The Hickory Community Theatre has always been a vital part of our region’s arts community. The first performance was set for May 24, 1949, and the theatre was called “The Hickory Little Theatre”. Since then, the theatre has been providing the region with a steady diet of quality theatre. The theatre has always been located in Hickory’s Old City Hall, with a major renovation happening in 1984.
The Hickory Community Theatre focuses on producing very high quality live shows. Each season includes some classics, and some brand new, hot from Broadway plays. There are plays produced for the younger crowd, called “Rug Bug Plays”, and plays for the senior set, called “Encore Players”. A season consists of about 15 different plays and at least 3 special events. The Hickory Community Theatre, known locally as “HCT”, often pushes the boundaries, and challenges both audiences and actors. The result is that they offer the kind of theatre experience you would expect in Charlotte, but at much more affordable prices, and the advantage of being local. Plays are performed on the main stage, named the “Jeffers Theatre”, or downstairs in the smaller black box theatre, affectionately known as “The Fireman’s Kitchen”.
The Hickory Community Theatre employs 4 1/2 full time employees, and about 30 contract workers per season. Pam Livingstone is the artistic director, with John Rambo as the managing director. Christine Stinson is the administrative director and Jean Krapfel is the accountant. Charles Jeffers, whom the main theatre space is named after, is the “Artistic Director Emeritus” and he has worked with the theatre since 1957. Clay James is the technical director, and it is his handiwork that brings the settings of the plays to life. The contract workers range from directors, teachers, technical operators, designers, custodians, and many other positions.
Pam Livingstone, artistic director, directs many of the plays, and it is often her vision you see on the stage. She has been with the theatre since 2000, and has an extensive background in theatre and arts administration. She has been a professional director for over 25 years, and has directed shows in nearly every genre. Her directing has won many awards all around the country. Pam’s acting career started at the age of five, and she has earned her living doing stage, television, film, commercial and voice over work. She prefers work in the community theatre, where she finds the true love of theatre, where the heat of the art is most alive, and where the most collaborative art form there is finds its inspirational source.
John Rambo, managing director, comes to the theatre from California, with an extensive background in nonprofit management and a lifelong love of theatre. He founded his own charity organization, Breaking Barriers Community Services Center, and saw its budget grow from less than $50,000 to $740,000 a year. His dedication has increased the reach of the theatre, and he can even be seen acting occasionally.
The theatre’s 2011-2012 season includes the following shows:
- The Sound of Music
- Disney’s The Jungle Book
- Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
- By A Flared Nostril
- King Learn
- The Full Monty
- God of Carnage
- Becky’s New Car
- Deadly Murder
It also includes the following special events:
- James Gregory “The Funniest Man in America”
- Dueling Divas
- A showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Several Rug Bug Theatre performances
HCT wins many awards, including the most recent, North Carolina Community Theatre of the Year. This award is given by the North Carolina Theatre Conference. A short list of the most recent awards follows:
- MTA’s (Metrolina Theatre Association) Outstanding Production
- MTA’s Outstanding Actress
- MTA’s Outstanding Actor
- MTA’s Outstanding Director
- NCTC’s (North Carolina Theatre Conference) Outstanding Community Theatre
- NCTC’s Outstanding Actor
- NCTC’s Outstanding Director
- SETC’s (South Eastern Theatre Conference) Best Production
- SETC’s Best Actor
- SETC’s Best Director
The theatre is housed in Hickory’s Old City Hall. This is a fascinating building, ripe with history. The central part of the building has always been a theatre, but many other parts of the building had other uses. The fire station was located in the building, and the black box theatre is named after its old use: The Fireman’s Kitchen. The city jail was housed in the building, and the old bars, cut off now, are still visible. Remnants of City Hall include 3 massive vaults, originally used to house sensitive documents. Walking through the building certainly gives one a taste of “Old Hickory”.
The theatre is a nonprofit organization, and depends on the support of local business and benefactors. Each show is produced by a local business, which receives copious advertisement in exchange. If you are interested in producing a show, please contact the theatre at 828.327.3855. The theatre also relies on many volunteers. Volunteer opportunities range from ushering the plays, to performing on stage, and literally, everything in between. The theatre provides many opportunities to engage in your community, and your involvement can only improve the experiences of others.
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