Hickory – Rick Seay, a guest director at the Hickory Community Theatre, has just announced the cast for Beautiful Star, an Appalachian Nativity. The homegrown, North Carolina bluegrass musical, with a book by Preston Lane and music & lyrics by Laurelyn Dorsett, is on stage in the Jeffers Theatre from November 30th through December 16th.

The cast features Deanna Erby as Myrtle Ledbetter, Jordan Erby as Ricky Eggers, James Grose as Rev. Roy Ledbetter, Kaylyn Hall as Shelly Ledbetter, Cecilio Henry as Franklin, Emma Lee Kurts as Ethel Green, Ella May as Linda Green, Dakaria Phillips as Paul Sparks, Richie Phillips as Vernon Sparks and Hollie Sherrill as Vestina Ledbetter. Steve Clark is Music Director.

This tuneful tale takes you to the peaks of the Blue Ridge where Reverend Roy Ledbetter and all the members of the Open Heart Community Fellowship have been working hard to fill your holidays with joy. Starting with Genesis and going all the way to the Nativity, they spin a holiday story with down-home laughter, toe-tappin’ music and a tug at the heartstrings.

Performances of Beautiful Star, an Appalachian Nativity are are on Fridays and Saturdays (Nov 30 and Dec 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15) at 8:00pm, Thursdays (Dec 6 & 13) at 7:30pm and Sundays (Dec 9 & 16) at 2:30pm.Tickets for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for students and youth 18 & under. Thursday night tickets for adults and seniors are $16, students and children are $10.

Tickets are 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 Theatre’s 2018-2019 Season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and A Cleaner World. Beautiful Star, an Appalachian Nativity is produced by Sunbelt Xpress.

Photo: (L-R) Back row – Emma Lee Kurts, Cecilio Henry, Jordan Erby, Hollie Sherrill; middle – Kaylyn Hall, James Grose, Deanna Erby; front – Dakaria Phillips and Ella May are the cast of Beautiful Star, an Appalachian Nativity, on stage at the Hickory Community Theatre November 30th through December 16th. Photo by Carol Anne Hartman Photography.