Meet Young Nettie from THE COLOR PURPLE


Senquajja Hardeman, from Newton, plays young Nettie in THE COLOR PURPLE. Currently a Junior at Newton Conover High School, Hardeman’s substantial acting experience includes roles in SHINE and EVIL IDOL at Tractor Shed Theatre, as well as CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, ROMEO AND JULIET and PRINCESS MERMAID at The Green Room. Her very first stage experience though was playing an angel in THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT here at Hickory Community Theatre in 2017.

“My favorite thing about HCT," Hardeman says, "is that it was the startup of my acting career.  I love the positive energy and experience,” Hardeman says.  I chose to audition for THE COLOR PURPLE to explore my ethnicity.  My favorite thing about this role is that Nettie is young, energetic, and driven.”

She received an Excellence in Drama certificate from the John Casablanca Modeling and Career Center in 2019 and is a member of Young People of Integrity.

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.



Popular posts from this blog

Meet Snake Eyes from BUGSY MALONE

Image
Mallory Rhoney, who plays Snake Eyes (a member of Fat Sam’s gang) in Bugsy Malone , is a seventh grader at Grandview Middle School in Hickory. This is her first big production, but she has written and directed her own, original plays while she was a student at Oakwood Elementary.  "I auditioned for Bugsy Malo ne, ” she said, “because I thought it would be really fun to be a gangster. I like that Snake Eyes is in a lot of dancing scenes and funny scenes." "My favorite thing about Hickory Community Theatre is that all the people are just so nice and supportive." At school, Rhoney is in Wyldlife and Band.  Outside of school, she enjoys singing, ukulele and piano. “Musical chops run in my family,” she says. “my great grandfather was Loonis McGlohon, a world-renowed pianist and songwriter.”  She also likes rollerblading, hiking, swimming, skiing, art, crafts and traveling. In 2009 she was named "Cutest Baby of Catawba County" by The Observer News and Enterprise
Read more

Meet Doodle from BUGSY MALONE

Image
Karson Byers, who plays Doodle (a member of Dandy Dan’s gang) in Bugsy Malone is in the sixth grade at Hickory Day School. That’s also where she’s had all of his theatre experience so far.  “I auditioned for Bugsy Malone,” she says, “because it ounded like fun and I've been really interested in acting! The character name 'Doodle', it fits me perfect, I love to draw!!" "The people working at HCT are so nice and very supportive!”  Byers is in the National Elementary Honor Society and received an award in the Radiant Piece Art Competition. She fills her free time with drawing, singing, skiing, volleyball, cross-country running and basketball.
Read more

Introducing the PUFFS Ensemble!

Image
Acting in the ensemble for Puffs , the new comedy by Matt Cox, is an energetically fun time for any actor. Each of them has to play multiple roles, from students to teachers to villains, sometimes at the drop of a hat. The Hickory Community Theatre production, which runs October 15-30, has seven talented actors who are up to the challenge. They are Jenni Canterbury, Theresa Decker, Caleb Ernsberger, Betsy Pipher, Jennifer Leigh, Will Vogler and Jared Wachsmuth. ( Back row, L-R) Betsy Pipher, Theresa Decker, Caleb Ernsberger, Jennifer Leigh,  (front) Will Vogler, Jenni Canterbury and Jared Wachsmuth   Canterbury has been on the HCT stage multiple times before, sometimes with a mermaid fin and sometimes in her skivvies, but until now she has yet to wield a magic wand. Decker is excited to be joining HCT for the first time. Many years ago in the faraway land of St. Louis, she starred in several productions, including DRACULA, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, and ARSENIC AND OLD LACE.
Read more