Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama
Casting Notice and Info
About Us: Unto These Hills outdoor drama in Cherokee, North Carolina is casting and hiring for the
2023 summer season. Unto These Hills is operated by Cherokee Historical Association and located
on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, NC. It is the third oldest outdoor drama in the country and has
been seen by over six million visitors since it opened in 1950. The drama tells the story of the
formation of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from first contact with Europeans through the
years following the Trail of Tears. It takes a cast and crew of over 70 people to bring this story to life
at Mountainside Theatre each summer.
Dates: Technician contracts for the 2023 season are May 1st through August 26th. Actor contracts
are May 5th through August 19th. Many of our company members are college students, and our
contract dates usually work well with school obligations.
Perks: Salaries typically range from $250 to $450 per week, depending on the position or role. In
addition to a paid weekly salary, Unto These Hills company members have access to many other
benefits. We have company housing units within walking distance to the theatre. There is a small
housing fee to live in company housing for the summer. We offer fight classes through the Society of
American Fight Directors at an extremely discounted rate. We have a black box season, known as
the Canteen Season, where company members produce their own shows in a small black box on
company property. We also have a ticket exchange program that provides free admission to Unto
These Hills company members at over 30 attractions in the area.
Rehearsal: We rehearse 8 out of 10 hours, Monday through Saturday each week. Once the show is
open, we also have shows Monday through Saturday each week. Company members mostly have
their days free with the exception of a weekly work call and any necessary understudy rehearsals.
Audition Info: We are looking for artists that are serious about the work and take care and respect in
telling this important story. We hire a variety of experience levels and actors of all ethnicities. We
prioritize casting Indigenous actors in the Indigenous roles, but we welcome all to audition. We will be
casting at UPTA, SOTA, and SETC. If you’re interested in auditioning with us but not attending any of
those auditions, please email our Artistic Director, Marina Hunley-Graham at
Marina@CherokeeAdventure.com with your headshot, resume, and audition package.
Hiring Info: We are currently accepting resumes for all technical positions for the 2023 season.
Areas of interest are lighting, audio, pyrotechnics, costumes, stage management, carpentry, and
general technicians. We have a high rate of return from year to year, so we cannot guarantee that a
position will be available in your desired area of interest. By mid-January, we will know exactly which
positions are open and have more detailed information about each. Please note, we are not seeking
designers or directors at this time. We hire a variety of experience levels and technicians of all
ethnicities. We prioritize hiring Indigenous individuals when possible. To apply, please email your
resume and headshot (if available) to Chelsey Moore at Chelsey@CherokeeAdventure.com.
For more information, please contact us or visit our website CherokeeHistorical.org