Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Brings Holiday Magic to Hickory Community Theatre

Hickory – The holiday favorite Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer opened last Friday to a warm and lively crowd at Hickory Community Theatre. Audiences young and old lingered in the lobby afterward, calling the show “absolutely adorable,” “a great time for the Christmas season,” and “10 out of 10 amazing.”

For those unfamiliar with its origins, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a beloved Christmas story that began as a retail promotion and was launched into popular culture with the 1949 Johnny Marks song, made famous by Gene Autry. Although Rudolph first appeared in a 1948 animated short, it was the iconic 1964 stop-motion television special that cemented his place in holiday tradition — the very version on which the stage musical is based.

Both the song and the story follow an outcast reindeer with a glowing red nose who, after being mocked and excluded, ultimately saves Christmas by guiding Santa’s sleigh through a dense Christmas Eve fog. In doing so, he transforms what others saw as a flaw into a heroic gift, offering timeless lessons about acceptance and individuality.

Performances run December 12–20: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm; Sunday, December 14 at 2:30pm; and Thursday, December 18 at 7:30pm.

The show is recommended for ages three and up. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students and youth ages 3–18. Visit hickorytheatre.org or call 828-328-2283 to purchase.

This production is sponsored by Alex Lee, Inc.

Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba and receives sustaining support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Season 77 support is provided by The City of Hickory, A Cleaner World, Shurtape Technologies, Acuña & Acuña Dentistry, and BelleAge.

HCT to Serve as Toy Collection Site for the Catawba County Christmas Bureau

During the run of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hickory Community Theatre will serve as a drop-off site for new, unwrapped toy donations on behalf of the Catawba County Christmas Bureau. Collection hours are 2–5pm, Monday–Friday, and prior to performances: Fridays and Saturdays (December 12, 13, 19, 20) at 7:30pm; Sunday, December 14 at 2:30pm; and Thursday, December 18 at 7:30pm.

Please note: HCT is only able to accept toy donations at the theatre. For those wishing to donate clothing, coats, or food items, please contact the Christmas Bureau directly through the United Way of Catawba County for guidance on how to contribute.

The Catawba County Christmas Bureau is a collaborative effort among local agencies and organizations to provide toys, clothing, coats, and meals to families with children and teens (birth to age 17) during the holiday season.

Cast Announced for HCT’s Winter Musical Be More Chill

HCT Artistic Director Eric Seale has announced the cast for the upcoming production of the hit musical Be More Chill, on stage in the Jeffers Theatre January 23–February 7, 2026. Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, the show features music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz.

Stuck at the bottom of the high school food chain, nerdy Jeremy Heere stumbles upon the secret to instant popularity: the SQUIP — a supercomputer in a pill. Suddenly he’s the coolest guy at school, but the upgrade comes at a price. With its high-energy humor, sci-fi twists, and driving pop-rock score, Be More Chill explores teenage angst, identity, and the hazards of technology.

The thirteen-member cast features Davis Hickson as Jeremy Heere, Lily Bodnar as Christine Canigula, Lark Bodnar as the Squip, Madison Cole as Chloe Valentine, Darnell Ducre-Harden as Rich Goranski, Jaxx Dunwoody as Brooke Lohst, Kendal Melton as Jenna Rolan, Connor Orr as Jake Dillinger, Angel Rojas as Michael Mell, and Trenton Stiles as the Scary Stock Boy, with Mason Barber, Lily Reavis-Goodson, and Rian Rogers appearing as the “Other Weirdos.”

Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays, January 23–February 7 at 7:30pm; Sundays, January 25 and February 1 at 2:30pm; and Thursday, February 5 at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students and youth 18 and under. Recommended for ages 13+ at parental discretion. Visit hickorytheatre.org or call 828-328-2283 for tickets.

PHOTO: (L–R) Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and Rudolph flee the snow monster Bumble in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, December 12–20 at Hickory Community Theatre. Photo by Katherine Stone.