That Which Hath Made Me Bold: Alice Gomez plays Piper in MACBITCHES

'Freshman Piper wouldn't have stood a chance out in the real world. But by the time I'm done here, I'm gonna be ready.'

When an upstart freshman is cast in a production of Macbeth, what starts as a celebratory party bubbles over with the toil and trouble of creative competition in a toxic academic world. Proof there's just as much off-stage drama as there is on-stage performance, MACBITCHES plays in the Firemen's Kitchen at Hickory Community Theatre from May 1st through May 16th.

Returning to the HCT stage as the sweet-natured (but slightly sheltered) Piper, is Alice Gomez.

A lifelong Hickory resident ,Gomez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Performance, with a minor in Early Childhood Development from Lees-McRae College. She is a Kids Fitness & Dance Coach at Stretch-n-Grow. It is this leadership and love of dance that informs Gomez considering herself "the actor most likely to facilitate a flash mob with over 100 participants". In her free time, Gomez enjoys journaling, cooking, line dancing, piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain with her soon-to-be husband Jared Wachsmuth.

Gomez made her Hickory Community Debut as Carla in IN THE HEIGHTS. She then went on to appear as an Ensemble member in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Gomez, in collaboration with the Green Room Community Theatre, wrote and appeared in THE TREE IN ME, an original one-act play that toured local libraries for young audiences.

Gomez is overjoyed to be part of a production that lifts up the voices and lived experiences of women so strongly. "Piper and I share our love for acting and a need for a sense of self. If you can choose to be anything, choose to be the reason someone feels heard, loved, seen and welcomed."

"The opportunity of an all-female cast, black box, Katie [Stone] directing, it just sounded perfect for my soul."

Performances of MACBITCHES are Fridays and Saturdays, May 1st-16th at 7:30pm; Sundays, May 3rd and May 10th at 2:30pm; and Thursday, May 14th at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for youth and students. Due to adult language and content, the production is recommended for ages 18 and up. Tickets are available at hickorytheatre.org or by calling 828‑328‑2283.

MACBITCHES is produced in association with Pretty Chicken Productions, with additional support from a Friend of the Theatre. 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. Season 77 support is provided by the City of Hickory, A Cleaner World, Shurtape Technologies, Acuña & Acuña Dentistry, and BellaAge. (Photo: Katherine Stone)