“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” -Virginia Woolf

Six nights a week throughout the hot summer, the 120 company members of The Lost Colony perform in front of a house filled with first time visitors and returning fans for two hours wearing heavily draped costumes of course fabric, leather, fur and armor. It’s hard work and they love what they do, but as most young artists find; actors wages don’t allow for fine dining. Between rehearsals and second jobs, a good meal is hard to come by and is very much appreciated.

Roxie and Rufus Pritchard, owners of The Dunes Restaurant and Grits Grill in Nags Head, are passionate fans of The Lost Colony production. They speak highly of the production and how important the production is to this region for tourism and the rich history it shares with our visitors. Roxie and Rufus are dedicated longtime supporters and have found a special way to support The Lost Colony with their famous Dunes’ style southern hospitality. On Opening Night after the first performance, The Dunes delivers to the Waterside Theatre a delicious meal of fried chicken, Carolina barbeque and all the fixings for all the company members to welcome them and celebrate their first night. At the end of the season, The Dunes Restaurant delivers another special meal to the company members to thank them for a season of hard work. Proclaimed the best meals of the season, company members love The Dunes and the wonderful meals they receive. Roxie and Rufus even make it a point to hire company members to help in the restaurant. It is a much appreciated and deeply rewarding partnership.

This year The Dunes Restaurant, Roxie and Rufus, were presented the Skipper Bell Award from the Roanoke Island Historical Association. Established 26 years ago, The Skipper Bell Award pays tribute to the late Albert Quentin “Skipper” Bell, long-time champion of the mission and vision of the Roanoke Island Historical Association, and architect of Waterside Theatre. This award recognizes remarkable encouragement of The Lost Colony, as demonstrated by Skipper Bell and his family, and honors sustained benefaction to the well-being of The Lost Colony. What better benefaction is there than to feed a group of starving artists!