ABOUT TEXAS- A MUSICAL ROMANCE OF TEXAS PANHANDLE HISTORY
OUR SHOW WAS BORN in 1960 when Margaret Harper read an article in Reader’s Digest about a playwright and author named Paul Green. Mr. Green had recreated the history of several regions about the nation in tremendous dramas with pageantry and music. Mrs. Harper wrote to Paul Green and began corresponding with him about the land, people and beauty of Palo Duro Canyon. As interest in the prospect of an outdoor theater began to grow, a small group of Canyon families funded the first trip for Paul Green to come to the Panhandle later that year. Mr. Green immediately dedicated himself to the project of bringing the history of the High Plains to the stage. The support organization eventually expanded to include Amarillo and all the surrounding area.
A LONE HORSEMAN, carrying the flag of the great state of Texas appears atop a 600-foot cliff, signaling the beginning of the most spectacular outdoor musical drama in the nation. With a moving swell of the music, the horseman gallops across the rim. Suddenly, a cast of more than 60 actors, singers and dancers take the stage to kick off the show that millions of fans from all around the world have come to see.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHOW set against an authentic tapestry of history, the show’s fictional characters bring to life the stories, struggles and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle in the 1800's. Song and dance abound – and a generous helping of good ol’ Texas humor too – with spellbinding lighting and special effects.
THE BEAUTIFUL PIONEER AMPHITHEATER...carved out of and nestled into a natural basin in the majestic Palo Duro Canyon - the nation's second-largest canyon- comes alive once again this summer for the 60th season of the Official Play of the State of Texas.
- Preshow Entertainment: Explore Palo Duro Canyon State Park at your own pace along a scenic drive of Park Road 5, stop by the Palo Duro Canyon Visitor Center located in the El Coronado Lodge, visit the Pioneer Amphitheatre Souvenir Shop, and if you’re parked in overflow, enjoy a tractor ride to the theatre before the show.
- Chuck Wagon BBQ Dinner: Authentic Texas BBQ, All the Sides, Dessert, Served Under Covered Patio