Waterside Theatre to receive new seating ahead of 2022 season of The Lost Colony
Published 8:50 am Sunday, January 23, 2022
- All seats in Fort Raleigh National Historic Site's Waterside Theatre were removed late last year. National Park Service photo
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site awarded a $236,000 contract to Irwin Seating of Grand Rapids, Mich. on Dec. 30, 2021 to fabricate and install new seating in the park’s Waterside Theatre on the north end of Roanoke Island, home of “The Lost Colony” outdoor symphonic drama.
Per the contract, Irwin Seating 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 of 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 was 1998. Since that time, individual seats have been replaced as needed.