Hickory – Two new actors, Joseph Clark and Chelsea Weaver, are joining the Hickory Community Theatre family for As You Like It. The romantic comedy by William Shakespeare begins performances on the Jeffers Theatre stage on February 1st.
Although they are unfamiliar faces on the Hickory stage, both have performed at other local theatres. Clark has the role of Duke Frederick, who has banished his elder brother, Duke Senior, from the court and stolen his title. A few days later he also sends away his niece, Rosalind, whose adventures make up the main plot of the play.
Clark is the science teacher at Lincolnton Middle School. His previous stage roles include Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins and two prior Shakespeare roles, Banquo in Macbeth and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, both at the Green Room. He is originally from Greensboro.
Weaver plays Frederick’s daughter, Celia. When her cousin Rosalind is banished she decides to run away into the forest with her. Weaver lives in Hickory and is a software support specialist at Terra Dotta.
Her previous theatre experience includes playing Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire and ensemble roles in Grease at the Green Room, and the roles of Shelly and Marvalyn in Almost Maine at the Little Theatre of Gastonia.
Performances of As You Like It are February 1-17, 2019, Fridays and Saturdays (Feb 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16) at 8:00pm, Thursdays (Feb 7 & 14) at 7:30pm and Sundays (Feb 10 & 17) at 2:30pm.
Tickets for Fridays through Sundays are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (60 and over), and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets for Thursday night performances are $14 for adults and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Call the box office at 828-328-2283 or visit hickorytheatre.org to purchase tickets or get more information.
HCT is a Funded Affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. The Theatre’s 2018-2019 Season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and A Cleaner World. As You Like It is produced by Catawba Radiology.
Photo: Chelsea Weaver and Joseph Clark play a father and daughter in As You Like It. The Shakespeare comedy opens on Feb. 1 on the Jeffers Mainstage at the Hickory Community Theatre. Photo by Carol Anne Hartman Photography.
