Page 7 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021 - Online Magazine

LOCAL HISTORY

canyon was too sparsely populated
to support a musical production of
the scale and grandeur that Green
had become notable for producing
were solved with one idea: make
TEXAS a top attraction.

As interest in the prospect of an
outdoor theater began to grow, a
small group of Canyon families
funded Paul Green’s first trip to
the Panhandle later that year. Mr.
Green immediately dedicated
himself to the project of bringing
the history of the High Plains to the
stage. The support organization
eventually expanded to include
Amarillo and all the surrounding
area. The first ever season of TEXAS Outdoor Musical worked August 12th, five members of the
TEXAS Outdoor Musical took place beautifully. People from all over musical were tragically lost in a
in 1966, with the help of students Texas and the U.S. alike were car accident. Amanda Starz, Eric
and faculty of West Texas State flocking by the thousands to Harrison, Andrew Duncan, Clint
College (now known as West Texas witness the grandiose performance Diaz, and Julian Arredondo were
A&M University). Green’s artistry for themselves. In the 70s and 80s, travelling back to Amarillo from
and genius has made an incredible TEXAS was drawing its largest a cast party just before midnight
impact on our community. This crowds on record, with over when their car struck a trailer,
was proven in 2003, when there 100,000 people heading down and they were killed. This was a
was an attempt to replace Green’s into the canyon to the Pioneer devastating loss to the company
script with one written by another Amphitheater each summer. of TEXAS and the Panhandle
author. The backlash from the Today, TEXAS Outdoor Musical is Plains Heritage Foundation, and
community for straying from what considered a top tourist draw in the August 13th performance
Green originally wrote in 1960 the Panhandle and, according to a of TEXAS Outdoor Musical was
brought about the quick decision 2009 study, brings in roughly $1.7 cancelled in light of the horrific
to return to the original script just million in revenue every summer. tragedy. Though plagued by their
three years later in 2006. grief, those who knew these five
The summer of 2013 marked one members would say that they
Harper’s plan to increase tourism of the most devastating seasons would have wanted the show to
to Palo Duro Canyon through for TEXAS Outdoor Musical. On

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