UPDATED: The Lost Colony’s Waterside Theatre to get new seats by May

The old seats in Waterside Theatre at Fort Raleigh National Park Service were removed in November 2021. [NPS photo]

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site awarded a $236,000 contract on Dec. 30, 2021 to fabricate and install new seating in the park’s Waterside Theatre, home of “The Lost Colony” outdoor symphonic drama.

Irwin Seating of Grand Rapids, Michigan will fabricate approximately 1,600 outdoor theater seats with cupholders and install them by May 1, 2022. More than a dozen seats will be wheelchair accessible.

“We thank the Roanoke Island Historical Association for their longstanding partnership and assistance with removing the old, weathered seats,” said David Hallac, superintendent, National Parks of Eastern North Carolina. “We are so pleased to provide new, high quality seating for the tens of thousands of visitors that enjoy “The Lost Colony” performance each summer.”

The last time the Waterside Theatre received a full replacement of seats occurred in 1998. Since that time, individual seats have been replaced as needed.

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