William Shakespeare, played by Corey Knighton, is the ultimate rock star of the Renaissance, and beginning to feel the pressure of it all. Though outwardly confident, Shakespeare is gradually losing his cool, trying to maintain his success by copying work from others.

Nigel Bottom, played by Branden Nuhfer, is the troupe’s primary writer, and there’s little doubt that his talent rivals and perhaps outshines Shakespeare’s. Nigel is very sensitive, so when he meets Portia, he falls fast. The younger of the two brothers, Nigel, has two great passions – to love and write about it. Nigel is the only major character in Something Rotten! not based on an existing Shakespeare character, excluding the Bard himself.

Nick Bottom, played by Scott Hudson, is Nigel’s brother and the leader of the acting troupe. He’s driven by success, but above all, his ability to support his most loved ones. That pursuit leads him down a rabbit hole of trying to outwrite and outperform his arch-nemesis, Shakespeare.

Brother Jeremiah, played by William Edward Morgan (seen here “Cuttin' Footloose”), is a Puritan who cares for nothing more than to maintain a completely virtuous life. Much like the character of Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose, his conviction takes priority over all things, including his daughter, the theater, and the other ills of society.

Lord Clapham, played by Jonathan Ray, begins as the Bottom brothers’ primary patron, but that changes quickly once he hears that Shakespeare is performing the same play. Clapham is excited by the arts and not ashamed to share his sometimes zealous opinions about the Bottoms’ shows. He’s a lesser lord and extravagantly overdresses to compensate.

Thomas Nostradamus, played by Nathan W. Crabtree (seen here in full “organization” mode), is Nostradamus’ nephew and not quite as talented or adept at telling the future as his uncle. He gets Nick’s premonition for the greatest play of all time very, very wrong.

Bea, played by Carol Anne Hartman, is Nick’s wife, and she does her best to defy the limited role of Elizabethan women to help support the household. She even disguises herself as a man to take on different jobs despite her husband’s opinion.

The character of Shylock, played by Mark Rose, comes from The Merchant of Venice, written somewhere between 1596 and 1598. In both stories, Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who loans a sum of money that must be paid.

The character of Portia, played by Elizabeth Edwards, is derived from The Merchant of Venice. While Portia in Something Rotten! is a Puritan who falls in love with Nigel, Portia from Shakespeare’s play is an heiress who is forced by her father to attain the suitor who chooses the appropriate casket containing her portrait and a scroll.

As Hickory Arts celebrated its tenth anniversary, we took time to reflect on the people, projects, performances, and partnerships that helped shape our studio and the broader arts community. Looking back on 2018 and 2019 offers a snapshot of what Hickory Arts has always been about: developing artists, supporting organizations, creating opportunities, and building community through the arts.

Before stepping into 2017, it's worth revisiting a special moment from late 2016. Prior to a Hickory Arts House Concert, founders Jeff and Carol Anne Hartman released a compilation celebrating their unique “20-16” anniversary—20 years together and 16 years married.

As we continue our look back through the history of Hickory Arts, we arrive at 2015—a year of artistic growth, community collaboration, original work, and reflection.

Looking back, 2014 feels less like a collection of individual projects and more like a year of shared momentum throughout the local arts community.

Looking back on 2013 reveals a year filled with developing artists, original work, creative collaboration, and an ever-growing network of students, organizations, and supporters throughout Hickory and the surrounding region.

As we continued our tenth-anniversary journey through the history of Hickory Arts, we found ourselves looking back at the beginning of 2013.

By 2012, Hickory Arts had firmly established itself as more than a teaching studio. It was becoming a crossroads where musicians, actors, writers, photographers, filmmakers, educators, and organizations could learn, collaborate, and create together.

The years 2011 and 2012 marked an important transition. What began as Down to Hear Studios evolved into Hickory Arts, bringing together musicians, actors, photographers, educators, and developing artists under a shared vision: personalized arts education, creative collaboration, and real-world opportunities for artists.

Looking back on those first years reminds us how much of what defines Hickory Arts today was already taking shape. Long before music lessons, acting lessons, artist development, creative services, and house concerts became staples of the studio, there was a simple goal: create meaningful opportunities for artis

One of my goals, when we founded Hickory Arts, was to raise awareness and help folks in the arts community discover and find value in who and what’s in their own backyard. Home truly is where the art is.

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.