"We want to be investing in this book, not donating."
You know and have seen the works of William Shakespeare. But do you know about all of the drama that went into the publishing of his first official collection of timeless tragedies, comedies and histories?
Lauren Gunderson's THE BOOK OF WILL is a lively and loving celebration of those for whom Shakespeare's words meant the world, and how they shared them with the rest of the world. It finishes its extended run in the Firemen's Kitchen this Thursday and Friday, March 20th and March 21st.
Retuning to the HCT stage as spirited spouse Elizabeth Condell is the one, the only, the irreplaceable Emma Lee Kurts.
Originally hailing from West Virginia, the country roads eventually brought Kurts and her and family (including spouse Paul David Kurts, another HCT regular) to Hickory almost 30 years ago. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Ambassador University, and enjoys reading, baking and knitting in her free time. That is, when she isn't busy knitting, sewing, darning and more as HCT's resident Costume Designer extraordinaire.
Kurts made her HCT debut in 2010's SHE LOVES ME. She has since gone on to appear in over 15 shows at HCT, including TRYING, AS YOU LIKE IT, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, MAMA MIA, SOMETHING ROTTEN, and THE REVOLUTIONISTS. She has been part of Pamela Livingstone Award-winning Ensembles in LES MISERABLES, RAGTIME, and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME.
Other recent area performances include FOOTLOOSE at Theatre Statesville, NOISES OFF with the Lenoir-Rhyne Playmakers, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY: THE MUSICAL at the Newton Performing Arts Center, THE CRUCIBLE for Old Colony Players, and THE SWEET DELILAH SWIM CLUB for The HUB. She is the winner of two Willy Awards from Foothills Performing Arts, for DEFIANCE and THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB.
"I love Lauren Gunderson," Kurts says of the playwright for THE BOOK OF WILL (and THE REVOLUTIONISTS). "I'll audition for any of her work." As for Elizabeth Condell in this current production, Kurts is clear in her affinity for the character: "Elizabeth is spunky and takes no sh*t."
Performances of THE BOOK OF WILL are this Friday and Saturday, March 20th and March 21st at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for youth and students.
Tickets are available online at hickorytheatre.org, or by phone at 828-328-2283. The theatre box office is open from 12-5 PM Wednesday through Friday, or one half-hour before a performance.
THE BOOK OF WILL is rated PG. Some material may not be appropriate for children.
THE BOOK OF WILL is produced in association with Alice and John McDonough, and David and Maria Williams, with additional support from Steve Austin and Sherry Griffin. The Hickory Community Theatre’s 76th season is sponsored by A Cleaner World, Belle Age, Covington Dental, LifeRootz, Protection Products, Inc., and Shurtape Technologies. HCT is a Funded Affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba and receives additional support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
(Photo by Eric Seale)