There is something spectacular happening deep in West Virginia's National Parklands. For more than forty years Theatre West Virginia has produced two outstanding outdoor performances at the Cliffside Amphitheatre in Grandview. This exquisite amphitheatre has been visited by more than one million people who were thrilled by the outdoor musical drama.

Along with entertaining at their outdoor theatre, Theatre West Virginia created the Acting Company in 1972 to tour communities and schools to broaden it's horizon to also be educationally helpful and informative. This is still the only professional and historical drama theatre in the state, and we are proud to have them in Southern West Virginia.

The theatre has the ability to relate to audiences in miraculous ways that makes the child in all of us come alive again. Theatre allows us to imagine, dream, and explore extraordinary people and places. Plays can touch our hearts and minds by instilling us with unforgettable stories. Dramas that recount the past such as "Honey in the Rock" and "Hatfields and McCoys" take us back in time and even if for only a couple of hours, let us feel as if we were a part of something historically magical.

Theatre West Virginia was founded in 1955 and began productions in 1961 with the opening performance of "Honey in the Rock." This drama revisits the trials and tribulations in the South during the Civil War, and plays out the birth of the Mountain State through diverse real and imagined characters. It is a play that every West Virginian would enjoy.

Theatre West Virginia's second drama of "Hatfields and McCoys" began in 1970 and quickly received much praise from all around. This historical feud between two families over the battle with pride and politics is relived every summer with great excitement. You would be hard pressed to find an American who doesn't know about the Hatfield-McCoy feud, but this play is another must see for every interested person.

Joining these two productions for this summer is the classic "The Wizard of Oz." Everyone knows the inspiring story of Dorothy Gale and her journey with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto too to the Emerald City to see the great and powerful Wizard of Oz! This play touches people of all ages and reminds us how to dream and reach for what lies just over the rainbow.

Grandview, West Virginia, in Raleigh County is a manageable drive no matter which direction you're traveling from. This summer production season runs from June 14th to August 28th. So, as Theatre West Virginia says, "grab your sweater and get ready to enjoy live theater, great music and the refreshing West Virginia night air!"

For more information about Theatre West Virginia including directions and tickets, be sure to visit their website at http://www.theatrewestvirginia.com/.

Of course there are many additional activities throughout West Virginia that I encourage everyone to enjoy. As tourism continues to boost our economy, it is often easy to forget that these wonderful attractions are available to us as well here in the Appalachians. I encourage everyone to rediscover West Virginia and one way to get started in the area is to visit the new "Discover Appalachia" feature of the National Geographic (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/) for maps and details of events and attractions that might also interest you.

This summer make the time to relax and enjoy a production by the Theatre West Virginia and visit any of the other many West Virginia attractions because all West Virginians know just like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" that there's no place like home.