BECKLEY, W.Va. — The historical outdoor dramas "Hatfields & McCoys" and "Honey in the Rock" will return to the Cliffside Amphitheater at Grandview this week and run through the end of the month.
After a five-year pause, the drama "Honey in the Rock," the story of the birth of West Virginia, is returning to the stage in repertoir with "Hatfields & McCoys" as the theater company returns to its roots as a provider of cultural entertainment.
According to general manager Gayle Oaks, the boost in tourism that resulted from the creation of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2020 made the return to historical dramas profitable.
"Heritage tourism is by far the leading sector of the tourism market in the U.S.," Oaks said, "and 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 June 18, 20, 22, 26, 28, and 30.
- "Hatfield & McCoys" will be performed 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 small 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.
Direct links to tickets for the shows are:
HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS
https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1041095/hatfields-and-mccoys-beckley-cliffside-ampitheatre
HONEY IN THE ROCK
https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1041094/honey-in-the-rock-beckley-cliffside-ampitheatre
FOOTLOOSE
https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1041098/footloose-beckley-cliffside-ampitheatre
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