We would like to thank you for attending today’s performance and hope you are as delighted as we are by what our community theatre has come together to create. Please contact us if you have ideas or questions about how you can become part of the HPCT family! We look forward to meeting you!
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Directing "Sordid Lives" has been like the smell of Marlboro Specials mingling with the warm aroma of Folgers coffee, familiar and stirring memories both tender and raw. Growing up in Thomasville, NC, I rode my bike along old Highway 85 to the Budget Inn, Kelly’s gas station, and my favorite spot to sneak a peek, the Sugar Shack.
Like the cult classic "Stand By Me," I was on a quiet adventure chasing Cheerwine slushies, spending weekends at yard sales, and praising the Lord on Sundays with a bacon biscuit and a large Pepsi from Biscuitville in Momma’s Ford Explorer.
Afternoons at my grandmother Ruth’s house, sharing fried chicken while watching Jimmy Johnson race laps around the track, were filled with warmth and connection, even as loss quietly lingered nearby. Those moments shaped my understanding of family, sacred and full of love and grief, laughter and pain, and hope. Our family photos covered Grandma’s walls, reminding me of who I am and where I come from.
"Sordid Lives" captures this beautifully. The characters wrestle with identity, expectation, grief, and hope. They love fiercely, mourn awkwardly, lash out, withdraw, and sometimes sing through their pain. They are family, flawed, fierce, and deeply real.
And even in the worst of times, when you burn a deer carcass with gasoline, when life’s chaos threatens to consume everything, love still carries us forward.
Tonight, I hope you feel how, even in chaos, love carries us forward. This story is specific yet universal, reflecting rage, tenderness, absurdity, and surrender. It reminds us that those who raise us often fight their own battles quietly, imperfectly, but always with love.
Welcome to our corner of Texas where grief meets glitter, forgiveness grows loud, and love arrives in unexpected ways.
- Jacob Charles Luck
HPCT Board of Directors
- Courtney Lowe, President
- Mike Lasley, Vice President
- Therese Armbrust, Treasurer
- Linnea Bethany Coon, Secretary
- Sarah Carter
- Eric Gagliardo
- Graham Harrington
- Oliver Helsabeck
- Matt Lowe
- Kristina Railsback
- Maria Schnaith-Ivan
- Ryan Schnaith-Ivan
- Kristi Wirth
- Martha Yarborough
FRIENDS OF HPCT
We love our friends and sponsors! They are making this and future seasons even better!
Composer ($1,000+)
- Crescent Ford
- Daugherty Flooring
- The Hayden-Harman Foundation
- High Point Arts Council
- High Point University
- Jim Morgan
- River Landing (Kintura)
- Social Indoor
- Martha Yarborough
- YES! Weekly
Playwright ($750-$999)
Librettist ($500-$749)
Orchestrator ($250-$499)
- Archdale Drug
- Fred Astaire Dance Studios High Point
- High Point Elks Lodge
- High Point Museum
- Mary Howe
- Mary Browne Thompson
Patron ($100-$249)
- Helen Cheramie
- Linnea Bethany Coon
- Jim & Alison Freeman
- Eric Gagliardo
- Graham Harrington
- Oliver Helsabeck
- Michael Hyland
- Mike Lasley
- Courtney Lowe
- Matt Lowe
- Wilson Mericle
- Kristina Railsback
- Maria Schnaith-Ivan
- Ryan Schnaith-Ivan
- Kristi Wirth
Friend ($5-$99)
- Taiki Azuma
- Kelsey Cheney
- Nan Hall
- Rachel Harris
- Wilson & Mary-Lloyd Lowrey
- Elizabeth Nee
Special Thanks
- Costumes: Eric Gagliardo, Sue Haselsberger
Jacob Charles Luck is an actor, director, and educator whose passion for HPCT began in 2007 with Footloose. Since 2013, he has been involved in numerous HPCT shows, including 9 to 5, Young Frankenstein, Our Town, Cinderella, and The Aristocats Kids, dating back to HPCT’s residency at Oak Hollow Mall.
As the founding director of Northwest Little Theatre, Jacob led young performers through a wide range of productions the last five years, directing Matilda JR, Mean Girls JR, 13: The Musical, Into the Woods JR, High School Musical JR, Footloose: Youth Edition, Our Town, and Grease: School Edition.
