What began as a small community theatre in 1991 has grown into a performing arts success story on the Outer Banks. In the more than 30 years since its founding, Theatre of Dare has reached two major milestones: opening its own permanent home in Kitty Hawk and hiring its first executive director.
Theatre of Dare was born through the efforts of Ruth Ambrosius and Pat Clayton of the Outer Banks Forum, along with the Dare County Arts Council. Its first production, California Suite, opened at the Port O’Call restaurant in March 1992. Over the years, the troupe performed in a variety of venues, including the auditorium at the former Manteo Middle School. When that building was demolished in 2017, Theatre of Dare took its shows on the road, performing everywhere from The Lost Colony Sound Stage to the Elizabethan Gardens.
Then, in 2022, nearly 30 years after its first production, Theatre of Dare opened its own facility in Kitty Hawk, providing a permanent home for local performers and a dedicated space for live theater in Dare County.
The move ushered in a period of growth. Attendance has climbed from 1,657 patrons to more than 8,200, and the most recent season featured 53 performances, including 21 sold-out shows. More than 75 volunteers contributed over 10,000 hours, demonstrating the community support behind the organization’s success.
Photo: Theatre of Dare Executive Director Kelsey Thompson
In September 2026, Theatre of Dare reached another milestone with the appointment of Kelsey Thompson as its first executive director. Previously the theatre’s part-time business director, Thompson helped strengthen its operations, fundraising and community partnerships. Her new role provides dedicated leadership as the organization builds on its momentum.
A West Virginia native who went to school for dance and theater, Thompson says her new job was the ultimate goal for her professionally and aligned perfectly with Theatre of Dare’s goals.
“We’ve actually been going toward this for quite a while now,” says Thompson. “The goal has been to have someone who is 100 percent focused on expanding on what Theatre of Dare is already doing.”
An Outer Banks resident for about 25 years now, Thompson’s first performance in Theatre of Dare was as Tigerlily in Peter Pan in 2008. She began serving on the Theatre of Dare board in 2017, and was the organizations part-time business director before taking on the full-time executive director role.
One of her goals is to expand the types of performances held in Theatre of Dare’s home theater in Kitty Hawk. Just this month they hosted events for Dare Arts and Bryan Cultural Series, opening up the space to new organizations and events.
Thompson is also still involved with performances is the director on the upcoming The House on Haunted Hill, which opens November 6.
“My directing style is very mythical and mystical, and this show reflects that,” she says.
Theater of Dare supporters have watched the quality of productions increase over the years, and Thompson attributes that to finally having its own space.
“Now that we have a place we can call home, we understand what the space is capable of and what we can do,” she says. “It used to really limit our possibilities to try to figure out different spaces for each show. Now we can expand with each show and really push the limits of what we can do.”
Besides Thompson, Theatre of Dare is entirely volunteer based. She says they had about 85 volunteers, including actors, last season, and for a company that puts on seven to nine shows a year, that’s a huge accomplishment. They always need more volunteers, for the stage, the front of the house and the back of the house.
“The biggest thing to know is that we are really just a big group of friends,” Thompson says. “For new people thinking about coming out, just know that everyone is incredibly welcoming. We know what it’s like to be start out. Theater people have a reputation for being odd birds, and we have a really fun time being odd birds together. We will always make everyone feel welcome.”
If it feels out of your comfort zone or you’re not sure where you’ll fit in, Thompson says a good first step is to volunteer for front of house or for backstage.
“Once they get more comfortable in the setting, they are more apt to say, ‘I think I’ll audition for a role,’” Thompson says.
When it comes to Theatre of Dare volunteers, she adds: “The more the merrier! We need more volunteers, and we need more men. We want to have a huge volunteer base, so anyone interested, please reach out.”
As Theatre of Dare enters its 36th season, its story is about more than successful productions. It’s a testament to what a community can build through decades of volunteer dedication, local talent and a shared commitment to the performing arts.
Photo: A scene from the upcoming production of The House on Haunted Hill.
2026-2027 Season
House on Haunted Hill
November 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 at 7:30 p.m.
November 7 at 1 p.m.
November 8, 15 at 2 p.m.
Adapted from the Vincent Price classic, The House on Haunted Hill tells the twisted tale of millionaire Frederick Lauren, his fourth wife, Annabelle, and five, money-hungry guests who will each receive $50,000 if they stay in a supposedly haunted house until sunrise.
The 1,683rd Annual Peppermint Party
December 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
December 13 at 2 p.m.
It's Christmas Eve, which for children all over the world means getting into bed and letting the sugar plums take them into Christmas Morning. But at the North Pole, it's the one day a year where the elves don't have any work to do. Which means it's their annual party! The egg nog is flowing, karaoke is growing louder, Santa may be trying to sleep but typical elf banter is at play all around the workshop.
Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow
January 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m.
January 10, 17 at 2 p.m.
Performances upstairs at The Black Pelican Restaurant
Ever since their brother Andrey gambled away the family fortune, his three sisters have been doomed to the boredom of the Russian countryside. One day soon, they hope, they’ll return home to Moscow and live the exciting lives they were always meant to have. When the military comes to town, bringing with them variety, entertainment and a whole lot of chaos, Moscow feels closer than ever and it seems the sisters’ luck is about to change. In this contemporary twist on Chekhov’s Three Sisters, one delightfully dysfunctional family navigates the absurdity of class, culture and love.
Reefer Madness
February 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m.
February 6 at 1 p.m.
February 7 & 14 at 2 p.m.
Inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name, the musical comedy takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana, leading them on a hysterical downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex and violence.
Marjorie Prime
March 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m.
March 14, 21 at 2 p.m.
Performances at Dare Arts in Manteo
In the age of artificial intelligence, 85-year-old Marjorie has a handsome new companion who’s programmed to feed the story of her life back to her. In this richly spare, wondrous new play, Jordan Harrison explores the mysteries of human identity and the limits – if any – of what technology can replace
Moon Over Buffalo
March 26, 27, April 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 p.m.
March 27 at 1 p.m.
March 28, April 4 at 2 p.m.
The hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s. At the moment, they’re playing Private Lives and Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York, with five actors. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by Charlotte’s deaf, old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George’s body.
A Year with Frog & Toad
May 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at 1 p.m.
May 16, 23 at 2 p.m.
Based on Arnold Lobel's well-loved books, this whimsical show follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special.
Audition to Be in a Performance
The 1683rd Peppermint Party: October 23 & 24
Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow: November 9 & 10
Reefer Madness: November 20 & 21
Marjorie Prime: January 23 & 24
Moon Over Buffalo: February 8 & 9
A Year with Frog & Toad: March 13 & 14
Volunteer
Theatre of Dare depends almost entirely on volunteers. Backstage opportunities include costumes, sewing, props, set construction, set painting, stage management, stage running crew, board operators for light and sound. Front-of-house needs are hanging posters, ushering, box office and concessions. Find information on volunteering here: Volunteer
Ways to Support Theatre of Dare
Elevate the Arts Fundraiser: This new fundraising campaign hopes to raise $40,000 to transform the Theatre of Dare auditorium with a brand-new, modern tiered seating system designed for comfort, sightlines and accessibility. Elevate The Arts
Buy Tickets for a Show or for a Whole Season (a great holiday gift!): Box Office or 2026-27 Season Tickets
Sponsor Theatre of Dare: Sponsorship
Advertise in the Playbills: Playbill Advertising
Make a Donation: Donate
Contribute to the Scholarship Fund: Don Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund
The street view of Theatre of Dare's permanent home in Kitty Hawk.
Theatre of Dare
Theater location: 3848 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk
(252) 715-1155
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
