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Tahlequah, OK - The highly-acclaimed Trail of Tears Drama will begin its season with a Special Benefit Opening on Saturday, June 22. The Special Benefit Opening is a fund raiser designed to assist the Cherokee National Historical Society fulfill its mission to preserve and promote Cherokee history and culture. The revised drama, by playwright Joe Sears, uses Will Rogers, Sequoyah and animal characters to guide the audience through this heroic Cherokee story with wit and compassion. Named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association, the Trail of Tears Drama features a phenomenal cast including Gene McFall and Barbara McAlister. McFall narrates the drama as Will Rogers who tells the audience about his Cherokee ancestors. In 1982, McFall began performing as Will Rogers in "Will Rogers’ U.S.A.", and was James Whitmore’s understudy in that show. Since 1989 he has performed his own original one-man show, "Witty World of Will Rogers". He has made more than 5,000 appearances as Will Rogers, performing to more than one million people in 45 states and around the world. American dramatic mezzo-soprano Barbara McAlister will play the role of Corn Woman in the drama. McAlister has performed leading roles with Arizona Opera, San Diego Opera, Tulsa Opera, Florentine Opera, New York Grand Opera, New England Opera and Washington, D.C. Opera. She has been heard as a soloist in concert at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Weill Recital Hall, and appeared with such prominent orchestras as the Houston Symphony, the Duesseldorf Symphony and the Symphony in Passau. Opening night of this moving drama, sponsored by Cherokee Nation Enterprises, is filled with pageantry, spectacle and dance that will unfold at the Tsa La Gi Amphitheater, which is recognized as one of America’s most beautiful outdoor theater venues. Each of the 1,800 seats provides an excellent view of the stage area and the theater’s unique design lends itself to natural acoustics. The Trail of Tears Drama will run June 22 through Labor Day weekend every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Drama ticket prices are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children and students, and $13.50 for seniors. Tickets for the Special Benefit Opening are still available. For more information on the Special Benefit Opening or the Drama call the Cherokee Heritage Center, phone: 918-456-6007 or toll free, 888-999-6007, and visit the website.