Be A Part of the Henderson County Performing Arts Center's 2025 Season

(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)

The Henderson County Performing Arts Center (HCPAC) has rolled out its 2025 production season, crafted with the help of volunteers from the Play Selection Committee and HCPAC Board Members.

Originally founded as Athens Little Theatre in 1964 by a group of dedicated volunteers performing in borrowed spaces, HCPAC has grown significantly over the past 60 years. Despite numerous challenges, including the COVID pandemic, HCPAC has never allowed its stage to go dark. This resilience has led to multiple sold-out shows and a growing community of new actors, directors, and volunteers. HPAC's mission, "We Entertain. We Educate. We Change Lives," remains at the heart of everything they do, and the 2025 season promises to uphold this tradition.

Here’s what’s coming to the stage in 2025:

Southern Hospitality

The beloved characters of Fayro, Texas, return in Southern Hospitality, the final installment in the trilogy of hilarious comedies featuring the wacky Futrelle Sisters. Directed by Sue Oates, who also directed the previous productions in the trilogy, this laugh-out-loud comedy will run from February 6 to February 15.

Fiddler on the Roof

The classic musical Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of the small, tradition-steeped town of Anatevka, Russia, where Jews and Russians live in delicate balance. With iconic songs like “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” this production explores themes of love, tradition, and change. Fiddler on the Roof will run from April 24 to May 3.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical (Youth Edition)

Are you ready kids? Because, captain, the hit musical SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical (Youth Edition) is coming to HCPAC’s main stage. Based on the Nickelodeon animated television series, SpongeBob prepares for an exciting day in Bikini Bottom with his best friend Patrick, his neighbor Squidward and friend Sandy Cheeks. When he makes it to his job at the Krusty Krab restaurant, he tries to hint his desire to become the manager to the owner, Mr. Krabs. But, it may be too late for him to obtain the managerial position when a violent tremor suddenly rocks the entire town. A news report reveals that the tremor was caused by the nearby Mount Humongous, a volcano that will soon erupt, throwing the town into a panic. Is the end coming or will SpongeBob save the day? SpongeBob is under the direction of Director Shaydi Clary, Assistant Director Pat Jousan Williams and Music Director Liz Foote. Auditions for SpongeBob will be in late April with the production running July 11-19.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a 1955 three-act play by Tennessee Williams. The play is an adaptation of Williams’ 1952 short story “Three Players of a Summer Game.” One of Williams’ more famous works, the play won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. Set in a plantation home in the Mississippi Delta of a wealthy cotton tycoon Big Daddy Pollitt, the play examines the relationships among members of Big Daddy’s family, primarily between his son Brick and Brick’s wife Maggie. The production will run September 11-20.

Dracula

Based on Bram Stoker’s 1987 novel, Dracula comes to the HCPAC main stage just in time for Halloween. The play is anchored with a prologue and epilogue delivered by Renfield, a mysterious, insane asylum patient under the spell of Count Dracula, a vampire who is equal parts debonair and violent. When the young Lucy begins to transform into a vampire, her best friend Mina summons a psychiatrist to examine. When Dracula’s lawyer and Mina’s fiancé Harker returns from Dracula’s castle in a state of shock, his journal paints a picture of the full extent of Dracula’s power. As the stakes get higher, the group must fight time to defeat evil. Dracula is under the direction of Joclyn Ewers. This Halloween shortie will run Oct. 23-26.

A Christmas Story (The Musical)

You’ll shoot your eye out! The hilarious Christmas movie comes to life at HCPAC in “A Christmas Story: The Musical.” This multigenerational musical takes place in the 1940s in Indiana and focuses on a child named Ralphie, who will do anything to get a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. He begins his saga of convincing all necessary players from his sweet and protective mother, to his straight-laced teacher, all the way to the big man himself, Santa Claus. Ralphie’s not the only one with dreams, his old man is just as set on his goal of winning a $50,000 Great Figures of World Literature Contest. His dreams come true when he wins a major award: a fishnet stocking clad leg lamp. See this hilarious production come to life on Dec. 4 - 13. The production will be under the direction of Kara Davis.

And …

Get ready for another season of sold-out shows and unforgettable performances. If you’re interested in volunteering or auditioning for any shows in the 2025 season, email info@hcpac.org.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to hcpac.org now and grab your season tickets.