Firefighters succeeded in controlling the devastating blaze, but the entire contents of the costume shop of “The Lost Colony,” which includes 80 percent of the active production costumes, were consumed by an early morning fire on Tuesday, Sept. 11.  The swift reaction of firefighters and Dare County Emergency Management saved the Waterside Theatre and remaining buildings.
Despite the loss, which is estimated to be between $1 million and $2 million, the show will go on. “The Lost Colony” producing organization, the Roanoke Island Historical Association board of directors, had an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss future plans for the rebuilding and replacement of the costume shop.


“Whenever there is a disaster of this magnitude, you put one foot in front of another and keep going.  You don’t look behind, you look to the future.  ‘The Lost Colony’ has rebounded from tragedy before and the show will go on next season.  This dream will live forever,” said John Tucker, chairman of the board of directors of the association (RIHA), producer of play.
 

The outpouring of support from friends, alumni, and the community has been a source of comfort for “The Lost Colony” company.  East Carolina Bank is accepting donations for the Costume Shop Replacement Fund at all branch locations.  Additional donation information can be found at www.thelostcolony.org or by calling 252-473-2127.


“The Lost Colony” is the nation’s longest-running outdoor symphonic drama. The play tells the story of 117 men, women, and children who sailed in 1587 from England to Roanoke Island to establish the first English colony in the New World. They were last seen in August, 1587, when their governor left for England for supplies. When he finally returned three years later, there was so sign of the colony, and no trace has been found since.  It’s a mystery that still baffles and intrigues historians.
 

The play was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green and has been produced every summer at Roanoke Island since 1937, except during World War II.