Unto These Hills is the third oldest outdoor drama in the country and has been seen by over six million people. It tells the story of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from first contact with Europeans through the removal west on the infamous Trail of Tears. Unto These Hills celebrated its 75th Anniversary Season in 2025, and the show features a large cast, dance elements, stage combat, firearms, and explosives.
We prioritize hiring members of Indigenous tribes, but we hire folks of all backgrounds. Our Board of Directors is 100% enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), and we work closely with the EBCI tribal government. The EBCI wants this story told to as many people as possible and understands that as a nonprofit organization with a limited budget, 100% Indigenous casting is not always possible. Additionally, there are some roles in the show that are most appropriately played by non-Indigenous actors, including members of the American army and government.
Onsite housing is available for a small fee. All utilities and wifi included. Walking distance to the theatre. Travel and meals not provided. We are located on the Qualla Boundary, which is the sovereign territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The area is LGBTQIA+ friendly. Company members receive free admission to area attractions. We also have an in-house blackbox season, that is only open to the cast and crew, where aspiring directors and designers can workshop their skills.
All roles and positions are paid a weekly stipend. We rehearse for 3 weeks at approximately 48 hours per week. We have 12 weeks of shows at approximately 30 hours per week.
We have a high level of return from year to year, so not all roles are available each season. We will keep your resume/audition on file for future consideration.
Local Auditions
January 24, 2026, 2pm to 5pm, 564 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC
Please prepare one memorized monologue, no longer than 2 minutes. If you sing, please also prepare 16 bars of a song. Please note, there will not be an accompanist on site. Please bring your resume and headshot. If you don’t have a monologue, we will provide you a passage to read. If you don’t have a resume, there will be an info sheet to fill out. We will be auditioning for adult speaking, ensemble, dance, and fight roles and youth company ensemble.
Summer and Outdoor Theatre Auditions
January 16-18, 2026, Greensboro, NC
We will be attending SOTA. For more info, visit SETC.org
Unified Professional Theatre Auditions
February 6-9, 2026, Memphis, TN
We will be attending UPTA. For more info, visit UPTA.org
Southeastern Theatre Conference
March 4-7, 2026, Chattanooga, TN
We will be attending SETC. We will be in the professional audition room and have a table for tech interviews. For more info, visit SETC.org
You may submit your virtual audition to Artistic Director, Marina Hunley-Graham, at Marina@CherokeeAdventure.com. Please include your headshot, resume, and filmed monologue, no longer than 2 minutes. If you sing, please submit a video of 16 bars of a song. If you dance or do stage combat, please send a reel showcasing your skills.
Please note, not all roles are available.
Please note, for Indigenous roles listed below, we will consider non-Indigenous BIPOC individuals when necessary.
In order of speaking appearance:
Lead Eagle – 18 or older, Male or male-presenting, Any ethnicity, Indigenous preferred, Featured dancer
Cofaltechequi – 20s or older, Female or female presenting, BIPOC (Indigenous preferred), Familiar with Spanish, A leader of a different tribe, Translates for the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto
Beloved Man – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), A leader of the Cherokee tribe
Hernando De Soto – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Latino, Spanish conquistador, speaks only in Spanish
Tecumseh – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous, Member of the Shawnee tribe who believes all tribes should fight against the American government
White Path – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), War Chief of the Cherokee, Agrees with Tecumseh
John Ross – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White or mixed-race, a Cherokee leader and businessman, Half Cherokee and half Scottish, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Yonaguska – 30s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), Leader of the Cherokee tribe throughout the play, Always tries to do what is best for his people, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Sequoyah – 30s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), Wise Cherokee leader and inventor of the Cherokee syllabary
War Woman – 20s or older, Female or female-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), A Cherokee leader, Disagrees with Tecumseh, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Junaluska – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), An important Cherokee figure and warrior, fought in the War of 1812 alongside future American president Andrew Jackson, A friend of Tsali, Familiarity with stage combat required
Tsali – 30s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), A young Cherokee man who will eventually make an important sacrifice for his people, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Wilani – 30s or older, Female or female-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), A young Cherokee woman, Tsali’s wife and mother of their 4 children
