HCCT-02-15 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HCCT Membership Drive Reaches Halfway Point

Email, mailbox, phone efforts begin in September to reach 1000-member goal.

COTTONWOOD SHORES, TEXAS (Aug 16, 2002) – Hill Country Community Theatre (www.hcct.org) this week passed the halfway mark in its drive to sign up 1,000 members for the 2002-2003 season -- a 13.5% increase over the current season, which concludes with the Saturday (Aug. 17) matinee of the musical Honk!

"As of Friday, Aug. 16, there were 504 patrons signed up, including 72 contributing memberships and 40 new members, some from as far away as Houston, Snyder and Stanton," reports Ruth Meredith of Horseshoe Bay, a member of the HCCT Board of Governors and chair of the Membership Committee. "Our membership drive ends Sept. 30, so we expect to use every means of communication available to reach prospects: e-mail, letters and phone calls -- to reach our goal."

The 147-seat play house, a chartered 501 (c) 3 and a member of the Texas Non-Profit Theaters Assn., was expected to surpass 8,000 total attendees in the 2001-2002 season by the time the last curtain rings down. That record attendance is partly credited to an expanded production schedule, light and air conditioning improvements and higher levels of participation by volunteers.

" We also are pleased that at this early date we have nudged past the year-ago amount of money collected for the Holbert Scholarships." Meredith said. "We certainly want to encourage more youthful involvement in our shows, in the audience -- on our stage and behind the scenes. A child 12 years or younger can be a regular patron for only $35 for all six shows."

The program, established in memory of HCCT co-founder Phyl Holbert, awards up to three scholarships in the amount of $500 each to graduating seniors from Burnet, Llano and Marble Falls who have demonstrated interest in the theatre arts, maintained at least a B average in their high school careers and plan to use theater in some way in their chosen course of future studies.

Upcoming Shows & Familiar Titles:
"We know there is a lot of hard work and personal contacts ahead of us," Meredith said, "but we believe our upcoming season of delightful and engaging shows is a major drawing card." The new season includes: Bell, Book & Candle, Oct. 17-27; Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Dec. 5-15; Leave It To the Navy (musical), Feb. 13-March 2; The Miracle Worker, April 10- 19; Same Time, Next Year, May 29-June 8; The King & I (musical) July 31-Aug 17.

Individual membership costs remain the same for the new season at $75, an even greater value than last season, since individual ticket prices have gone up by $2 for non-musicals and $3 for musicals, to $12 and $15, respectively. A leading "perq" for members is the ability to reserve the date for the performance of their choice three days before the general public.

Season members also receive invitations to special Patron-only events at HCCT, such as one-night only fund-raising productions and the annual Patron Potluck Supper, as well as voting privileges. Additionally, HCCT honors volunteers with a free picnic each spring.

"Contributing memberships" for singles or couples include the Bronze Level at $300 a year; Silver, $500; Gold, $800, Platinum, $1,000, and Life, $5,000. Of course contributions of any size are always welcome.

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