Kermit Hunter
Kermit Hunter | |
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Occupation | playwright |
Kermit Houston Hunter (3 October 1910 – 11 April 2001) was an American
Early life, education and military service
Born in
Hunter joined the
Graduate work and academic career
After
The Cherokee Historical Association was looking for a playwright to write an
The Cherokee Nation based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the largest tribe, also commissioned Hunter to write a drama. He completed The Trail of Tears. This drama covered their history and especially their forced removal to Oklahoma in 1838, then known as Indian Territory. This play was performed each summer from 1969 through 2005 at the Cherokee Heritage Center located south of Tahlequah.[2]
After completing his master's degree, Hunter continued graduate studies at Chapel Hill. He received his Ph.D. in 1955, and started working as a professor of drama at Hollins College (now Hollins University) in Roanoke, Virginia.
In 1964, Hunter became the first
Hunter wrote more than 40 historical dramas, which were performed in communities throughout the United States. It became a popular form in the second half of the 20th century, as Americans reflected on their history and widened their interest in groups who were part of that history. Of these, three continue to be produced: Unto These Hills, Horn in the West in Boone, North Carolina; and Honey in the Rock in Beckley, West Virginia. In other areas, changing tastes and competition from new media reduced the audiences so that local productions closed.
Published works
- 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 Bell and The Plow
- The Third Frontier
- The Trail of Tears
- Unto These Hills
- Voice in the Wind
- Walk Towards Sunset
References
- ^ Makio. Columbus: The Ohio State University. 1919. p. 171.
- ^ D. Sean Rowley (September 5, 2020). "CHC amphitheater was something to remember". Cherokee Phoenix.