Sam Houston – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, A white man from Tennessee who was raised by the Cherokee and fights in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Andrew Jackson – 25 or older, Male or male-presenting, White, General of the American Army in the War of 1812, Later becomes president and betrays the Cherokee, Familiarity with stage combat required
Lewis Cass – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Jackson’s right hand man, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Mrs. Perkins – 30s or older, Female or female-presenting, White, a friend to Tsali and Wilani, Comedic relief
Molly – 20s or older, Female or female-presenting, White, A fiery shop owner who sides with the Cherokee, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Monk – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, A gold prospector who thinks the Cherokee should leave, Ring leader of the other prospectors, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Asa, Elijah, Daniel – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Prospectors and comedic relief, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Reverend John F. Schermerhorn – 25 or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Sent by the American government to “convince” the Cherokee to sign a treaty and agree to move out west, Used car salesman vibes
Mr. Reed – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Any ethnicity, Schermerhorn’s sidekick and muscle
William Holland Thomas – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, A white man adopted by Yonaguska, Helps the Cherokee start to get their land back
Reverend Samuel Worcester – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, A reverend from Massachusetts who has become a friend of the Cherokee
Elias Boudinot – 30s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), A Cherokee preacher who believes the Cherokee should move to the west
Nukwadeye – 20s or older, Female or female-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred) Yonaguska’s wife and Suyeta’s mother, Supports her husband’s decisions
Ann Worcester – 20s or older, Female or female-presenting, White, Reverend Worcestor’s wife and friend of the Cherokee
Nundayeli – 20s or older, Female or female-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), Tsali and Wilani’s daughter, Marries Suyeta, Dance skills a bonus but not required
Lieutenant – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Lieutenant of the American Army, Major Davis’s right hand man
Major James Davis – 30s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, American Army major, Tasked with removing the Cherokee to the west but is conflicted
Constable – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, A sleazy constable trying to take money from the Cherokee families that are being forced to leave, Comedic relief
Soldier Smith – 18 or older, tasked with rounding up Cherokee families for removal, Nervous, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Soldier Overfield – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Tasked with rounding up Cherokee families for removal, Drunk on the job, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Kanega – 18 or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), Tsali and Wilani’s oldest son, Helps Tsali and his younger brothers escape, Should have some familiarity with stage combat
Reverend Bushyhead – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), A Cherokee spiritual leader, Speaks Cherokee
Anna Harrison – 20s or older, Female or female-presenting, White, President Harrison’s doting wife
Doctor – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Has come to attend to an ill President Harrison
William Henry Harrison – 30s or older, Male or male-presenting, White, Newly elected president that has fallen ill, Cantankerous
Daniel Webster – 25 or older, Male or male-presenting, White, American Senator who helps Yonaguska and Will Thomas get a meeting with the President
Suyeta – 20s or older, Male or male-presenting, Indigenous (Cherokee preferred), Yonaguska and Nukwadeye’s son, Married to Nundayeli, Dance skills a bonus but not required
Dance Ensemble – 18 or older, Any gender, Any ethnicity (Indigenous preferred), Perform stylized versions of traditional Cherokee dances, Also in ensemble and understudy speaking roles, Familiarity with stage combat a bonus but not required
Soldiers – 18 or older, Any gender, Any ethnicity, Various soldiers throughout, May play or understudy speaking roles, Should have stage combat experience
Ensemble – 18 or older, Any gender, Any ethnicity (Indigenous preferred), Various ensemble members that play members of the Cherokee community, May play or understudy speaking roles, May be actor/technicians with backstage duties
Youth Company – Ages approximately 5 to 17, Any gender, Any ethnicity, Must be local to area
To apply, please email your resume, headshot or recent photo, and any relevant portfolio examples to Artistic Director, Marina Hunley Graham, at Marina@CherokeeAdventure.com. For more info about current openings, please check our listings on OffstageJobs.com
Technical Positions
Please note, not all positions are available
- Production Manager
- Technical Director
- Assistant Technical Director
- Production Stage Manager
- Assistant Stage Manager (2)
- Audio Engineer/Audio 1
- Audio Assistant/Audio 2
- Lead Electrician
- Electrician
- Pyrotechnics Lead
- Pyrotechnics Assistant
- Costume Shop Manager
- Wardrobe Supervisor
- Wardrobe Crew (multiple)
- Projections Operator
- Props Lead
- Props Assistant
- General Technicians
- Actor/Technicians