ANASTASIA, the hit Broadway musical, will make its much-anticipated Hickory premiere next Friday, November 24 at 7:30 pm at the Hickory Community Theatre. Performances will continue through Saturday, December 16.
With its opulent settings, dazzling costumes, and a soaring score including the song favorites from the hit animated film, “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December,” ANASTASIA is the spectacular new musical about discovering who you are and defining who you’re meant to be. Along the way there are some colorful characters, including a pair of scoundrels, Vlad and Dmitry, hoping to collect a reward for finding the lost princess Anastasia. A pair of talented, local actors, Eric Seale and Justin Wilson, play this criminal pair.
Seale, who plays Vlad, is the Artistic Director at HCT and appeared in a musical 10 years ago as a cybernetic-motorcycle riding –fireball throwing Eddie in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW for the Actors Guild of Lexington. As an actor, he has starred as Cyrano de Bergerac, Nick Bottom, Harry Roat Junior/Senior, and even as himself (or a version of himself at least). Since starting his professional career, Seale has directed over 80 plays and produced around 110 plays to date. He will next helm RIDE THE CYCLONE and the world premiere of EATING BLACKBERRIES for HCT.
Justin Wilson, who plays Dmitry, was just on stage at the beginning of this season as Monty Navarro in A GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO MURDER. Last season saw him in two productions, as Gangster #2 in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and Trevor in THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, which was chosen as the Outstanding Ensemble for the 2022-2023 Kay Awards. Wilson made his HCT debut as Robin in SOMETHING ROTTEN, which earned him his first Kay Award for Outstanding Character Actor. In his spare time, Wilson works as a server at the Olde Hickory Station and is a theatre major at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Performances of ANASTASIA are Fridays and Saturdays, November 24 through December 16 at 7:30pm; Sundays, December 3 and 10 at 2:30pm; and Thursday, December 14 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.
ANASTASIA is suitable for all audiences but parents are advised to visit the show’s website, anastasiathemusical.com for more information.
The Hickory Community Theatre’s 75th anniversary season is sponsored by A Cleaner World, Green Park Dentistry, Paramount Automotive and Sunbelt Xpress. ANASTASIA is produced by Catawba Valley Health System. The Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County.
PHOTO: Justin Wilson (left) plays Dmitri and Eric Seale is Vlad in ANASTASIA, the new Broadway musical coming to the Hickory Community Theatre. Performances will run November 24 through December 16 in the Jeffers Theatre. For tickets and more information visit hickorytheatre.org or call 828-328-2283. Photo by John Koval.
