Our Mission
The mission of the Highlands Cashiers Players is to elevate the cultural environment of the Highlands Cashiers area by offering first rate theatrical productions; to seek out and develop the ample theatrical skills of the Plateau residents of all ages; and to foster the camaraderie of participants in theatrical productions.
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Our motto has always been “good plays, well done”, but of equal importance is to provide a stage for local citizens to both develop and display their theatrical talent.
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But it is so much more.....
Our History
In July of 1995, Sara Mayer, Carol Lucas, Jerri Talley, Jean Morris and April Hershey each gave $100 to begin a community theater group in Highlands, and the Highlands Community Players was born. That first season they chose three plays – “Steel Magnolias,” “Dearly Departed,” and “A Thurber Carnival.”
In the summer of 2008, the Highlands Community Players joined forces with theater lovers in nearby Cashiers and transitioned to the Highlands Cashiers Players. The twin communities have sustained a schedule of four productions each season, along with the popular holiday favorite of their traditional holiday readings each Christmas season. That has resulted in over 80 full-length plays involving 25 directors, 23 holiday readings, 6 dramatized readings of full-length plays, and featuring over 250 actors, 41 of them in multiple productions.
What makes the Highlands Cashiers Players special is they are the area’s only all-volunteer, not-for-profit theatre organization that always welcomes inexperienced and experienced actors all the same. They also encourage anyone who might want to help out in other roles that are just as vital, such as directors, technical staff, set designers and builders, backstage assistants, box office personnel, and hospitality providers. In addition to volunteers, the Highlands Cashiers Players continues to grow and succeed thanks to their continued support from season ticket holders, sponsors, and donors. Without those people, HCP would not exist - they truly are the heartbeat of HCP.
The 2018-2019 season saw one of HCP’s hardest losses to date, the untimely passing of current president, Adair Simon. In her memory, the entire 25th season was dedicated to Adair, with her presence still greatly felt.
Our 2019-2020 season, our 25th anniversary, was interrupted by Covid, with us completing our first 2 plays of the season, but ultimately having to cancel our March and May 2020 shows. We were thrilled to return in October 2021 with our first original play, “The Great Pandemic: A Mystery, Musical, Love Story.”
We want to say a huge thank you to all of you for supporting the theater!
Board of Directors
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Board of Directors
Ron Leslie – President
Ricky Siegel – Vice President / Acting Secretary
Karen Armor – Treasurer
Michael Lanzilotta
Mary Adair Trumbly
Jim Spencer
Cathy Myers
Susan Kent
April Getz
Julie Crook