History in the Making: Justin Thomas plays Father in THE TRAIL TO OREGON!

"The Promised Land will not wait for us. We leave our home with faith and trust.

We'll find the place of our destiny, And spread our family seed." So begins THE TRAIL TO OREGON!, the historically adjacent musical comedy from StarKid Productions. This homage to the iconic 1974 video game blazes a trail of song and laughter from March 13th—March 21st in HCT's Firemen's Kitchen.

Returning to HCT in this production as Father, the show's pioneering patriarch, is multi-Kay Award-winner Justin Thomas.

Thomas, who has been living in the area for 30 years, works as an Administrative Support Specialist at Appalachian State University. In addition to his work duties at ASU, Thomas has also been studying hard to earn his Bachelor's Degree in English & Film Study.

HCT audiences most recently saw Thomas being hanged (not "hung") in THE HANGMEN, also in the Firemen's Kitchen. Before that he appeared in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, and THE GUY WHO DIDN'T LIKE MUSICALS, for which he received a Kay Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical. Other Kay Award-winning performances include Outstanding Character Actor in THE FOREIGNER, and as part of the Kay Award-winning Ensemble in RAGTIME. His area acting credits include THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) and DRINKING HABITS at Foothills Performing Arts, as well as INTO THE WOODS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and FROM THIS DAY FORWARD at Old Colony Players.

Thomas remains grateful for the close-knit community he finds at HCT, and for the grace he receives from HCT staff, given his status as "actor most likely to break the set while attempting s stunt."

Performances of THE TRAIL TO OREGON! are March 13-21; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday, March 15 at 2:30 pm, 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.