About us

In 2020, the Hill Country Community Theatre celebrated its 35th anniversary. Now, in 2025, HCCT proudly marks its 40th season—a remarkable achievement and something the entire community can take pride in. Over the past four decades, the theatre has faced challenges, but it has endured and thrived, remaining a vibrant cultural cornerstone of the Highland Lakes.

Founded by a small group of friends in Horseshoe Bay who shared a passion for live theatre, HCCT’s mission is to present and promote quality theatre activities and programs that entertain, educate, and encourage community participation in support of the performing and cultural arts. Since its establishment in 1985, HCCT has staged over 200 productions and special events, and now sells more than 7,000 tickets each year, drawing audiences, performers, and volunteers from across the Texas Hill Country.

The theatre’s story began in 1985 at a cocktail party hosted by GiGi Fischer and Phyl Holbert. Invitations were sent to people they thought might be interested, and to their delight, 22 guests attended, expressing enthusiasm for the project. That night, Melissa Rowe—who would become an audience favorite in many productions—suggested the name “Hill Country Community Theatre” to signify that the theatre would be for all surrounding communities. The original Board of Governors included GiGi Fischer, Phyl Holbert, Cookie Puckett, Charlie Keiser, Jim Rose, Ken Holbert, George Edgerton, Marge Oberholtzer, and Gloria Sams.

Early meetings were potluck suppers where members could connect, enjoy theatre-related activities, invite guest speakers, and hold informal play readings. Betty Delisle, wife of the local fire chief, volunteered to create a regular newsletter, The Stage Whisper, which was published several times a year for over three decades.

HCCT’s first public performance was a musical and comedic revue at Quail Point, later repeated at the Yacht Club. Memberships were offered at $25 per year, but finding rehearsal and performance space was a constant challenge. For their first patron performance, rehearsals were held at Quail Point, sets were built in a warehouse secured by Jim Rowe, and the production was staged at Marble Falls High School, with tickets priced at $2 each.

The group eagerly promoted the theatre in the community, often performing at local events. A popular tradition began when the Horseshoe Bay Guild invited them to stage an old-fashioned melodrama for the Fourth of July—a practice that continued for many years. As they prepared for their first full season, classes in acting, directing, and set construction were offered to strengthen their productions.

Performance space remained an issue, with rehearsals sometimes happening in unusual circumstances, such as between a basketball game on one side and a town meeting on the other. A unique temporary solution came when Cottonwood Shores Fire Chief Dutch Lemming offered space in the Volunteer Fire Department, where the troupe shared quarters with fire trucks and crews. Eventually, thanks to the support of loyal donors and the success of several fundraisers, HCCT purchased and renovated a former boat dealership in Cottonwood Shores. This building, now a 146-seat theatre, has been HCCT’s home ever since.

Under the leadership of Jim Rowe, the building was expanded to include dressing rooms, a scene shop, a kitchen, and other amenities. The programming also grew, with a typical season now including six mainstage productions—often anchored by a major summer musical—and a variety of additional events over the years, including touring shows, acting and directing classes, talent shows, and a national playwriting festival.

Education and outreach remain central to HCCT’s mission. The annual two-week youth summer theatre camp, designed for students aged 8–17, introduces them to all aspects of theatre, from scriptwriting to stagecraft to performance. Scholarships funded in memory of HCCT founder and beloved performer Bob Turnbaugh make participation possible for young people from low-income families. Many high school drama students perform in mainstage productions, and HCCT also awards scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing the performing arts.

For most of its history, the theatre has relied heavily on volunteers, handling everything from maintenance and set construction to box office duties, front-of-house hospitality, directing, performing, and backstage crew work. From 1999 to 2010, a paid executive director oversaw daily operations, but economic downturns briefly returned HCCT to all-volunteer management. A few years later, professional management was restored, and a paid executive director continues to guide the theatre today.

Because ticket sales cover only a portion of operating costs, HCCT depends on the generosity of donors, sponsors, and volunteers. It is thanks to their dedication—along with the countless hours of performers, crew members, and supporters—that the Hill Country Community Theatre has flourished for 40 years, bringing live theatre and cultural enrichment to the Texas Hill Country.