This year has been nothing short of incredible for Hub City Theatre Company.
We kicked things off with one of my bucket list shows, Barefoot in the Park, where we transformed Turntable Coffee Counter into a shoebox New York apartment. Looking back at the photos, I’m still in awe of how that entire set fit into such a tiny corner of the coffee shop between performances. And I’m still laughing at the antics of our amazing cast and crew who brought the show to life in such a big way!
Next, we tackled our second outdoor production—and second Shakespeare show—with Comedy of Errors, directed by the brilliant Isabella Grey and partnered with the Jackson-Madison County Library. I’ll say this over and over: I’m a director first and only an actor because it makes me a better director (and because doing things that push you out of your comfort zone makes you a better human). Playing Antipholus, though? That was a challenge! Despite tornado warnings and some pretty vocal hecklers, our cast and crew powered through to deliver a performance that delighted Shakespeare fans and even those who never thought they’d laugh at Shakespeare!
Then, the legendary David Burke returned to direct The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, our cowboy-themed special. This production had it all: heart, humor, heartbreak, and of course, plenty of gunsmoke. The Basement Theatre at the Carnegie was packed for every performance, and the audience just couldn’t get enough. They laughed, they cried, and they held their breath in fear. It was such a thrill to see that show come together.
Summer rolled around, and I found myself back in the director’s chair for what may have been my craziest idea yet: a triple-cast production of the musical The Last Five Years at Turntable. Honestly, folks, you try casting a two-person musical in a town like this. There’s just too much talent! I ended up casting six incredible actors, and I would’ve loved to add even more if I could. The cast and crew worked tirelessly to make the show run seamlessly, and we ended up with three unique, powerful versions of the show that left audiences in awe.
We closed out the season with Alfred Custor’s directorial debut: Misery, based on the Stephen King novel, performed once again in The Basement Theatre at the Carnegie. Thriller and horror aren’t usually my go-to genres, but wow, what a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat production that was! And it was so sweet to see so many new people welcomed into the HCTC community.
I’m constantly amazed at how HCTC has grown into such a treasure for Jackson, TN. It never gets old hearing how our casts and crews have formed new friendships and created real communities along the way. That’s one of the things I love most about what we do: seeing people step into something new, take risks, and grow in confidence and skill. It’s exciting to watch people discover theatre and feel like they have a place here, and we’re always striving to make our space more accessible and welcoming to everyone.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone walk into a space downtown, take a look around, and say, “I didn’t know this was here!” Moments like that remind me why we do this: to bring something fresh to the table, to raise the bar, and to give our audience something they didn’t even know they needed. Whether it's a brand-new face in the crowd or someone who's been with us from the start, it’s always a joy to share that connection. And I think that’s what makes the work we do so special: we’re all in it together, building something bigger than any one of us could do alone.
HCTC started as a dream, a “what if we just did this?” And since the beginning the heart of HCTC has always stayed the same: offering unique, bold shows in intimate spaces and creating something that brings people together. We’ve never stopped working to make every production better than the last, and to keep finding joy in every creative step along the way.
Thank you for being a part of the journey! I can’t wait to see where we go from here!
