Hickory – The play True West, opening April 13th in the Firemen’s Kitchen at the Hickory Community Theatre, is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a devoted family man, and his older brother Lee, a nomadic drifter. In the Hickory production the brothers are played by two actors who happen to share the same first name, Joshua Propst and Joshua Yoder.
Yoder has the role of Austin. Yoder, an actor, director, playwright and educator who lives in Lincolnton, is taking his second turn on stage this season at Hickory Community Theatre. He was last seen playing three distinctly different roles in A.R. Gurney’s zany comedy Sylvia. Yoder holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has performed in dozens of plays in the 20 years since he started acting, and has worked professionally at Triad Stage, Ensemble Stage, Bright Star Touring Theatre, and other regional theatres. Yoder has also taught acting, directing and script writing at several colleges and universities in North Carolina.
Propst, who plays Lee, was last on stage in the Kitchen as Sam in the millennial comedy The Flick. A graduate of the Lenoir Rhyne University theatre program, he’s more often been seen here in classical roles like Richard in The Lion in Winter, Edmond in King Lear and Ross in Macbeth. Hickory isn’t his only theatre home; in 2016 he played the role of Lord Illingworth in Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance with Foothills Performing Arts. He lives in Morganton with his wife Meredith, where he manages the Food Matters Market.
Performances of True West are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm (Apr 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28); Thursdays at 7:30pm (Apr 19 & 26); and Sundays at 2:30pm (Apr 22 & 29.)
All seats are $16, seniors, students and youth 18 and under are $14. Tickets are now on sale online at 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. True West is produced by Robert Abbey, Inc. and Dr. George Clay, DDS.
Photo: Joshua Yoder (left) and Joshua Propst play two brothers in True West, opening April 13th in the Firemen’s Kitchen at the Hickory Community Theatre. Photo by John Koval.
