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ABOUT

 INCLUSION 

We welcome everyone regardless of what you look like, where you're from, how much you have, your ideology, or whom you love.

WE VALUE

 RESPECT 

We are committed to being accepting, considerate, attentive, encouraging, and appreciative of every person who comes through our doors.

 DISCOVERY 

We revel in the marvel and wonder of human truths revealed, for the artists and the audience, through the art of live theatre.

 COLLABORATION 

We believe that the inherent vaule of individuals working together toward a collective vision creates something powerful that is far greater than the sum of its parts.

 OUR MISSION 

 OUR VISION 

Live theatre that entertains, enlightens, inspires, and unites our community.

 OUR HISTORY 

The Hickory Community Theatre had its humble beginning in 1948 when the Hickory Recreation Department employed Kay Johnson to form a theatre group. Her first offering was a series of radio dramas aired on WIRC. In 1949, informal meetings, encouraged by the Kramer family, led to the formation of what was then known as The Hickory Little Theatre. The HLT first production was an evening of one-act plays, so successful that the company presented its first full-length production, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU in October in the auditorium at City Hall. The building has been the home of HCT ever since.

The Theatre grew in popularity and community support through the ’50s and staged its first musical production, THE BOYFRIEND, in 1958 – the same year that Charles Jeffers started his life-long involvement with HCT.

A new city hall was built in 1976 and HCT slowly moved into more of the old building. Renovations in 1984 led to the two performance spaces known to modern audiences, the extremely popular Firemen’s Kitchen and the HCT Mainstage, which the City Council renamed The Charles E. Jeffers Theatre in 1988, when the City turned over the entire building to the use of the Theatre.

Renovations continued in the 1990s...

To produce quality live shows, foster creative expression, and engage diverse community members in the art of theatre.

STAFF

Eric Seale hails from the Bluegrass of Lexington, KY. He's career has had a focus on directing and... READ MORE 

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 ERIC SEALE 

 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 

Kelsey Kott was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Kott earned her bachelor’s... READ MORE 

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 KELSEY KOTT 

 EDUCATION DIRECTOR 

Paul Sapp was born in California, raised in New Jersey, educated in Virginia and Maryland, and has resided with his wife and two children... READ MORE 

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 PAUL SAPP 

 HOUSE MANAGER  

John Rambo was born in Oregon, the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant. His early childhood covered... READ MORE 

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 JOHN RAMBO 

 MANAGING DIRECTOR 

Christine moved to Hickory from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. There she was employed with The Shaw... READ MORE 

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 CHRISTINE STINSON 

 ADMIN DIRECTOR 

Emma Lee grew up in West Virginia, went to college in Texas (where she met and married her... READ MORE 

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 EMMA LEE KURTS 

 COSTUME DESIGNER 

Pam is the retired Artistic Director of Hickory Community Theatre. She joined the HCT family in July of 2000... READ MORE 

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 PAMELA LIVINGSTONE 

 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITA

Julie has been involved in behind the scenes roles in theatre and the arts for almost 20 years.  She... READ MORE 

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 JULIE WRIGHT 

 HOUSE MANAGER 

Originally from Houston, TX, Ethan Fite relocated to Granite Falls, NC,   READ MORE 

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 ETHAN FITE 

 PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE 

2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 OFFICERS 

 

Anita Doran, President     Sue Walker, Vice President     Dan Rink, Immediate Past President     
Sherry Griffin, Treasurer     Sara Stinemetz, Secretary

 MEMBERS AT LARGE 

Nathan Ahlgrim     Steve Austin     Dorothy Best     Ellie Jeffers Hall     Alice McDonough

William "Bill" Parrish     Jordan Spears    

 BOARD RECRUITMENT 

 

Are you interested in joining the Board of Directors for HCT? Service on the HCT board is an opportunity to promote the Hickory Community Theatre and the arts in the Hickory region. The board is interested in diverse candidates with a passion for theatre and a love of the performing arts.

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