Regionally, his work spans stages across North Carolina. His professional credits include A Christmas Carol (Carolina Ensemble Theatre), The Lost Colony and The Hunting of the Snark (Roanoke Island Historical Association), South Pacific, and Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity (Triad Stage).
Jacob is a certified Fight Director through the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and a candidate for membership in Actors’ Equity Association. He has collaborated locally with companies such as Lexington Youth Theatre, Triad Pride Acting Company, Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, Paper Lantern Theatre Company, GTCC Theatre, and various cabarets and workshops throughout the Triad.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a Minor in Musical Theatre from UNC Greensboro in 2018. Outside the theatre, Jacob works as a photojournalist for FOX8 WGHP, where he tells local stories through the lens.
Deeply committed to mentoring young artists and fostering the arts in his community, Jacob is also a NBA enthusiast, avid Red Dead Redemption II player, and vintage clothing curator, often alongside his wife, Tatum, and Terrier Remi. He extends heartfelt thanks to his family, friends, and collaborators for their unwavering support and dedicates this production to those who helped him navigate grief and rediscover his purpose.
@jacobcharlesluck
Linnea Bethany Coon (Stage Manager) is honored to be supporting everyone by running things backstage for this wonderful and insightful show. She is no stranger to the stage whether on stage or backstage, she has been participating in theater for over 30 years. Some of her favorite roles have been Jo in (“Little Women the musical”), Vivienne and Paulette in (“Legally Blonde, the Musical”), Ghost of the Future, Emily, and Sally in (“A Christmas Carol”), Snoopy in (“You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”) and Stage Manager for (“Matilda”). She would like to say thank you to all her friends and family for all their constant support. She would like to dedicate this show to everyone who is still figuring out who they really are - it is never too late for self discovery.
Reese Barker (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be part of this production! Favorite shows include Hadestown, Next to Normal, and And Then There Were None. She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina Greensboro with a BA in Drama she is extremely thankful to her family for their immense love and support!
Cleo Aikey (Ensemble) has been honored to be a part of this show. This is her third HPCT production, having most recently played Teddy Roosevelt/Nunzio in “Newsies”. She asks you to look inward today as you enjoy this show. “If God created all, then he created the homosexual. If he created the homosexual, we might just have a little gay in us all.”
Amy Beusse (Sissy Hickey) - Born and raised here, Amy is very active in our city. Most recently, she played the role of Mrs. Fezziwig in HPCT's production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical. Amy dedicates this performance to the memory of her baby sister who only ever wanted to feel accepted.
Michael Carter (G.W. Nethercott) - has directed and acted in over 100 shows in North Carolina and southern Virginia, he is pleased to be making his debut with High Point Community Theatre. "Sordid Lives" continues a busy 2025 for Michael as he directed a production of "Harvey" in March and acted in a production of "A Few Good Men" in May. Next up for Michael will be playing Atticus Finch and directing a production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" in September in Brookneal, VA.
Marissa Collins (Ensemble) - is grateful for the opportunity to be in this show. Favorite roles include Audrey 2 (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Nora (“Nora’s Lost”), and Ms. Hannigan (“Annie”).
Alana Haselsberger (Ensemble) - is happy and thankful to be in this comedy show! She is used to musicals, so this is an exciting change from the usual for her!! She has performed in lots of shows with HPCT and participated in the JTF Troupe in her High School years. Hope you enjoy our Sordid Lives!!
Joseph Hege (Rev. Barnes/Ensemble) - is excited to be a part of the cast of "Sordid Lives." Theatre has been in my blood since I was young. I last appeared in a production of "Ragtime" at an Outdoor Amphitheater in the Oakland Hills of California.
Denise Larkin (Juanita) - is very excited to be a part of this show. Some favorite roles include Marion (Peace, Love, and My Mother -in-Law), Truvy (Steel Magnolias), Aneece (Belles), Lexie (Dixie swim Club), Kirsten (Days of Wine and Roses, and Doris (Same Time Next Year). Thank you to my BSM, MR Paul. You are the best co-star ever! Love You!
