Hickory – Hickory Community Theatre is kicking off the new year with a new musical called RIDE THE CYCLONE. This dark musical comedy features a wholly unexpected, wildly imaginative story that delivers surprises at every turn. The plot follows five teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir, and one mysterious stranger, who take one last ride on a rollercoaster that changes the course of their lives forever. The female members of the choir are Ocean, played by Hannah Nuhfer and Constance Blackwood, played by Bethany Spears. The mysterious stranger, known only as Jane Doe, is played by Ashlen Cheers.

RIDE THE CYCLONE is Cheers’ fifth production with HCT in the past three years. Her previous roles were Ensemble in THE PIRATE QUEEN, Third Witch in MACBETH, Ensemble/Stripper in ROCK OF AGES and Dunya/Ensemble in ANASTASIA. Her role in MACBETH garnered her an HCT Kay Award for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play. Cheers is a member of the International Thespian Society and has an Associate in Fine Arts degree in music and a diploma in funeral directing. “I chose to come out for RIDE THE CYCLONE,” she says, “because it is a literal fever dream of off-the-wall amazingness.”

Nuhfer marks her third HCT outing with RIDE THE CYCLONE. She was most recently seen as Dusty in POTUS and made her debut in December 2022 as Kitty in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. The latter role earned her the Kay Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical. Her other local theatre credits include playing Sophie in MAMMA MIA at the Green Room and directing the musical DISASTER for the Lincoln Theatre Guild. Nuhfer studied at Appalachian State University and teaches drama at North Lincoln High School. “I’ve been obsessed with this musical for years,” she says of the show. “Ocean is a try-hard mean girl with a great redemption.”

Since making her debut in EVITA in 2021, Spears has been in numerous productions, including THE COLOR PURPLE, for which she received the Kay Award for Outstanding Featured Female Actor, MEMPHIS and ROCK OF AGES. Her work at other local theatres includes ONCE ON THIS ISLAND at The Green Room, DISASTER at Lincoln Theatre Guild and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at CAST. She has an Associate of Arts Degree from CVCC and works as a Certified Medical Assistant at Frye Care Generations Family. “I relate to the character of Constance very much,” she says about her role. “I also love the music and singing backup for each character.”

Performances of RIDE THE CYCLONE are Fridays and Saturdays, January 19 through February 10 at 7:30pm; Sundays, January 28 and February 4 at 2:30pm; and Thursday, February 9 at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets may be purchased online at hickorytheatre.org/box-office of by phone at 828-328-2283.

RIDE THE CYCLONE is rated R for adult language, themes and situations.

The Hickory Community Theatre’s 75th anniversary season is sponsored by A Cleaner World, Green Park Dentistry, Paramount Automotive and Sunbelt Xpress. RIDE THE CYCLONE is produced by Sandra and George Clay, III. The Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County.

PHOTO: (from top) Ashlen Cheers, Bethany Spears and Hannah Nuhfer are the female cast members of RIDE THE CYCLONE, coming to the Hickory Community Theatre January 19th. The Off-Broadway musical will run January 19 through February 10.