BECKLEY, W.Va. — After a five-year pause, the outdoor drama "Honey in the Rock" is returning to the stage at the Cliffside Amphitheatre at Grandview as part of an initiative to reach national park visitors and dedicated local patrons.
According to general manager Gayle Oaks, along with "Hatfields & McCoys," the musical drama will be performed in repertoire in June 2024 as the production company Theatre West Virginia returns to its roots as a provider of cultural entertainment.
Oaks said that with the boost in tourism that resulted from the creation of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2020, investment in historical dramas was a profitable direction.
"Heritage tourism is far and away the leading sector of the tourism market in the U.S.," Oaks said, "and we recognize that's what many of the 1.7 million tourists coming to the park each year want."
"We'll continue to provide annual summer performances of national shows such as 'Footloose,' which will be performed in July, but the historical dramas unique to West Virginia are what visitors and local patrons have always been attracted to."
The story of the state's tumultuous birth, "Honey in the Rock," was first performed in 1961 at the open-air theater, designed specifically for summer stock performances and located near the park's panoramic Grandview overlook.
The historical drama "Hatfield & McCoys" debuted on the stage at Grandview in 1970, and together, the two performances became leading tourist attractions in southern West Virginia.
- "Honey in the Rock" will be performed on June 18, 20, 22, 26, 28, and 30.
- "Hatfield & McCoys" will be performed on June 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29.
- "Footloose," a non-historic musical tale of teens who attempt to overturn a ban on dancing in their town, will be performed July 11-14, 16-21, and 23-28.
Tickets for dramas can be purchased online at TheatreWestVirginia.org or by calling 304-256-6800. Tickets may also be purchased online at Hatfields & McCoys, Honey in the Rock, and Footloose.
