Virginia Dare Night baby auditions this Saturday at The Lost Colony

A Virginia Dare baby in 2017. [Photo courtesy The Lost Colony]

The 84th anniversary season of The Lost Colony commemorates the 434th birthday of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World to colonist Eleanor Dare on Aug. 18, 1587.

The Lost Colony continues its long celebrated tradition of using real babies during the Aug. 18 performance. Being a “Virginia Dare Baby” is a coveted role in the community that many local citizens have had the opportunity of being a part of. For Virginia Dare Night only, the prop baby swaddled in blankets, is replaced with these special guests. Virginia Dare Night is generously sponsored by First National Bank.

To be considered for the honor of appearing on stage, all babies must attend an audition meeting on Saturday, July 24 at 10 a.m. in The Lost Colony Admin Building located by the Elizabethan Gardens within Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.

The casting is open to all cheerful boys and girls that are 15 pounds or less. All Virginia Dare babies must be available for several hours on the evening of Aug. 18 for pre-show preparation and for The Lost Colony performance. All selected Virginia Dare babies will be introduced from the stage prior to the performance at 8:30 p.m.

More information is available on the website at thelostcolony.org or by calling the Ticket Office at (252) 473-2127. The Lost Colony runs nightly through August 21st, Mondays through Saturdays.

First staged in 1937, The Lost Colony is the nation’s longest-running outdoor symphonic drama. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony’s 84th season will run from May 28th through August 21st.