Hickory – Although the story of The Hobbit, coming March 9th to the Hickory Community Theatre, centers around Bilbo Baggins it’s really driven by a group of sometimes friendly but mostly surly dwarves who need his help on the way to help their leader Thorin Oakenshield reclaim the Kingdom Under the Mountain.

The dwarves accompanying Thorin represent four different families and sometimes clash among themselves along the way to accomplishing their quest. In the Hickory production the members of this rarely merry band are played by local actors Alice Barrett, Bill Boyd, Cinthya Calderon, Matt Finch, Josh Gibson, James Grose, Cecilio Henry, Adam Lowery, Cameron Owens, Chris (Clam) Sepulveda, Jordan Smith, Thomas L. Townsend and Will Vogler.

Calderon, Grose, Henry, Smith and Townsend are all Hickory residents but the other actors have come from far and wide to participate in the grand adventure. Gibson, Lowery, Owens and Vogler hail from Caldwell County. Barrett is from Conover, Boyd from Statesville and Sepulveda from Newton. All of them consider being in The Hobbit to be the chance of a lifetime.

Performances of The Hobbit are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm (Mar 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24); Thursdays at 7:30pm (Mar 15 & 22); and Sundays at 2:30pm (Mar 18 & 25.)

All seats are $18, seniors age 60+ are $16 and tickets for students and youth 18 and under are $10. On Thursday nights all adults and seniors are $14. Tickets are now on sale online at www.hickorytheatre.org or through the Theatre box office, in person or by phone at 828-328-2283. Box office hours are 12-5 Wednesday through Friday.

HCT is a Funded Affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. The 2017-2018 Season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and A Cleaner World. The Hobbit is produced by Robert Abbey, Inc. and Sunbelt Furniture Xpress.

Photo: The dwarves of The Hobbit, coming March 9th to the Hickory Community Theatre are (back row) Cinthya Calderon, Adam Lowery, Thomas Townsend, Cameron Owens, Bill Boyd, (middle row) Will Vogler, James Grose, Alice Barrett, Jordan Smith, Chris Sepulveda, (front) Cecelio Henry and Josh Gibson. Performances begin on March 9th in the Jeffers Theatre. Go to www.hickorytheatre.org or call (828) 328-2283 for tickets and information. Photo by John Koval.