Texas State Plays

There are four of them.

On January 9, 1979 Senate Bill No. 93, authored by State Senator A.R. "Babe" Schwartz, was read for the first time. It proposed that the historical outdoor drama, "The Lone Star," written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, be adopted as the official play of the State of Texas.

The final version of Senate Bill No. 93, significantly amended in the Texas House of Representatives, added an additional three plays to the bill. All four plays became official when Governor William P. Clements signed Senate Bill No. 93 into law on June 6, 1979.

Only two of the state's official plays remain in production.

1) "The Lone Star"

The play, "The Lone Star," by Paul Green, documents the battles at Goliad, the Alamo, and the San Jacinto River, that led to Texas independence from Mexico. It was produced from 1977-1989. [ Find out more... ]

2) "Texas"

"Texas," also by Paul Green, portrays the lives of early settlers on the Texas Panhandle. Except for a three year hiatus (2003-2005) it has been produced annually since 1967. [ Find out more... ]

3) "Beyond the Sundown"

"Beyond the Sundown," by Kermit Hunter, concerns itself with the relationships between early East Texas settlers and the Alabama-Coushatta Indians. It was produced from 1975-1983. [ Find out more... ]

4) "Fandangle"

The founding of Fort Griffen and the lives of the settlers of Shackleford County, and Albany, Texas, during the 1870s and the 1880s, provide the subject matter for "Fandangle." [ Find out more... ]

Sources...

"Senate Bill No. 93." The Legislative Reference Library of Texas. The Legislative Reference Library of Texas, n.d. Web. 6 Jan 2012.
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.

Additional Information

More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official Texas state symbols from NETSTATE.COM.