NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1967 SESSION

CHAPTER 1048
SENATE BILL 100

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE VAGABOND SCHOOL OF THE DRAMA, INC., KNOWN AS THE STATE THEATRE OF NORTH CAROLINA, FOR OPERATION, CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION.

WHEREAS, in 1940 the Vagabond Players, a theatrical group from the State of New York, converted a hundred year old grist mill into the Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake, Flat Rock, North Carolina, to establish successfully the State's first professional summer theatre; and
WHEREAS, during World War II, the Vagabond Players were disbanded but were reorganized in 1948 to continue theatrical productions at Flat Rock, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, in 1952, the Vagabond Players were reorganized under the direction of a regional board of directors from the Carolinas and developed into a nonprofit, educational and cultural corporation; and
WHEREAS, the present Vagabond School and Playhouse is located at Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina, and is situated in the heart of the vacation land of Western North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, patrons from all fifty states and some foreign countries attend performances of the Flat Rock Playhouse during its theatrical season; and
WHEREAS, the Vagabond Players of the Flat Rock Playhouse rank as one of the best summer stock companies of our country; and
WHEREAS, the Vagabond School of Drama, under the direction of a regional board of directors, operates a summer school at the Flat Rock Playhouse; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the School of Drama, a professional theatre is operated for a minimum of ten weeks during the summer months at the Flat Rock Playhouse, and in 1965-66 offered a two-week summer workshop for North Carolina teachers of English and drama; and
WHEREAS, the Flat Rock Playhouse is one of the oldest summer attractions in the State and is the second most popular summer attraction in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the Flat Rock Playhouse produces a minimum of ten plays in the State of North Carolina during the summer theatrical season; and
WHEREAS, for no monetary consideration, the Flat Rock Playhouse assisted the State of North Carolina in its work of advertising and promoting the educational, cultural and economic interests of the State, and in attracting and encouraging people from other states and countries to visit the State where so many shrines and historical sites are located; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of North Carolina at its 1959 Session recognized the Flat Rock Playhouse as the Western North Carolina Theatre; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly in 1961 Session recognized the Flat Rock Playhouse for its contribution over a period of twenty-two years to the cultural life of this State by recognizing it as the State Theatre of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, in order to qualify for a substantial Ford Foundation grant, it is necessary for the State Theatre of North Carolina to operate for a minimum of thirty-two weeks in each year; and
WHEREAS, the financial assistance of the State of North Carolina is necessary to provide needed buildings, improvements and for the expansion of operations: Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated out of the General Fund of North Carolina to the Vagabond School of the Drama, Inc., the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1967 and ending June 30, 1968, for the operation, construction and expansion of the State Theatre of North Carolina at Flat Rock, North Carolina.
Sec. 2.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 3.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 3rd day of July, 1967.