HCCT-03-19 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CODY ASSUMES HCCT BOARD PRESIDENCY;
RICHARDSON NAMED A BOARD GOVERNOR

Season member drive only at 65% of 2002-03 total.

COTTONWOOD SHORES, TEXAS (Oct. 1, 2003) -- Vickie Cody of Burnet has been named president of the Hill Country Community Theatre to fill the unexpired second term of Neal Younker of Horseshoe Bay. Additionally, Albert “Al” Richardson of Blue Lake was elected to a three-year term on the nine-member Board of Governors.

Cody, who joined the board in 2002, has been an HCCT volunteer for the past two years, both on the stage and behind the scenes. A retired member of the Dell management team, she and her husband Tory have lived full-time in the Hill Country for six years.

Younker, who had a successful two-year tenure in the office, had intended to remain on the board for another term, to which he had been elected.

“ I am simply overextended and want to devote more time to activities with the Helping Center of Marble Falls,” where he is secretary. "I intend to stay very active with HCCT, however, and will continue to provide data processing service. Maybe now I can volunteer time on set construction, one of my first loves! Meanwhile, Vickie is well-equipped to handle the business end of the Board.”

During Younker’s tenure major improvements at the playhouse were made to lighting, sound and HVAC systems. An electronic keyboard and digital camera were purchased, and such technology improvements as computer upgrades and a laser printer for posters were acquired for the office.

Cody is expected to soon name a successor to fill Younker's three-year term in office.

" I'm looking for someone from the Marble Falls or Meadowlakes area, " she said, "who can strongly represent that large section of our patron membership and audience.

“We are in good shape financially and have managed well in the down economy of the past several years, but we must remain vigilant and pro-active,” she emphasized. “We need to creatively renew our efforts to attract new patrons and new volunteers, and to aggressively move forward in the location and development of a larger facility offering more theatrical capabilities.”

Richardson . . .Challenges Ahead

At the annual meeting this past summer, the HCCT membership voted Richardson, a Houston native, to replace outgoing and long-time Governor Don Wright. Richardson earned a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA from the University of Houston.

His entire career was as an engineer and manager for a natural gas pipeline company. He still does some pipeline consulting. His wife Barbara is an Assistant County Attorney in Burnet County. Both Richardson and Cody commented on the "extreme high quality of talent and the magnificent quality of HCCT productions." and have pledged to continue in that tradition.

“ I hope the citizens of the Hill Country know what a gem it has in the form of live drama productions and will support it heartily as members, actors and volunteers.”

HCCT, located near Marble Falls, kicked off its membership drive for the 2003-2004 season in mid-July. About 600 season ticket holders (patrons) have signed up, compared to 885 for all of the previous season.

The theatre was founded in 1985 with productions initially staged in an old firehouse. Since 1991, HCCT has provided entertainment in a 147-seat proscenium stage theatre developed within a building that formerly housed a boat dealership in Cottonwood Shores. The playhouse is a member of the American Association of Community Theatre and the Texas Nonprofit Theatres.

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.

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