Happy New Year from the Sampson Community Theatre! We wish you health and happiness throughout 2013.

As we look back at our 2012 season, we have our actors, directors, commercial sponsors, Patron Sponsors and those who attended our shows to thank for a successful year as we presented “Come Blow Your Horn”, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, “Disney’s Winnie The Pooh”, The Carol Burnett show”, “Nuncrackers” and “A Christmas Carol” as well as our annual Summer Theater Workshop which was well attended and from which you will see actors in future productions.

The first show of our new season will be the musical “Hairspray” which features a large number of teenagers and a handful of older folks singing and dancing to beat the band. You will be impressed with the enthusiasm and energy of the cast, and since it is such a popular show, we plan on presenting 10 shows. “Hairspray” opened on Broadway in 2002 winning eighty Tony Awards as it ran for six years before closing after 2,642 performances. “Hairspray” is being sponsored by Kosterman Chiropractic Clinic and also has obtained a Grassroots Grant from the Sampson Arts Council. This show will open at 8 p.m. on Thursday Jan. 31.

Our 2013 Patron Sponsor tickets are now available and may be purchased from any Board Member. We have an ambitious array of shows planned for the coming year and a Patron Sponsor ticket gives you two admissions to every show we produce plus you get your name or business listed in every program. Call 592-8653 or 214-2444 for further info.

The granite blocks under the theater’s marquee may be purchased as an honorarium, a memorial or to advertise your business. The blocks are cemented into the sidewalk and should be there into the next century or more. Contact us by calling 592-8653 and leave us a message for more information.

The Sampson Community Theatre is on the website Facebook and you may read about some of our ongoing activities by going to the site.

Upcoming events

“Hairspray,” directed by Angela Martin. Rehearsals ongoing. Sponsored by Kosterman Chiropractic Clinic and a Grassroots Grant from the Sampson Arts Council. Performances: Jan. 31, Feb. 1-3 and 7-10, 2013. A patron sponsored event.

2013 Season

(assuming we can obtain rights),

Hairspray: Feb. 1-3 and Feb. 8-10

Crimes of the Heart: Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13

Oklahoma: Aug. 23-25 and Aug. 30-Sept. 1

SCT Children’s Theater Workshop

The Wizard of Oz: June 20-23 and June 27-30

Lost on the Fourth of July: April 5-7 and 12-14, sponsored by Clinton Appliance and Furniture

It’s a Wonderful Life: Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15

Thoughts until next week:

• Remember happiness doesn’t depend on who you are or what you have; It depends solely on what you think.

• Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of men of old; Try to seek what they sought.

• Always yearn to learn something useful.