By ROBERT JUMPER
ONE FEATHER EDITOR
When Lizzie Hull, who lives on the 3200 Acre Tract, began working for the Cherokee Historical Association in 1974, she was in crowd scenes in Unto These Hills. In 1975, she played the Beloved Women alongside the actor who was Chief in the drama. She was in that role for decades. In 2008, when the script was reworked, she went back to her original role in crowd scenes. This year, she celebrated 40 years as an actress in the outdoor drama.
Lizzie Hull holds a crystal statuette of an eagle she received in recognition of her 40 years as an actress in the Unto These Hills outdoor drama. (ROBERT JUMPER/One Feather)
Lizzie’s work is a labor of love and she says that the crew and cast are very much like family to her. She related that through the ups and downs in her life, including the recent death of her husband, her coworkers have stood by her. Many of the current cast members are younger than Lizzie and look up to her as a mother figure. They affectionately refer to her as “Miss Lizzie”. Some of them have gone on to other projects and retirement, but she still keeps in touch with phone calls and letters.
She loves her work and has no plans for retirement. She enjoys meeting the new faces, both on stage and off. She recalls doing meet and greet after the performances and speaking with patrons in their 40’s that remember seeing her when they were children on vacation in Cherokee.
She was surprised with a special recognition at the opening of the season this year. Before the performance began, CHA Executive Director John Tissue, presented Mrs. Hull with a crystal statuette of an eagle with her name on a plaque in recognition of her service in front of the opening night crowd. The audience cheered and gave Lizzie a standing ovation. After the presentation, it was back to work as the performance began.
Tissue stated, “Ms. Lizzie is a blessing to our cast and our show. She has been a loving, grandmotherly figure to hundreds of cast members over the last forty years and the show would not be the same without her.”
