Each summer during July and August, an outdoor drama in Valdese brings the Waldensian story to life. Written in 1967 by Valdese native Fred Cranford for his students at Valdese High School, it has been performed every year since and is the fourth longest running outdoor drama in America. Cranford, a historian by profession, devoted much of his life to telling the Waldensian story in many ways. Presented under the auspices of the Old Colony Players of Valdese, the two-act production uses authentic costumes and an outdoor setting to carry audiences into the Waldensians' experiences. It portrays the faith and courage that sustained them during the religious persecutions of the 1680's and through the struggles of trying to establish a colony in America in 1893.