Old Tom: The Lost Colony’s Most Loveable Character

With his iconic line “Roanoke, O Roanoke, thou hast made a man of me!” The Lost Colony character of Old Tom has long been seen as a symbol of the local community. So it is especially meaningful that this year The Lost Colony has cast a local actor in the role of Old Tom for the first time in 30 years.

After five seasons playing Governor White, local actor and Manteo High School English teacher Stuart Parks is thrilled to step into the role of Old Tom. He says he auditioned for Old Tom multiple times over the years, refining his accent and deepening his interpretation of the character.

“I've always been kind of fascinated by the character,” Parks says. “I mean, he's a fun little guy. He's got a really big character arc. He starts off as a hopeless old drunk and turns out to be quite a responsible, upstanding citizen.”

Parks moved to the Outer Banks with his wife, Lara, in 2008. The couple lives in an A-frame house in Colington Harbour, surrounded by trees and raccoons, with their two sons, Finnegan, 22, and Oliver, 20.

In addition to his work with The Lost Colony since 2014, Parks has been deeply involved with Theatre of Dare. He served as president of the organization for four years before stepping down this May. He’s performed in at least one production per year — sometimes as many as four per year — including roles such as the romantic lead in Harvey, King Arthur in Spamalot, Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and his favorite, Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. His wife remains on the board and active in the theater community. Parks also directs student productions at Manteo High School.

For The Lost Colony this year, assuming he would not get the part for Old Tom, he auditioned again for Governor White. But on a whim, the casting team asked him to read for Old Tom, and this time he landed the role. He feels especially honored to be the first local in decades to play the part, which was once traditionally reserved for Outer Banks residents.

“It's kind of a really big deal,” Parks says. “That's one of the things the locals go on about, that they used to have more locals in the show, and I know a lot more of my fellow actors on the Outer Banks auditioned this year than normal. So they're looking to bring that local aspect back into it. And look at me leading the charge as Old Tom!”

Parks describes Old Tom as the rogue of the play, a contrast to the idealism of characters like John Borden and Eleanor Dare. While those characters dream of a Utopian future in the New World, Old Tom is the realist. At the start of the story, he is irritable and cynical, skeptical of democracy and reluctant to work. He is given tasks he does not enjoy, but eventually, through hard work and perseverance, he becomes a better person and an important part of the colony.

“I do share a good characteristic with Old Tom, and that is that I am old,” Parks jokes. Now in his 40s (not that old, in my opinion!), he notes that other than last year, the role had usually gone to much younger actors. 

According to Parks, performing in The Lost Colony is a lot of work, and it’s very hot in the Elizabethan costumes, but there’s nothing like the thrill of stepping onto that stage.

“It's the most addictive drug,” he says. “Once you get up there and you hear the applause, you just can't stop."

In other cast changes, several members of the 2024 company have moved up into larger roles in 2025:

• Chloe Greene was in the Native Ensemble last year and is now playing the role of Agona.

• Jack Lloyd was in the Ensemble last year and is now playing the lead role of John Borden.

• Caroline Belangia was in the Ensemble last year and understudied Eleanor Dare and is now in the role of Eleanor Dare full time.

• Olyvia Gregg was the understudy for Queen Elizabeth I last year and is now in the role full time.

You can see all of these performers and so many more in the 88th anniversary season of The Lost Colony Monday through Saturday nights starting at 8:30 p.m. through August 23. Visit thelostcolony.org for tickets and more information.

See The Lost Colony

May 29 to August 23 Monday through Saturday, 8:30 p.m. Gates open 7:30 p.m.

Adult tickets: $29 to $44. Children ages 5 and younger get in FREE every night. Children ages 6 to 12 pay half-price Tuesday through Saturday. Thanks to Kitty Hawk Kites, on Mondays all children get in FREE. Discounts are available for seniors, military and RIHA members and groups.

Backstage Tours: Nightly at 7:30 p.m. for an additional $15. 

Native Pre-Shows

Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.

The cast of the 2025 season of The Lost Colony features seven tribes from across the United States: Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Catawba Nation, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Dakota, Yeopim and Coharie Tribe. Four of these tribes are from North Carolina, two are from the Dakotas (North and South Dakota) and one is from Washington state.

Native Pre-Show presentations are included with show tickets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and feature storytelling, dancing and singing.

Ticket Office: (252) 473-6000
Administration: (252) 473-2127

1409 National Park Drive, Manteo
thelostcolony.org