'SATW!' gets new leadership

By Mark Locklear - Staff writer

PEMBROKE - A new nonprofit organization wants to revive the foundering outdoor drama "Strike at the Wind!"

Officials with Carolina Arts Network say they hope to stage the 29-year-old play about Henry Berry Lowrie in 2006.

The drama had been overseen by the Robeson Historical Drama Association since 1976, but has not been performed since 2003 and will not show this year.

Willie French Lowery, who owns the rights to the play's music, said it was time for a change. He and playwright Randolph Umberger signed over the rights to the Carolina Arts Network last year.

"For 30 years the local people have come through for "Strike at the Wind!"," Lowery said. "We didn't go outside of Robeson County that much to solicit funds. But now we've got a new direction."

Malinda Maynor, a member of the network's board of directors, said there are no plans to move the play from the traditional site at the Adolph Dial Amphitheater at the N.C. Indian Cultural Center near Pembroke.

Maynor, a documentary filmmaker, said the new group is focusing on soliciting money outside the county and state. It will seek money in either a loan or grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"We plan to take the production to a new level," Maynor said.

Maynor said the play needs a bigger budget, a broad marketing campaign and a general manager. More money will pay for better costumes, training for actors, higher salaries for cast and crew, better stage lighting and sound.

She also wants to get drama students at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and surrounding colleges and universities involved.

"We see "Strike at The Wind!" as an economic development for the entire region," she said. "The play enhances the local community's historical and cultural value and can educate people outside the county. We want to make sure the community feels it has ownership over the drama, but also make sure outsiders have access to the story.

"To ensure the future health of the drama, we need to get between 20,000 to 30,000 visitors each summer," Maynor said.

Lowery said they plan to offer religious plays at the amphitheater on the nights the play isn't being performed.

"The former board did tremendous work," Lowery. "We don't want this to sound like a takeover. It's not. It's a continuation."

Pearlean Revels, Robeson Historical Drama president, said there are no hostile feelings between the two groups. Revels said she has been asked to serve on the Carolina Arts Network's advisory board.

"It's just under new leadership and we support them," Revels said.

Revels said a lack of money led to the show closing in 2004. The show closed for three summers in 1996, 1997 and 1998. It reopened in 1999. The show normally is paired with Lumbee Homecoming at the end of June and the first part of July.

"We went for 25 years but the last couple years it was nearly impossible because we couldn't raise the funds to continue to put it on," Revels said. "They are going to work at a different angle."

Diane Jones, vice chairman of Robeson Historical Drama , agreed.

"We want what's best for the drama and if new blood can come in revitalize it ... the full board indicated that we would support that," Jones said. "We don't have to be running the show."

Maynor said the group plans to continue the annual art dinner, the play's largest fund-raiser.

David Oxendine, the play's director, said its budget should far exceed the $60,000 it usually works off of to be successful.

"Ideally, it needs to be $500,000," Oxendine said. "That's wishful thinking."

Oxendine has been involved with the play since 1983 and directed it for 13 years.

"We had 17 board members but it came down to just a handful doing the work," Oxendine said. "That led to burnout. The drama fell by the wayside. I think new ideas need to be generated. The biggest change will be our business plan and how to raise money ... not just raise money in this area.

"We want to have tourists from all over the state. After 25 years, the local folks have seen the show."

Corbin Eddings, who portrayed Henry Berry Lowrie the past two seasons, likes what he is seeing.

"Sometimes the vision gets somewhat limited," Eddings said. "From a marketing standpoint, you can't expect local people to support a drama of that size. The locals have been loyal, but we've got to reach out further. I think we will be OK."