Theatre is the most collaborative live art form. Hickory Arts is dedicated to the preservation of live musical theatre orchestras in Catawba County and surrounding areas.

I remind my casts to think about who they're representing and what it means. What's the ultimate goal here? Respect it. Enjoy it. Love it. Eat it up. Soak it in. In the immortal words of Billy Joel, "Forget about life for a while." What keeps good casts and crew coming back for more is the sanctity of the process. Good plan. Good tone. Good people. Good support. Great show.

Last Stop on Market Street reminds us of the responsibility we have to exercise empathy, move towards what we don’t understand, and challenge ourselves to hold each other accountable in love.

This has come to me in waves over the years, but I've been inundated lately with questions and concerns from students and colleagues about the value of education and experience in theatre, music, photography—the arts, in general.

I believe that’s what I love so much about theatre. It exists in the present form only. There is such a visceral connection you can have with a show and its actors in such a short amount of time and then it’s gone—left to live only in our memories and imaginations.

From the suburbs of New Jersey to the foothills of North Carolina, a powerhouse pair of creative minds began their theatrical journey on the heels of Hurricane Hugo as “Image Players” at West Caldwell High School in 1989. Today, they’re directing one of the most beloved shows around; Steve Martin & Edie Brickell’s Bright Star.

Bullying can be incremental. It can stare you in the face. It can hide behind a screen or an institution. It feasts on inaction. It can hold you hostage. It can manifest as guilt. It can, it can, it can until we can't.