010, Sean Kelly was the "new man on the block," but this year he returns to bring to the production his skills as versatile dancer, chorographer and master teacher. Last year, Kelly was the resident director for the touring Broadway musical Movin' Out by Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp with music by Billy Joel. Previous to Movin' Out, Kelly was the dance supervisor and swing for the touring production of the musical Swing which performed extensively throughout the U.S. and Japan.

Kelly trained at the Marin Ballet, danced for two years with American Ballet Theater II and performed for many years with the Houston Ballet where he became principal dancer and eventually Ballet Master. He choreographed two ballets for the company. Kelly has been a guest artist, teacher and choreographer with numerous regional dance companies in the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Guam. In his career, he has had the opportunity to perform works by many world renowned choreographers such as Ben Stevenson, George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Christopher Bruce, and Stanton Welch.

Jim Hunter returns for his third season as lighting designer. Hunter's scene and lighting designs have been seen at such theatres as: Theatre Virginia, Phoenix Theatre, Charlotte Rep, Arkansas Rep, Florida Rep, Playhouse on the Square (Memphis), Drury Lane Theatre (Chicago), Heritage Repertory Theatre (VA), Flat Rock Playhouse (NC), as well as others. He designed the scenery for the national touring production of VeggieTales Live! Professor Hunter serves as Theatre and Dance Department Chair at the University of South Carolina and is artistic director of Theatre South Carolina.

Michael Rasbury will return to the artistic staff this year as sound designer. An assistant professor of theatre in sound design at the University of Virginia, Rasbury has extensive experience in recording, composition and sound design, and is a published ASCAP writer of most styles of music. While he has designed sound and/or composed music for numerous traditional theatres, he has also worked with a number of outdoor dramas-including Blue Jacket in Xenia, Ohio, where he was both composer and sound designer for 13 years.

Robert Midgette returns to The Lost Colony as fight director. This marks Midgette's 39th season with the production. For twenty-six years, he performed the role of Chief Manteo. His impressive theatrical record comes naturally - his father, mother, sister and brother were all involved in the production throughout the years. A native of Dare County, Midgette taught physical education and coached at Manteo for thirty years. He now works at First Flight High School. For four years, he served as fight captain and this year marks his fourth summer as fight director for the production. For his longtime service to The Lost Colony, the Roanoke Island Historical Association dedicated the 64th production season in Midgette's honor.

See what these talented artists have created when the production opens their 73 Anniversary Season on May 28, 2010. For tickets and information, call 252-473-3414 or visit www.thelostcolony.org.



About The Lost Colony

The Lost Colony, presented where the real-life events occurred more than 400 years ago, uses song, dance, comedy, and special effects to tell the story and mysterious disappearance of America's first English colony (1584-87). First staged in 1937, it is the nation's premier and longest-running symphonic drama. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony's 73rd Anniversary Season opens May 28 and plays through August 20.

For tickets and information, go to www.thelostcolony.org or call (252) 473-2127 or (252) 473-3414 (April through August). For accommodations information, visit www.outerbanks.org or call the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at 1-877-629-4368.



They're Back

PHOTO CUTLINES: (top) Carl V. Curnutte, Executive Director and Producer of The Lost Colony addresses the 2010 Company of the 73 Anniversary Season of the long-running outdoor drama. (bottom) Returning director Robert Richmond introduces himself to the Company and encourages them to strive towards excellence as they begin rehearsals for the drama set to open on May 28, 2010.



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