Meet Harpo from THE COLOR PURPLE

Michael Stoudmire, who plays Harpo in THE COLOR PURPLE is a newcomer to HCT with several prior performance credits. Most of those credits are from theatres in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he lived for eleven years. He moved to Fayetteville in 2017 to be closer to his parents and just relocated six months ago to Mooresville, where he is a head cashier for Lowe’s Home Improvement. His past roles include Uncle Fester in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Pablo in SISTER ACT, and Telly in GODSPELL. While living in Hawaii he worked at the Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States.

“Being in THE COLOR PURPLE has been a dream of mine since I saw it on Broadway in 2008,” he said. “I relate to Harpo’s struggle with the concepts of masculinity. The Hickory Community Theatre is a beautiful place and the production team is so welcoming to new talent.”

Performances of the color purple will be held on Fridays and Saturdays, January 21 through February 5 at 7:30 pm; Sunday, January 30 at 2:30 pm, and Thursday, February 3 at 7:30 pm. Opening night, January 21 features reduced-price tickets: $12 for adults and $10 for youth & students. Tickets for all other performances are $16 for adults and $10 for youth and students.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online or call the box office at 828-328-2283. Weekday box office hours are 12-5, Wednesday through Friday, or one half-hour before any performance.

Due to the increasing rate of Covid-19 cases in Catawba County,  the Hickory Community now requires that all patrons wear a mask or other face covering while inside the building.

The HCT’s 73rd season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and Sunbelt Xpress. THE COLOR PURPLE is supported by a grant from the United Arts Council of Catawba County through the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the State of North Carolina from the National Endowment for the Arts. Shurtape Technologies, LLC is associate producer. HCT is a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. Photo by John Koval.

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