Watch Cherokee history come to life under the stars at Mountainside Theatre!
Ages: All Ages
Duration: 2 Hours, including one intermission
When: May 31st – August 23rd, 2025
Location: Mountainside Theatre at 688 Drama Rd, Cherokee, NC
Doors Open: 7:00 PM
Pre-show: 7:30 PM
Main Show: 8:00 PM
Show Ends: Approximately 10:00 PM
Have dinner with us before seeing Unto These Hills!
The meal includes Pork BBQ, Mac and Cheese, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Hush Puppies, Dessert, and a drink. Dinners are served at 6:30 p.m. at the lower concession stand, 30 minutes before the house opens.
Note:
- Tickets to Unto These Hills are required with the purchase.
- Pre-Show Dinners must be booked 24 Hours in advance.
- No substitutions.
Experience the tragic and triumphant story of the Cherokee
You can feel a slight chill run up your spine; but not from the mountain winds shifting their direction in anticipation of the coming dusk. It is from your anticipation of the coming drama. Unto These Hills drama is the tragic and triumphant story of the Cherokee that traces back to the years before the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears to the present day. Millions of people have witnessed America’s most powerful drama, which rewrites the Cherokee’s place in the world. A place based on traditional Cherokee values and modern sensibilities.
The show itself is amazing! Put me through the whole gamut of emotions! There are light hearted scenes and happy scenes and sad scenes and darn right heart wrenching scenes and I loved them all!!!
— Linda
The play opens with the arrival of the Spanish Conquistador, Hernando DeSoto in 1540. The appearance of DeSoto and his army establishes an ominous portent of what will befall the Cherokee Nation during the next three-hundred years. Early on, the famous Cherokee leader, Yonaguska, deliberates the fate of all Native peoples, and yet charts a peaceful course with his white neighbors and the American government. He even joins forces with Andrew Jackson at the famous Battle of Horseshoe Bend where another famous Cherokee leader, Junaluska saves Jackson’s life. Despite this, Jackson will later develop policies as President that usurp previous promises of Cherokee sovereignty and deliberately charts a course for the removal of the Cherokee from their traditional homelands. The discovery of gold in Cherokee Country in 1835 sets the stage for tribal lands to be overrun by the whites, who illegally occupy lands, build settlements and town, and generally disregard the cultural practices and freedoms of the Native population. Also during this time, unscrupulous land agents descend upon area, carrying out the Manifest Destiny ideology, as well as creating deep divisions among the Cherokee people. It is at this point where the heartbreaking story of Tsali and his family begins to unfold. His unrelenting mistrust of the United States Government, along with his intense love of his people and their traditional ways, gives rise to an inevitable – and ultimately deadly – clash between him and the over-powering forces of the United States Army.
Tsali’s resistance to removal leads to a sacrifice made so that a small group of Cherokees will be able to remain in their homeland. However, the infamous Trail of Tears begins despite this small victory. Despite the tragedies endured by the Cherokee people, our culture lives on today. Today we are proud to be members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and tell our story for generations to come.
Dustin Wolfe
YonaguskaAn enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Dustin is returning for his 16th season with Unto These Hills. A graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University, Dustin is a former member of the Thunderbird Theatre and a founding member of the American Indian Repertoire Theatre of Lawrence, Kansas. While originally from Oklahoma, Dustin has resided on the Qualla Boundary for the past 16 years and has been an active part of Cherokee Historical Association for that time. He currently serves as the Program Manager of the Village, as well as the writer and director of the Time of War program.
Tamara Sampson
Nukwadeye/War WomanTamara has been with Unto These Hills since 2006. She is currently an Early Childhood Educator and has been for 6 years. She has lived in Cherokee all of her life. She has two fur babies whom she loves very much. She dedicates every season to both her parents who are watching over her in Heaven.
Philenia Walkingstick
Mrs. PerkinsPhilenia Walkingstick returns to the stage for her 38th season at Unto These Hills. She takes on the role of Mrs. Perkins. Philenia has been involved with UTH for many years and is thankful to be back. She loves spending time with her husband, her friends and her family, especially her nieces and nephew. Philenia is currently the Operations Manager at Oconaluftee Indian Village.
Matthew Climbingbear
TsaliMatthew is a proud member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and the Kiowa Nation. He is a 5th generational actor at Unto These Hills. He graduated from Guilford College with a degree in theatre and film. This is his 4th year with Unto These Hills. Recent works are Cows Don’t Fly, Keeping Mr. Lincoln with Lexington Children’s Theatre, The Gathering tour with CHA, and Virus: An Original Musical at Guilford College. Matthew enjoys writing, singing songs with his younger brother, and enjoying family time with his mother, brother, and girlfriend Eevee.
Karian Warrington
WilaniKarian is a recent graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery. She is a proud member of the Yakama Nation and Menominee Tribe. Previous credits include: Brightstar Touring Theatre, Nan in Three Days of Rain, and Mary Baltimore in On the Verge. This is her 3rd year with Unto These Hills, and she would like to extend her gratitude to Cherokee Historical Association for the opportunity to tell this story once again. Karian would also like to thank all her family and friends for their love and support.
Taylor Wachacha
JunaluskaTaylor is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and from the Bird Clan. This will be his sixth season with Unto These Hills and his second playing Junaluska. Taylor stars in the indie film “A Raven’s Call” premiering this summer.
“What an amazing show. I loved the entire experience. The acting and dancing were excellent. I was completely captivated with the story, and the effects make it feel so real.”
— Joyce F. via Tripadvisor, 2024
“The show itself is amazing! Put me through the whole gamut of emotions! Really impressed with how many Natives are in the show and how many tribes are represented. If you haven’t been…GO!!!!”
— Linda via Tripadvisor, 2024
“Amazing performance! Show throughout was filled with passion and talent. The lighting, the sound, the acting, and the narration made for an incredible experience. I was moved to tears. Overall, can’t recommend this enough.”
— Shalyssa B. via Google, 2024
“This is our 4th time seeing this show and we have never been disappointed. It’s both educational and entertaining. Well worth seeing.”
— Bill S. via Google, 2024