Kermit Hunter
Encyclopedia
Kermit Houston Hunter American
playwright
known primarily for writing outdoor historical dramas.
Born in McDowell County
, West Virginia
in 1910, Hunter went on to Ohio State University
where he graduated in 1931. After graduation, he held a number of jobs and joined the U.S. Army
in 1940. After rising to the rank
of lieutenant colonel
, he became the assistant chief of staff of the Caribbean Defense Command. He was later awarded the Legion of Merit
. After World War II
, he served as the business manager for the North Carolina Symphony
.
In 1947, Hunter decided to pursue graduate studies in the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. While enrolled, three of Hunter's plays were produced by the Carolina Playmakers, a dramatic group at the University. When the Cherokee Historical Association began looking for a playwright to write an outdoor drama to be performed in Cherokee, North Carolina
, Hunter won the commission and wrote his most famous play Unto These Hills
. The play opened July 1, 1950 and still plays on at the Mountainside Theatre. He also wrote the play for the Cherokee Nation
based in Tahlequah, OK, The Trail of Tears. This play was performed each summer at the Cherokee Heritage Center
located south of Tahlequah
until the mid-90's.
After receiving his masters, Hunter remained in Chapel Hill
to pursue his Ph.D.
. After receiving his Ph.D in 1955, he accepted the position of professor of drama
at Hollins College (now Hollins University
) in Roanoke, Virginia
. Leaving Hollins in 1964, he became the first dean
of the Meadows School of Arts at Southern Methodist University
in Dallas, Texas
. After stepping down as dean in 1976, he remained at Southern Methodist as a writer in residence until 1978. After leaving Southern Methodist he was named as a senior lecturer
at the University of Texas at Arlington
. He retired in 1993 and died in Dallas on April 11, 2001.
During his extraordinary career, Hunter wrote over 40 historical dramas that were performed all over the United States
. Of these dramas, only three, Unto These Hills, Horn in the West
in Boone, North Carolina
and Honey in the Rock in Beckley, West Virginia
, are still performed at present.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
known primarily for writing outdoor historical dramas.
McDowell County, West Virginia
McDowell County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The land that became McDowell was originally part of Tazewell County, Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,113. Its county seat is Welch. McDowell county is the southern-most county in the state, geographically...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in 1910, Hunter went on to Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
where he graduated in 1931. After graduation, he held a number of jobs and joined the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1940. After rising to the rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
, he became the assistant chief of staff of the Caribbean Defense Command. He was later awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as the business manager for the North Carolina Symphony
North Carolina Symphony
The North Carolina Symphony is an American orchestra based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with sixty-nine full time musicians. The orchestra performs in Meymandi Concert Hall and performs occasionally with the Carolina Ballet and the The Opera Company of North Carolina. In 2007, the organization...
.
In 1947, Hunter decided to pursue graduate studies in the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. While enrolled, three of Hunter's plays were produced by the Carolina Playmakers, a dramatic group at the University. When the Cherokee Historical Association began looking for a playwright to write an outdoor drama to be performed in Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S...
, Hunter won the commission and wrote his most famous play Unto These Hills
Unto These Hills
Unto These Hills is an outdoor historical drama staged annually at the 2800-seat Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee, North Carolina. It is the second oldest outdoor historical drama in the United States, after The Lost Colony in Manteo, North Carolina...
. The play opened July 1, 1950 and still plays on at the Mountainside Theatre. He also wrote the play for the Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
based in Tahlequah, OK, The Trail of Tears. This play was performed each summer at the Cherokee Heritage Center
Cherokee Heritage Center
The Cherokee Heritage Center is a non-profit historical society and museum campus that seeks to preserve the historical and cultural artifacts, language, and traditional crafts of the Cherokee. The Heritage center also hosts the central genealogy database and genealogy research center for the...
located south of Tahlequah
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
until the mid-90's.
After receiving his masters, Hunter remained in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
to pursue his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
. After receiving his Ph.D in 1955, he accepted the position of professor of drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
at Hollins College (now Hollins University
Hollins University
Hollins University is a four-year institution of higher education, a private university located on a campus on the border of Roanoke County, Virginia and Botetourt County, Virginia...
) in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
. Leaving Hollins in 1964, he became the first dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Meadows School of Arts at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. After stepping down as dean in 1976, he remained at Southern Methodist as a writer in residence until 1978. After leaving Southern Methodist he was named as a senior lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
. He retired in 1993 and died in Dallas on April 11, 2001.
During his extraordinary career, Hunter wrote over 40 historical dramas that were performed all over the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Of these dramas, only three, Unto These Hills, Horn in the West
Horn in the West
Horn in the West, by Kermit Hunter, is an outdoor drama produced every summer since 1952 in the Daniel Boone Amphitheatre in Boone, North Carolina . The show, the oldest revolutionary war drama in the United States, is about the life and times of the first people to settle the mountains of western...
in Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
and Honey in the Rock in Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
, are still performed at present.
Works Published
- Beyond the Sundown
- Brighthope
- Chucky Jack
- Dust in Her Petticoats
- The Eleventh Hour
- Forever This Land
- The Home Road
- Honey in the Rock
- Horn in the West
- The Liberty Tree
- Next Day in the Morning
- Stars in My Crown
- The Third Frontier
- The Trail of Tears
- Unto These Hills
- Voice in the Wind
- Walk Towards Sunset
External links
- http://www.theatrewestvirginia.com/honey-in-the-rock.html
- http://www.horninthewest.com
- http://www.untothesehills.com