Meet Squeak from THE COLOR PURPLE

Kayla Harper, who plays Squeak in THE COLOR PURPLE, made her HCT debut in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN as a member of the ensemble. She returned three months later in THE WIZ and has since gone on to play roles in RENT, DREAMGIRLS, AS YOU LIKE IT, RAGTIME, and HAIR. She also played Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID at The Green Room. Harper, who is originally from Washington, DC, relocated to Hickory about eight years ago and currently works for MDI. She was the first runner-up in the Hickory Rotary Club’s singing contest, Rotarian Idol, last March.

“My favorite thing about Hickory Community Theatre,” she said, “is the diversity and how the people become like family. I love the music in THE COLOR PURPLE. What I enjoy about playing Squeak is that she’s cute and enjoys being seen— just like me.”

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 Theatre 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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