History in the Making: Abigail Taylor plays Grandpa/Cletus Jones in THE TRAIL TO OREGON!

When an intrepid All-American family hitch their wagon to the wheels of destiny, the result is a hilarious historical saga you won't find in any schoolbook.If you see one video game-inspired, audience-interactive musical about Pacific Northwest pioneers this season, make it THE TRAIL TO OREGON!

From StarKid Productions, the masterminds behind THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS, this funny family trek has had its run extended through March 28 in the Firemen's Kitchen at Hickory Community Theatre.

Returning to rock out on the Hickory Community Theatre stage, the site of many fond childhood memories, is Abigail Taylor as Grandpa/Cletus Jones.

A resident of Morganton, Taylor holds a BFA in Film Production from Western Carolina University. Taylor is putting their degree to good work in the community as a Film & Video Instructor and Marketing Director at Western Piedmont Community College and Burke County United Way. When not helping others light up the screen, Taylor can be found bringing fire to the stage as the vocalist-lyricist for Asheville-based punk band Fantømex.

"I spent many summers doing camps and running the halls of HCT," says Taylor, "so it feels like home in multiple ways. I've always had warm experiences at HCT, whether onstage or seeing a show."

A 2016 Willy Award winner for Best Character Actress, Taylor has appeared in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, PYGMALION and A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Foothills Performing Arts, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Old Colony Players, and GREATER TUNA and TITUS ANDRONICUS for Just Two Guys Productions.

A founding member of Morganton Improv, Taylor is thrilled to be part of, and for her role in, THE TRAIL TO OREGON! "I love absurdist comedy, I love improv, I love musicals. It's a great combo of all those things. I already have kind of have the soul of a crazy grandpa. I'm excited to embody him and do some physical comedy."

Taylor also admits to being "the actor most likely to crack or crack others" on stage. Could you spot Taylor going all to pieces during the show? Buckle up and hit the trail to find out, gentle pardner.

The performance run for THE TRAIL TO OREGON! Has been extended through March 28; The weekend of March 13-15 is SOLD OUT. Performances continue Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm (March 20-28), and Thursday, March 19 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students. The $12 price is also valid for youth, but PLEASE NOTE that this show is considered suitable for ages 18 and up. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online, or call the box office at 828-328-2283.

THE TRAIL TO OREGON! is produced in association with The Estate of Paul Sapp. Hickory Community Theatre is a Funded Affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba and receives sustaining support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The 77th season is supported by The City of Hickory, A Cleaner World, Shurtape Technologies, Acuna & Acuna Dentistry, and BellaAge.