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HCCT-01-17 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAST – AND CAT – SET FOR BELL, BOOK & CANDLE
OPENING OCT. 17 AT HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITY THEATRE
Five HCCT veterans in “bewitching,” romantic comedy.
COTTONWOOD SHORES, TEXAS (Oct. 2, 2002) – Just in time for the Halloween season, Bell Book & Candle, a delightful and “bewitchingly” romantic comedy, opens the 17th season of the Hill Country Community Theatre on Oct. 17th.
The Opening Night Gala (food and drink) is the first night with the show continuing through Oct. 27th. In addition to the “special effects” on stage, a member of the Gala audience will have a chance to win a $150 gift certificate from Zoo Interiors of Marble Falls.
Wendy James, a veteran of two HCCT musicals and a resident of Blue Lake, plays the romantic lead, Gillian Holroyd -- one of the few modern people who can actually cast spells and perform feats of supernaturalism. All right, let's just say it like it is: Gillian is a witch. But a most attractive and alluring, New York City sorceress.
She casts a spell over book publisher Shepherd Henderson, partly to keep him away from an old college rival, but also because she is very attracted to him. Cottonwood Shores resident Tom Stueckroth plays the hapless bachelor. He was last seen in “That Championship Season.”
“Shep” instantly falls head-over-heels in love with Gillian, but unfortunately witches cannot fall in love, which creates a dilemma. With the help of her fluttery, witch-dabbling Aunt Queenie, played by Dale Kirk of Spicewood, and Gillian’s Village-swinger of a sister Nicky, played by Stephanie Shaw of Marble Falls, Gillian has many hilarious ups and downs in her relationship with Shep.
Sidney Redlitch, a boozy author of pseudo-witchcraft books who is portrayed by HCCT Governor Preston Kirk of Spicewood, helps to solve the dilemma. Preston and Dale, husband and wife in real life, last appeared together in “You Can’t Take It With You.”
The part of Pyewacket, a black housecat with mystical powers, or, in witch parlance, “a familiar spirit” who must do its master’s bidding, will be played by an American short hair cat owned by Tina Strong of Deer Haven.
Dennis Martin of the Inks Lake area guest directs at HCCT for the third time in the past year. He previously directed “Bus Stop” and “That Championship Season.” The retired USMC drill instructor holds a degree in Communications, Theater and Sociology from East Texas State College (now Texas A&M-Commerce) and is experienced in acting, directing, costuming, set construction, lighting, sound and special effects.
Vickie Cody of Burnet is stage managing, and HCCT Executive Director Bruce Hennie is serving as the production designer.
The contemporary American play by John Van Druten, was popular on Broadway in the 1950s and became a movie starring Kim Novak and James Stewart about 50 years ago. Van Druten also penned the nostalgic “I Remember Mama,” and the edgy sensuality of “I am a Camera,” the script on which the musical “Cabaret” is based.
The 147-seat playhouse is located at 4003 FM-2147 West in Cottonwood Shores – between Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay. Box office hours are noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It opens to patron members Oct. 7 and to the general public on Oct. 10. Call 830-798-8944. VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted by phone. Ticket outlets also are located at Highland Lakes Bank in Kingsland and at Keiser Century 21 in Marble Falls. No refunds. Exchanges are only made prior to the performance date on the original tickets.
For more information on the current performances or tickets, membership, volunteer opportunities (box office, costumes, make-up, props, lighting, set building and painting) or auditions, please contact the HCCT Box Office at 830-798-8944, or Executive Director Bruce Hennie at 830-693-2474, or visit the Web site: www.hcct.org.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS:
Preston F. Kirk, APR
HCCT Governor
Spicewood, TX
830-693-4447;
F 693-9898,
kirk@281.com
Bruce Hennie, Executive Director
Hill Country Community Theatre
Cottonwood Shores, TX,
830-693-2474
bruce@hcct.org
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