Hendersonville Theatre Opens New Season with New Attitude!
The Hendersonville Community Theatre is opening its curtains, hanging its lights, and preparing to take the stage once again for its 56th season. What makes the upcoming season so special? Well, for one thing, it has a brand new name. HCT has officially become the Hendersonville Theatre!
Founded in 1966 by twelve Hendersonville natives as The Hendersonville Little Theatre, it began as a local collective of like-minded theatrical artists who wanted the opportunity to develop new works and to perform projects that they were passionate about.
In the years since moving downtown to South Washington Street in 2011 and being renamed Hendersonville Community Theatre, it has had great success, producing traditional plays and musicals. In 2017, HCT also added youth productions to the repertoire, giving local children a safe and creative way to spend their summers. They also began doing community outreach events, like the launch event for “Tippy Finds His Purpose,” a children’s book by local author Mary Beth Stevens.
Just as the theatre really started gaining momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, shutting them down for over a year. The theatre stayed engaged in the community by hosting community events, such as open mic nights, classic movie showings, comedy and game nights, and a special new Readers’ Theatre for the 55+ community. “[2020] marked a much-needed reorganization and change of board leadership,” explains Board President Janice Guazzo. “We are returning to the roots of this organization.”
In the end, Guazzo found that the company came out of the pandemic, stronger and smarter. “It has allowed us to strategically prepare for the challenges that lie ahead,” she says. “We have an opportunity to grow and become a significant provider of the arts and education to community partners, such as Henderson County Public Schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and many of our senior living communities.” Guazzo also says that the theatre needs the support of its community now more than ever, whatever the individual community member’s role might be.
After the shutdown, Board Member Jonathan Forester says the theatre gave itself permission to start trying some different ideas with their productions. “With the uncertainties of the pandemic restrictions, we had to think outside the box,” Forester says, adding that the company still promises to bring big entertainment to its audiences. “Something we all need right about now.” Their first show of 2022 (and their first production as the Hendersonville Theatre) Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree will begin April 22nd and run through May 8th.
The remainder of the Hendersonville Theatre’s season includes: Red, White and Tuna (June 17th – July 3rd), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (July 22nd - August 7th), The Haunting of Hill House (October 14th-30th), and finally Holiday Double Cheer (December 2nd-18th).
Now as the Hendersonville Theatre, the company vows to continue to inspire, nurture, enrich, empower, educate, entertain and challenge artists and audiences with theatrical productions that range from classic to new works. They will also focus on supporting the next generation of theatre artists, and providing arts and education programs that promote life-long learning to a diverse community.
For more information on upcoming events, donating or volunteer opportunities visit our website www.hvltheatre.org or call 828-692-1082.
Written by Meg Hale Brunton