HCCT-01-21 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUDITIONS FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER!
RESULT IN RECORD SIZE CAST AT HCCT

Tryouts attract nearly 50 seeking roles in holiday show.

COTTONWOOD SHORES, TEXAS (Nov. 12, 2002) -- Recent auditions for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! at the Hill Country Community Theatre (HCCT) attracted prospective cast members from as far away as Lampasas and Austin wanting to perform in one of the most popular holiday productions of the past 20 years.

“Actors, parents and friends filled the playhouse,” said HCCT Executive Director Bruce Hennie, who will direct the production. ”It wasn’t quite as crowded as the Austin auditions for ‘American Idol’ or ‘The Alamo’ extras, but the turnout ranks alongside our production of `Annie’ for volunteer interest.

“There were so many with the right look and good talent that I have double-cast 12 actors in six roless so that more individuals can be involved on stage,” Hennie emphasized. “The cast size has blossomed from 26 to 45 with 20 of those making their first appearances at HCCT. Considerable credit has to be given to the news media and our Web site, www.hcct.org for attracting more and more persons to our growing operation.”

HCCT veterans David Bend and Monica Griffin have been named choral directors, and Elizabeth Knebel and Terry Sellers will share duties as musical accompanists. Juliet Cornelison is stage manager. All are from Marble Falls, except Knebel, who lives in Kingsland.

“The cast includes 24 members from Marble Falls; six from Cottonwood Shores; four from Granite Shoals; two each from Austin, Horseshoe Bay and Kingsland, and one each from Blue Lake, Burnet and Lampasas,” Hennie noted. “Two real-life firemen are being recruited to play those roles”

Rehearsals began Oct. 28. The Box Office (830-798-8944), which operates from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, opens on Nov. 25th to patrons and on Nov. 27th to the public. Regular and Contributing Memberships for the 2002-2003 Season are still available for those wanting to secure early reservation preferences and other privileges.

The play, based on a 1972 best seller by Barbara Robinson, is the second of six in the 17th season for HCCT, a 147-seat playhouse located at 4003 FM 2147 West in Cottonwood Shores – between Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay.

HCCT Cast a “Family Affair”

"Pageant" is about the Bradleys, a young couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant. They are faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history! When the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head-on, the mayhem and nonstop fun commence.

“We know this is a fun family show,” Hennie said. “I don’t just mean that it appeals to families in our audiences, but also appealed to the assemblage of actors and crew members. Parents, their children and numerous siblings volunteered for tasks on stage and behind the scenes.”

Ruth Young will portray Grace Bradley, and her daughters, Angela and Mercy will be Gladys Herdman and an Angel Choir member. Meredith Piatek, a popular child singer-actor at HCCT, will share the role of Beth Bradley, the play’s narrator, with Caitlin Michie. Meredith’s brother Brett is Charlie Bradley, while sister Joanna is in the choir.

Penny Rapstine will play the imperious Mrs. Armstrong, with family members Michael Rapstine as Elmer Hopkins, Lex Rapstine as the tough Leroy Herdman and Colton Rapstine as Hobie. Randy Rudman has the role of solid family man Bob Bradley, and Chloe Rudman is Alice Wendleken, the prim pain-in-the-neck, a role also shared with Savannah Spiller.

Susanne Brown is Mrs. Slocum and her daughter Bailey shares the role of Maxine with Hyacinth Vanderburg. Juliette Cronelison’s daughters, Colleen and Jessica are in the choir. Morgan Crawford is in the choir and T. J. Crawford plays Elmer Hopkins. Jennifer Holland is in the Choir, and Trey Holland plays the trouble-seeking Claude Herdman. Johnny Colombo is the slouchy, yet cool young teen Ralph Herdman. Brandi and Raquel Collier are in the choir.

Vicki Cody, who stage-managed the recent show “Bell, Book & Candle,” will portray Mrs. McCarthy, one of the church ladies. And who best to play Reverend Hopkins, but a real “man of the cloth,” The Rev. Pete Christie. Jessica Johnson is in the Angel Choir, while Nicole Johnson plays the small, feisty Gladys Herdman. Kim Koetter has the Mrs. Clark role and daughter Faith is in the choir along with Hannah Mayfield and Shea Kavanaugh.

Carolyn Lloyd is Mrs. Clausing, Jaclyn Waddington is in the choir and Brodin Tadlock is a shepherd. Cadie Smith and Megan Williams share the part of the loud and bossy Imogene Herdman, while Megan’s sister, Britanny is in the choir.

For more information on the current performances or tickets, membership, volunteer opportunities (box office, costumes, make-up, props, lighting, set building and painting), auditions or script checkout, please contact the HCCT Box Office at 830-798-8944, or Executive Director Bruce Hennie at 830-693-2474.

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