NarroWay Theatre to welcome baby camel Cleopatra to Fort Mill stage family

NarroWay Productions in Fort Mill, South Carolina, will add a 5-month-old dromedary camel named Cleopatra to its live Biblical productions on June 8. The move gives Solomon, the theatre’s 4-year-old camel, a companion and sets up Cleopatra’s stage debut in The Real Christmas Story this November.

Why it matters: - Cleopatra’s arrival expands NarroWay Productions’ live-animal cast and strengthens a signature part of the theatre’s Biblical storytelling. - The new camel gives Solomon a companion of his own kind, which theatre leadership describes as meaningful for both animals and productions. - Cleopatra is expected to become part of The Real Christmas Story this November, adding to a show that draws families across the Carolinas.

What happened: - NarroWay Productions is preparing to welcome Cleopatra, a 5-month-old dromedary camel, to the theatre on Monday, June 8. - Cleopatra will join Solomon, the theatre’s 4-year-old dromedary camel, at the Fort Mill, South Carolina, venue near Charlotte. - NarroWay Director Rebecca Martin had previously told Solomon’s owner and breeder, Trent Reynolds, that the theatre would like to purchase a female camel related to Solomon if one became available. - Cleopatra was born in January, and Reynolds ultimately agreed to sell her to NarroWay.

The details: - Staff have modified an existing stall by raising the enclosure and adjusting feeding areas for Cleopatra’s growth. - A private introduction area has been set up in the outdoor paddock so Cleopatra can safely meet Solomon and the other animals. - NarroWay has also brought in specialized camelid minerals and creep feed to support Cleopatra’s nutrition during the transition. - Theatre officials say guests may have opportunities to meet Cleopatra before her stage debut. - Live animals are a long-running feature of NarroWay Productions, which also houses horses, donkeys, sheep, goats and pigs. - Dromedary camels have a single hump, and the species is the most common camel species in the world. - NarroWay describes dromedary camels as intelligent, social animals that bond strongly with humans and other animals.

Between the lines: - Cleopatra’s placement with Solomon suggests NarroWay is building around animal continuity, not just adding a new attraction. - The purchase also reflects long-term planning between the theatre and Reynolds, with the camel’s arrival rooted in a conversation that began years earlier. - The setup work shows the theatre is treating Cleopatra as a growing member of the cast, not a short-term novelty. - Martin said the arrival “means family,” underscoring the emotional framing NarroWay is using around the siblings.

What’s next: - Cleopatra is scheduled to arrive June 8 and begin acclimating to life at NarroWay. - Cleopatra’s anticipated stage debut is set for The Real Christmas Story, which opens in November. - NarroWay says audiences may see Cleopatra before that production opens. - The theatre will continue integrating Cleopatra into its ministry and live Biblical productions over the coming months.

The bottom line: - NarroWay is betting that Cleopatra will deepen both the animal cast and the emotional appeal of its faith-based dinner theatre shows.