This Magic Moment: Holley Dagenhardt plays Cinderella's Stepmother in INTO THE WOODS

"You, Cinderella, the Festival?

The Festival? People would laugh at you"

Dysfunctional family dynamics abound in INTO THE WOODS, the Tony-winning musical in which the classic fairytale characters you know learn that "happily ever afters" are never what they seem. From Broadway legends Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, INTO THE WOODS plays at Hickory Community Theatre, June 5th through June 20th.

Returning to the Jeffers Theatre, as the vain and villainous Stepmother, is multi- award winner Holley Dagenhardt.

A longstanding resident of Hickory, Dagenhardt is a Registered Dietitian & Nutritionist who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Master's Degree in Nutrition from Appalachian State University. An avid hiker, yoga practitioner, and baker, Dagenhardt wholly embraces being the cast member "most likely to bring a healthy snack and muffins" to rehearsals and performances.

A current member of the HCT Board, Dagenhardt's on-and-offstage roles include EATING BLACKBERRIES, part of the Pamela Livingstone Award-winning ensemble in POTUS, and a Kay Award for Outstanding Character Actor for her turn in KINKY BOOTS. She's also kept cast toes tapping in her role as Choreographer for HCT's production RIDE THE CYCLONE, and Out There Theatre Company's production of HEATHERS.

Dagenhardt's credits at the Green Room Community Theatre include THE THURSDAY NIGHT BRIDGEI CRCLE, JUNK, MAMMA MIA!, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL—earning a Metrolina Theatre Association Award for Best Supporting Actor—and STEEL MAGNOLIAS. She was also Co-Choreographer for LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET and the MTA-nominated HELLO, DOLLY! Other area credits include HUB Station productions of BRIGHT STAR and MADAME BUTTERMILK (which she also choreographed), as well as numerous commercial, TV and film appearances.

"It's fun to play a person who is completely different from you," says Dagenhardt of her evil Stepmother persona, who would never be caught making muffins for others. Unless they were poisoned. Oh, wait. That's a different fairy tale.

Performances of INTO THE WOODS are Fridays and Saturdays, June 5th through June 20th at 7:30pm; Sundays, June 7th and June 14th at 2:30pm; and Thursday, June 18th at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for youth and students. The production is recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets are available at hickorytheatre.org or by calling 828‑328‑2283.

INTO THE WOODS is produced in association with Catawba Valley Health Systems. 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.