Mike Lasley (Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram) is so thankful for the opportunity to be in this show. Mike has a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in music from UNCG and teaches at NCA&T State University. He currently serves as Vice President on the HPCT Board of Directors. He has served on production teams for over 50 productions in the Triad. Favorite roles include Dr. Armstrong (And Then There Were None), Schroeder (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Sylvia St. Croix (Ruthless), Shrek (Shrek the Musical), Lawrence Jameson (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and Bud (Bridges of Madison County). All the love to WM!
Amanda Locke (Dr. Eve Bollinger) - is overjoyed to be a part of this hilarious cast. "Sordid Lives" is her first non-musical production with HPCT. Past roles include charwoman in "A Christmas Carol: the Musical" 2022, 2023, and 2024, ensemble in "9 to 5: The Musical", and hair & makeup for "Murdered to Death." When she is not on stage, Amanda is a high school history teacher and bonafide bookworm. All the love to Jordan, her parents, friends, coworkers, and cast mates.
Wilson Mericle (Ty Williamson) - is excited to be back on the HPCT stage in this hilarious show! Favorite roles include Emmett (“Legally Blonde: The Musical”), Cliff (“Cabaret”), Lita Encore (“Ruthless”), Charlie Brown (“You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”), Henry Blore (“And Then There Were None”) and Seymour (“Little Shop of Horrors”). All my love to ML!!
Jonah Meyer (Odel Owens) - is pleased as punch to perform in his first show with HPCT. Other recent roles include Michel, the Conductor ("Murder on the Orient Express"), Drunk Santa and Charlie Halloran ("Miracle on 34th Street"), Mayor Shinn ("The Music Man"), Sammy Sabella/Mr. Thimbles ("Mr. Thimbles"), and Sam, the Pickle Man ("Crossing Delancey"). A writer, editor, book reviewer, and poet, Jonah plays guitar, banjo, and piano, and shoots street photography. He is deeply grateful to the entire cast and crew of this outrageous production. Enjoy the show!
Lucy Neel (Bitsy Mae Harling) - is pleased as punch to be participatin’' in this production of Sordid Lives! Lucy is movin' up north in the fall to attend Western Connecticut State University and get herself a fancy degree in acting! (Bless her heart.) Some of Lucy's favorite theatre memories are when she played Annie Sullivan (The Miracle Worker), Elizabeth Levanza (Frankenstein), Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Heather Duke (Heathers), Gretchen Wieners (Mean Girls), and Roxie Hart (Chicago). Lucy hopes y'all enjoy this here story!
Cale Palmer (Wardell "Bubba" Owens) - was first spotted in the rafters during a lighting check, muttering lines from a play that doesn’t exist. He insists he was cast by “the old script buried beneath the stage” and no one’s had the nerve to question it. Equal parts method actor and feral cryptid, he approaches each role like it’s a high-stakes séance. In his spare time, he rearranges prop tables according to lunar tides and communicates with the director exclusively through riddles and interpretive coughing. He has never missed a cue — only redefined them.
Amy Sargent, aka “Toots” (Ensemble) - is thrilled to be a part of this phenomenal show. After a 30-year break from theatre, she made her debut with HPCT as Mildred in “Murdered to Death”. Amy loves to run…her mouth, which is a perfect fit for this show!
Kimberly Sparkman (Noleta Nethercott) - is thrilled to be making her debut as Noleta in Sordid Lives. When not on stage, Kimberly enjoys playing flute and directing her church choir. She'd like to thank Jacob Luck for his guidance, her castmates for their support, her son Rory, for his encouragement, and her friends that supported this experience.
Deanna Welch (Latrelle Williamson) - is thrilled to be back in her third HPCT show. This show and character have been difficult, fun, and rewarding, and she hopes you enjoy watching it as much as she enjoyed being in it. She'd like to thank her family for all of their support through the process, and her amazing HPCT family as well! Love y'all!!
Emily Williamson (La Vonda Dupree) - is very grateful to share the stage with such talented people, direction, and stage management. A few previous roles include Truvy ("Steel Magnolias"), Mrs. White ("Clue"), Polly Benish ("Play On!), and Phyllis ("Sylvia"). Theater heals me, so thank you again.
Photos by Brad McMillan
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Our Mission Statement
High Point Community Theatre is a volunteer-based arts organization dedicated to providing community involvement opportunities, inspiring appreciation for dramatic arts and educating the next generation.
Provide • Inspire • Educate
Season 50
Credits:
High Point Community Theatre