The Hickory Community Theatre is now in its 73rd season, so you can just imagine how many people have been through here over that many years. Even the most conservative estimate puts the number at over 20,000 people - taking into account all of the patrons and volunteers who have come through our doors. Every single one of those people has their own story about what HCT means to them.
The one I’d like to share with you today comes from Cody. He first came to us as a patron, then as an actor, making his HCT debut as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. Cody has since moved to Atlanta, but he carries with him many fond memories. This is what he asked me to share with you.
"Hickory Community Theatre has had a profound and varied impact on my life. I first moved to Hickory when I was going to college for theatre, and at that point HCT was just a vision of what high quality theatre can look and feel like. In my freshman year, I saw Spamalot and it just blew me away. I wanted to do theatre at that level, as up until that point all I had really been a part of was high school theatre.
But after graduating, the Hickory Commuity Theatre became a place that accepted me no matter what, during some rather difficult times. I still count the people I met doing The Hobbit and Flanagan's Wake among my close friends, and I can say that the community that HCT builds is truly special. Having moved away, I miss it dearly."
Cody's experience is just one of many examples of what you, through your support of the Hickory Community Theatre - as a donor, patron or a volunteer - have made possible.
From the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of all those whose lives you have touched, we offer our deepest thanks. Your generous support of our work, and your commitment to our work, are deeply appreciated by all of us at HCT.