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Tamer of Fire and Flood
 On
July 24, 1947 a night watchman discovered a small
blaze backstage at Waterside Theatre. By the time help
arrived, the entire theatre had burned to the ground.
The only items saved from the blaze were the assembly
bell, which is still used in the show, and several of
the costumes which were pitched into the Roanoke Sound
by quick-thinking costumer
Irene Rains.
With help of the local community, the theatre was
rebuilt in only six days.
Just after the close of
the 1960 production season, Hurricane
Donna
swept over Roanoke
Island with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The
devastating storm surge left Waterside Theatre in ruins
for a second time. The theatre was once again
reconstructed, and was ready in time for the 1961
production season.
Disaster struck
Waterside Theatre again on September 11, 2007. Just
after the close of the historic 70th
Anniversary Season, an early morning fire consumed the
costume shop, two outlying buildings and their
contents. Over 80% of the production’s costumes were
lost including vintage costumes from the early decades
of the long-running production. Thanks to overwhelming
local and national support, costumes were constructed
just in time for the 71st production season
to open on May 30, 2008. The production you see tonight
features these new costumes. |
