The script for the 2023 Heart Show was written by Jimmy Moore and features the Wimpleton family. An encore performance will be held Sept. 28 and 29.
The talented cast of the Aiken Women's Heart Board Benefit show will return to the stage on Sept. 28 and 29. The all volunteer cast will perform their favorite tunes from the 2023 show "Home is Where the Heart Is." The performances will be at the Etherredge Center. Joining the cast this year will be USC Aiken's Scholarship recipients Cade Melnyk and Tobias Knight.
The Encore show, a joint endeavor between the Heart Board and the USCA Theatre Department, started in 2013. It was the brainchild of Benefit Assistant Director Agnes Hobson. Creating this show provided a way to raise additional funds for the American Heart Association and support the theatre department's scholarship fund.
The master of ceremonies for this year's show will be Steven McKinney and the cast. The song selections are from the 2023 Heart Show, and include "You've Got a Friend," "Keeping the Faith," "You Can Call Me Al," "Lean On Me" and "Tennessee Whiskey." Song selections will be sung by the cast.
The Heart Show band, Heart and Soul, will also perform and is directed by Darrell Rains. Randa Berry, Mark Ferriter and Mike Terry, members of the band, will also sing. The show is expected to last about an hour and a half.
The Encore show has added over $45,000 to the USCA Theatre Department's scholarship fund over the past 10 years.
With the generous support of the Aiken community, the Aiken Women Heart Board has donated nearly $2.8 million to the American Heart Association.
"The relationship between the AWHB and the USC-A Theatre Department has always been strong," said Heard board President Frances Reynolds. "The Heart Board is proud of this collaboration and is thrilled to return to the stage with this musical event."
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Etherredge Center box office. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 803-641-3305 or visit usca.edu/etherredge-center.