Hickory – Guest director Tiffany Christian has just announced her casting choices for the Hickory Community Theatre’s upcoming production of the powerful new play I and You. Performances will begin on January 11, 2019 in the Firemen’s Kitchen. The play is a drama with very funny touches of comedy.

One afternoon, Anthony arrives unexpectedly at classmate Caroline’s door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, an urgent assignment from their English teacher. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn’t been to school in months, but she is as quick and sardonic as Anthony is athletic, sensitive, and popular.

As these two let down their guards and share their secrets, this seemingly mundane poetry project unlocks a much deeper mystery that has brought them together.

In the Hickory production, Marcus Phillips is Anthony and Cassidy Pruitt plays Caroline. I and You is an ode to youth, life, love, and the strange beauty of human connectedness.

Performances of I and You are January 11-27, 2019; Fridays and Saturdays (Jan 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26) at 8:00pm, Thursdays (Jan 17 and 24) at 7:30pm and Sundays (Jan 20 and 27) at 2:30pm. Tickets for Thursday night performances are $14 for adults and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets for Fridays through Sundays are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (60 and over), 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. I and You is produced by Dr. George Clay, III, DDS and Robert Abbey, Inc.

PHOTO: Cassidy Pruitt and Marcus Phillips play two teens in Lauren Gunderson’s new play I and You. Performances begin on January 11 in the Firemen’s Kitchen at the Hickory Community Theatre. Photo by Carol Anne Hartman.