High Steppin' Country Celebrates 50 Years of Music, Family, and Tradition

From the outside, High Steppin’ Country is a show celebrating 50 years of run time. However, everyone who’s ever seen or been a part of it really knows it’s celebrating 50 years of music, family history, camaraderie, overcoming hardships, and faith.

High Steppin’ Country is a two-hour-long performance that’s been housed at the Lakewood Camping Resort’s Theater By the Sea since 1985. However, the show first got its roots in 1976 at Magic Harbor, an old theme park that only real locals will remember. The now four-part show that runs three times a week in the evenings used to be a 25-minute performance that ran six times a day, seven days a week.

There have been several people involved with the show over the years. Rhonda Perry, co-producer of High Steppin’ Country alongside Karla Mauldin, is one of them, having been with the production since 1983. She said she started as a full-cast performer until 1991, then slowly moved into learning the logistics and everything that goes behind putting on a show. 

Rhonda married into the family, becoming the daughter-in-law of Philip Perry, who looked after the campground until his passing in 1996. The Perry family bought Magic Harbor sometime in the 70s, but it wasn’t until 1976 that High Steppin’ Country made its debut. While this production was ongoing at Magic Harbor, Rhonda said that Philip and his sister Shan were running two other productions, Sunshine Singers and Country Sunshine at Lakewood. 

High Steppin’ Country was born from mixing together elements from different shows. It was performed on a wooden stage at Magic Harbor until 1985, when the Perry family sold the theme park and moved the show to the amphitheater at Lakewood. At the time, the stage was in the shape of a seashell and served the show fine until Hurricane Hugo came in 1989. 

Right before this time, in 1987, the Perry family had started doing shows simultaneously at Lakewood and in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The production only lasted one year in Tennessee before it became too difficult to be in two places at once and switch between locations. So, when Hugo came and devastated the stage, facilities, and buildings, flattening everything, Philip had a grand idea. 

“He was like, well, I have some seats in storage from our show in Tennessee. Let's rebuild the theater,” Rhonda said. “He called us in, the previous year's cast, and said, ‘Okay, I’d like to do the show again; are y’all willing to do it as we basically build the show and build the stage around you?’” 

So they did. Summer of ‘89, everything was rebuilt in the lead-up. Rhonda said nearly the whole family performed, receiving their microphones on opening night. The stage that was built at the time is the same one housed at the campground today. It has dressing rooms on both sides, some modifications from over the years, such as LED lights and fans, but what’s never changed is its beautiful view of the ocean. 

“ I think we’re the only oceanfront theatre, definitely on the East Coast,” Rhonda said. “When we watch videos of the show, it looks like it’s a video; it’s not real. You can’t ask for a better backdrop - it’s perfect.” 

The show has changed a little bit over the years, covering songs from the 80s, swing, Elvis, teen beach movie, nearly everything. However, to reflect on 50 years of nostalgia, the show created a decades section that honors each decade the production has run through (‘70s-2010s). Rhonda said it’s essentially 50 years of music put into a 30-minute segment.

Additionally, the show is made up of old country - with a 50th anniversary tribute from Josh Turner, former show performer - new country, a visit from jellyfish the dinosaur for the kids, gospel, and ends with a patriotic section, paying tribute to each of the armed forces. The cast members are quick with costume changes and never skip a beat, going from one song directly into the next. 

What makes this show unique, aside from its location, is its cast, where each person is between 15 and 25 years old. Rhonda said everyone who performs is typically in school, studying theater, music, education, etc. Each year, the number of auditions for the production increases; this past year being 250 for 18 spots. 

It’s a highly sought-after gig, starting at the beginning of June and going until mid-August, right before the school year starts back up. Auditions open in February, and those selected have three weeks to rehearse between the end of school and opening weekend, practicing 13-14 hours a day. Many young adults move to Myrtle Beach for the summer just to perform and may pick up a second part-time job at the campground before moving back home after Labor Day, typically known as the closing weekend of High Steppin’ Country. 

Rhonda said she’s surprised that some people don’t know about the production or that it still exists. Various people thought the performance was shut down at the same time as Magic Harbor, but Rhonda sees the production as a tribute to her father and mother-in-law. One of her favorite parts of the show is the legacy it’s built, bringing together current family and former cast members.

“We’ll see cast members whose kids are now coming and auditioning for the show, and we have grandchildren who love being here,” Rhonda said. “I mean, people from when I was in the show in the 1980’s, we’re still in contact; they still come back over the years.”

As the show continues, Rhonda said she’s happy that people recognize making a career out of show business nowadays. She said it’s not only about dancing and singing, but it’s also about working as a team, getting things done under pressure, knowing something could potentially go wrong at any moment and having to fix it, running into each other on stage, meeting and greeting the crowd post-show… No one ever sees the many life skills learned behind the scenes.

Tickets to High Steppin’ Country are all-inclusive for those residing at the campground. For the public, it is $15, or $21 for early entry with a snack and drink. For $150, there is a season pass available, including a signed poster from the cast, a T-shirt, and other perks. For those visiting from outside the campground, there is a shuttle bus station to the left of the Lakewood sign, off Highway 17, that’s required in order to get to the amphitheater. 

The show times take place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 8:00. Seats are first come, first serve. 

Here’s to many more years of celebrating High Steppin’ Country, and focusing on what matters most!