Hickory – The Hickory Community Theatre invites audiences to be terrified during the opening weekend of the spine-chilling ghost story, The Woman in Black, opening this weekend, October 17–19, 2025.
Based on the classic novel by Susan Hill and adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, this acclaimed play promises to transport audiences into a world of eerie marshes and unshakeable terror.
The show, featuring a stripped-back, minimalist style and just three actors, builds suspense and fear through an immersive, intimate, and atmospheric experience. It follows a lawyer named Arthur Kipps who, still haunted by a terrible experience, hires a young actor to help him recount his chilling tale. As they reenact the story, the lines between reality and haunting begin to blur, drawing both the characters and the audience into a sinister world. 
The play features a talented cast and creative team dedicated to bringing this powerful ghost story to life, using lighting, sound, and special effects to craft a chilling atmosphere.
“The Woman in Black is an unforgettable theatrical experience where terror lurks in every shadow, including the ones that follow you home,” says John Rambo, Managing Director. “This play is a triumph of suggestion over spectacle, of imagination over exposition”. He went on to say that, “This production is best suited for ages 13 and up. Younger people who can handle the fright may also enjoy it, at their parents’ discretion. I also want to warn adults with heart conditions or severe anxiety that the climax of the story is quite intense.
Performances of The Woman in Black are October 17 through November 1; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:30pm and Thursday, October 30 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students/youth 18 & under, available online at hickorytheatre.org or by phone at 828-328-2283. The performance on Saturday, November 1st will include American Sign Language interpretation.
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. The 77th season is supported by The City of Hickory, A Cleaner World, Shurtape Technologies, Acuna & Acuna Dentistry and BelleAge.
Photo Cutline: Jennifer Owen plays The Woman in The Woman in Black at the Hickory Community Theatre. This production runs October 17 through November 1 in the Jeffers Theatre. Tickets and information are available at hickorytheatre.org or by calling 828-328-2283. Photo by Ethan Fite.
