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You can feel an ever so slight chill run up your spine. But it is not from the mountain winds shifting their direction in anticipation of the coming dusk, it is from your anticipation of the coming drama. It is a feeling millions before you have felt as the lights dim and you are transported back to the beginning of time, through the pageantry of one of the longest running outdoor dramas in the U.S. It is the same reaction visitors have had since the first showing of "Unto These Hills" nearly six million tickets ago. But it is also very different from the drama of days past. This year the show has been completely re-concepted with a new director, new script, new cast, new costumes, and new choreography that will better portray the unique story of the Cherokee, from a decidedly Cherokee viewpoint.

In 1947, Western North Carolina Associated Communities, a group of forward-thinking business people from nine counties surrounding Cherokee, NC, decided presenting an outdoor drama about the Cherokee would bolster local tourism. They could not have been more correct. The committee chose for the drama's location an old nursery on a hillside. It was the perfect location as it was sheltered from the wind, and presented a natural bowl which could be transformed into an 2,800-seat ampitheater, and which thoroughly integrated the stage with its natural surroundings Š right down to the sunset behind the audience and the moonrise above the stage, lending an additional air of mystery to the drama.

"Unto These Hills" debuted on July 1, 1950. It featured a cast of more than 100 performers, 350 costumes and the buzz more akin to Broadway than the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was an instant success, exceeding all expectations and retiring its debt in a month (a feat even a die-hard Broadway producer would envy). By 1957, the production had attracted its millionth attendee.

The show thrived for many years and has entertained three generations of visitors, but times changed and with it a new sense of cultural pride and identity emerged among the Cherokee. There was a growing call for more authenticity and Cherokee involvement ­both on- and offstage. This year's totally re-concepted production is the answer to that chorus for change.

As "Unto These Hills" approaches it's 59th season, it promises to be more culturally accurate as well as entertaining. This year¹s show is under the direction of Eddie Swimmer, who is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Eddie is one of the original members of the famed American Indian Dance Theatre and is a champion hoop dancer. He has been involved in many productions over the years from television to the big screen.The show features a cast of mostly Native Americans, breathtaking costumes, and exciting new choreography.

The new play traces the Cherokee people through the aeons, through the zenith of their power, through the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears, finally ending, appropriately, in the present day, where the Cherokee people, much like their newly rescripted drama, continue to rewrite their place in the world. A place based on traditional Cherokee values and modern sensibilities.

Ticketing and performance information

General Admission: Adults 13 and older, $18.00; Children 0-12: $8.00. Call for pricing of a family pack Family Pack: 2 free tickets for children 6-12 with the purchase of 1 adult ticket.
Reserved: Adults 13 and older, $22.00; Children 0-12, $10.00
Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Groups are encouraged to make advance reservations and must pay in full at least TWO WEEKS prior to date of arrival. Cancellations must be made TWO WEEKS in advance to receive a refund. For any questions on group info please call 828-497-2111 ext 204.

To purchase tickets by phone, call toll free 1-866-554-4557, then press 2 to speak with a box office attendant.
Tickets are also available at the Cherokee Historical Association offices on Tsali Blvd., across the street from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian (off Highway 441 N) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and at the Mountainside Theater (during summer season - also located off 441 N) 4:00 p.m. until show time.
Paid reservations are held for late arrival. All tickets are held at the box office. (Check, Visa, & Mastercard accepted)

Location:
Mountainside Theatre is located on Drama Road in Cherokee, NC.
Additional Information:
Length of Performance: 2 hours; No charge for parking; No performances on Sundays; No Smoking in seating area. Handicapped accessible parking and seating are available, please call 1-866-554-4557 for information.