UNDER A U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION GRANT, AN INVESTIGATION WAS MADE OF TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES USED IN LONG TERM COMMUNITY SPONSORED EPIC PRESENTATIONS BY MAJOR OUTDOOR HISTORICAL AND CLASSICAL DRAMA COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS ARE BASED ON 83 ON THE SPOT SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS WITH DIRECTORS AND STAFF MEMBERS OF TWENTY OUTDOOR DRAMA COMPANIES DURING SUMMER OPERATIONS. A REVIEW WAS MADE OF 33 PERFORMANCES OF 24 PRODUCTIONS OF OUTDOOR DRAMA IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. NINETEEN PLAYS WERE HISTORICAL AND 16 OF THESE WERE WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LOCALE OF PRESENTATION. ADVANCE PLANNING PROCEDURES, ORGANIZATION, WRITING OF PLAYS, AMPHITHEATER COSTS, AUDIENCES, COMPANY OPERATION, THE FEASIBILITY, SCOPE, AND COSTS OF PRODUCTION, SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF OUTDOOR PRODUCTION, AND REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCE WERE CONSIDERED, TOGETHER WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR SPECIAL TRAINING IN SPEECH, PHYSICAL MOVEMENT, BACKGROUND RESEARCH, AND DISCIPLINE FOR PERFORMERS IN COLLEGE DRAMA COURSES. THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES LISTS OF INTERVIEWS, AND SAMPLE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS. (LY)