AUDITIONS FOR THE 2025 SEASON ARE OPEN!

Auditions:

Saturday, January 25th, from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Saturday, February 1st, from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM

LOCATION: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

375 W King St, Boone, NC 28607

This summer, Horn in the West is coming back with a fresh, community-driven twist! As we celebrate our 73rd season, the drama will take place in an intimate setting at the Hickory Ridge History Museum, making the story of Western North Carolina and Watauga County more personal than ever.

This year, we’re focusing on rebuilding, recovering our sense of community, and returning to our pioneer roots. Directed by the talented and community-connected Clarinda Ross, this season offers a unique opportunity to step into history, whether you're an experienced performer or just looking for a fun and meaningful way to spend your summer.

How You Can Get Involved

We’re seeking local actors, musicians, singers, and volunteers of all ages and skill levels to bring this special season to life.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Real couples to portray villagers, community members, and families.

• Families to participate together as part of our cast.

• Local choirs, musicians, and drama clubs to add their voices to our production.

• Volunteer performers to serve as background characters, dancers, or extras.

• Musicians and singers to feature traditional hymns and folk songs.

Whether you’ve been onstage before or have always wanted to try, we’d love to have you join us!

Why Join Us?

• Low Time Commitment: Performances are just 3 nights a week for 4 weekends:
  July 10, 11, 12
  July 17, 18, 19
  July 24, 25, 26
  July 31, August 1, 2

• Fun & Educational Experience: Work with Clarinda Ross, a professional director, playwright, and teacher with deep roots in the High Country. She specializes in creating enriching, joyful productions.

• Bring History to Life: Be part of a cherished tradition in Boone, one of the longest-running outdoor dramas in America, since 1952. Our only season missed was 2020!

• Community Pride: This is your chance to help shape a truly local version of Horn in the West, celebrating the stories and spirit of Watauga County.

• Live Music & Fun Atmosphere: Contribute to a production full of live music, laughter, and camaraderie.

Ready to Join?

Whether you’re interested in acting, singing, or simply helping behind the scenes, Horn in the West needs you! Sign up today and be part of a production that brings our community closer together and keeps our history alive for generations to come.

For more information or to get involved, email us at horninthewesthickoryridge@gmail.com or submit your application here.

We can’t wait to see you on stage (or behind the scenes) this summer!

ADDITIONALLY, we are auditioning for Mutz-Mag an Appalachian Folktale by Clarinda Ross!

Mutz-Mag

an Appalachian Folktale

by Clarinda Ross

CAST

Narrator: Mountain Woman, a grandmother, outgoing, expressive, and involved in the story.

The Fox: personified as a “City Slicker”, sneaky, self-serving, keenly observant, has respect for Mutz-Mag’s gumption.

Mutz-Mag: a poor little wisp of a girl, treated badly by her ne’er-do-well siblings, kind, smart, hard-working, optimistic, never gives up.

Polly and Paddy: physically larger than Mutz-Mag and older by some years, they are mean and selfish. They wear matching outfits and they tell tall-tales. Polly is meaner than Paddy.

Widder Woman: tired and frail

Witch Woman: mean, nasty, and bad ugly

The Giant: sort of dumb, speaks slowly, given to bouts of violence

The King: Scottish, kind and generous, could double with Giant

The Queen: Native American, motherly, kind, can double with Witch or Widder Woman

I would literally wrestle a bear Daniel Boone style to go see this show.

- Guest Jeremiah

CAST BREAKDOWN (May be adjusted to fit our 2025 Structure)

Dr. Stuart: The patriarch of the Stuart family, He is a starch British Loyalist and is the Regimental Surgeon for the Royal Militia. Stuart loves his family and would do anything for them. He is very stubborn and hot headed and is totally against the Revolutionary Cause. After getting news the war is on their doorstep he begrudgingly has a change a heart and joins the Patriots in their fight for Independence.

Martha Stuart: Matriarch to the Stuart family and sister of Royal Governor William Tryon. She is quick to abandon her Loyalist values for the safety of her family. She is an independent and caring member of the new settler’s community.

Jack Stuart: Son of Dr. and Martha Stuart. An arrogant hotheaded rebel who is infatuated with the idea of independence from Great Britain. He is very determined to join the fight for independence against his fathers wishes. He is in love with Mary Greene who is kind of a weakness for him.

Mary Greene: A kind orphan girl who is adopted by Widow Howard after her father is killed. She falls in love with Jack Stuart.

Widow Howard: Matriarch of the entire settlement who is wise beyond her years. She has a “slight” crush on Sims and always seems to butt heads with him.

Rev. Sims: Patriarch of the settlement who is also wise beyond his years and very religious. He wants to ensure that their community is left in peace.

Capt. Mackenzie: Commander of the Royal Militia (Loyalist) under Governor Tryon. Later becomes agent to the Cherokee. Is brutal and takes no prisoners and his ultimate goal is to crush the rebellion at any cost no matter how many he has to kill to reach it.

Dragging Canoe: Cherokee War Chief and son of Attakullakulla. Is opposed to white settlement in Cherokee territory and trusts Captain Mackenzie to help regain their land.

Nancy Ward: Cousin of Dragging Canoe and ally of the settlers. Her main goal is peace between the Cherokee and Settlers. She will risk her standing with the Cherokee to warn her allies of impending attacks.

Attakullakulla: Chief of the Cherokee Wolf Clan. Like Nancy Ward prefers peace but wants the Cherokee People to make their own decision.

Gov. William Tryon: Royal Governor of North Carolina. He and Mackenzie crush the Regulators at Alamance. Has no sympathy for who take up arms against the crown. Sees himself as the eyes, ears, voice, and fist of the Crown in North Carolina.

Maj. Patrick Ferguson: British Officer who commands the Loyalist Forces in the Carolinas. Ferguson is the polar opposite of Mackenzie and is a man of honor.

Daniel Boone: Frontiersman who helps guide the Stuarts and settlers into the Appalachian Mountains. He is a voice of reason throughout the story.