At the Hickory Community Theatre, we are blessed to enjoy a company of wonderful volunteers and supporters like you. Together, we work to create a very special place. A story we recently heard from Paul, one of our volunteer actors, is a testament to just how special HCT is, and what it can do.
When joined us as part of the ensemble in Les Misérables, in 2014, Paul had never done theatre before. His involvement up to that point had been as a supportive husband to his wife, Emma Lee. She first joined us in 2010 as part of the cast of She Loves Me.
“My wife encouraged me right then to get involved, but life as a pastor and in the Air Force reserves kept me too busy. I remember telling her though that if HCT ever did Les Miz, then I’d be right there.”
He was indeed, but after Les Misérables wrapped up it would be four years before he returned to the stage (in Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol). Even then, the “theatre bug” still hadn’t latched onto him, but in 2019 things changed and he came back to HCT for Mamma Mia. He came seeking solace in the theatre at a stressful time in his life.
“I was drowning under the pressure of my civilian work, family and health challenges. I was literally questioning the meaning of life at this point. I resigned from my civilian work as a pastor in February 2019. I continued serving in the Air Force reserves while I began a long journey of soul searching. Trying to figure out who I really am and what the next chapter of life looks like at 52. Theatre has played a huge role in helping me discover my authentic self and find balance mentally, physically and spiritually. Theater has nourished my soul in ways nothing else could. Theatre and the people I've grown to love in it have literally saved my life.
Comparing his experience on stage to his previous work as a pastor he says,
“Theatre has a way of bringing people together from all ages and backgrounds that many churches can't figure out. In my experience, the military is the only entity that brings diverse people together for a common mission/purpose as well as theater. It really is a beautiful thing.”
This is the kind of supportive, and transformative, experience that you create by supporting Hickory Community Theatre.
Whenever you participate, whether you're a volunteer, a patron, a donor or any combination of the three, you help further our mission to produce quality live shows, foster creative expression, and engage diverse community members in the art of theatre.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, we "can no offer make but thanks, thanks and ever thanks." We wish you all the joys of this generous season.
