Tell the story to the best of your ability, and let your "hart" sing.
Christmas with Neel Patrick
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH
Simpsonville Arts Center Auditorium
Following the success of 2023's Melodies Under the Mistletoe, Neel Patrick and Hartworks Theatrics will be bringing a new Christmas cabaret to the beautiful Simpsonville Arts Center this Thanksgiving weekend! More information will be announced this summer, but be sure to mark your calendars for an intimate evening of carols, laughs, and sweet memories. Stay tuned for special announcements in the coming months! Tickets will be available to the public on Friday, October 18th! Join us for what audiences in 2023 said was “one of the best Christmas shows in the Upstate!”
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All About HARTWORKS
Hartworks Theatrics (known affectionately as "Hartworks") creates a space for creativity and celebrates the performing arts in the Upstate of South Carolina. As a newly formed, small-scale nonprofit producing arts organization, Hartworks believes that every production is an opportunity to share our hearts and connect with audiences, fostering a sense of unity and a lifelong appreciation for live theatre and performance. We produce engaging performances—concerts, cabarets, and occasional theatrical productions—offering a creative space free from constraints, where local talent can flourish and the community can enjoy diverse artistic experiences.
Neel Patrick Edwards
Executive Producing Director
neelpatrick@hartworkstheatrics.org
Neel Patrick has been an active member of the South Carolina Upstate theatre community for nearly 15 years. He's had the pleasure of performing at local venues like the Greenville Theatre, Centre Stage, the South Carolina Children's Theatre, and the Flat Rock Playhouse: The State Theatre of North Carolina. Originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina, Neel Patrick earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of South Carolina Upstate, igniting his fervor for Arts Administration and marketing. A versatile theatre enthusiast, Neel Patrick enjoys wearing multiple hats on the artistic front – actor, singer, performer, director– all rooted in his authentic love for the craft of storytelling and sharing it with those around him. In 2023, Neel Patrick officially founded Hartworks Theatrics so that he could further expand his passion for theatre on the producing front.
Board of Directors
| NEEL PATRICK EDWARDS | Executive Producing Director |
| JONATHAN KILPATRICK | Advisory Board Member |
| SUSAN HAWKINS | Advisory Board Member |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I help Hartworks in its beginning stages?
Click here for Sponsorship and Donation opportunities! Thank you for your interest!Where are you located?
Currently, all of our performances take place at The Simpsonville Arts Center (110 Academy St.) in beautiful Downtown Simpsonville, South Carolina. Hartworks does not have a permanent office or rehearsal space (yet). We partner with venues on a production to production basis.How do I purchase tickets?
Tickets are available for purchase by clicking the "Box Office" link on or by visiting hartworks.ludus.com.How can I get in touch with the Box Office?
The easiest way to contact the Box Office is by emailing BoxOffice@hartworkstheatrics.org. (You can also contact us through the CONTACT section of this site. We are very quick to respond! Currently, we are not available by phone unless a call-back is scheduled through email.
Sponsorships & Donations
Donations and Financial Support
Hartworks Theatrics is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts corporation. Because of this, all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. We have many opportunities for donations and sponsorships and would love to partner with you!
Become a SPONSOR
Sponsorship for full-length productions typically start at $5,000, but that number is flexible when it comes to singular events and concerts. Click below to see our full list of sponsorship benefits. Custom sponsorship packages are also available, designed based on your company’s needs and
the benefits you would like to explore.
Become a SUPPORTING PATRON
Interested in supporting Hartworks but don't want to become a sponsor? Consider becoming a Hartworks Supporting Patron! There are six levels to choose from, each making a valuable impact on our organization as we get started.
Volunteer with Hartworks
We are always on the lookout for volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering with us, please fill out the Google Form linked below to share the area(s) you might be interested assisting in. Whether you are new to the theatre scene or a seasoned pro, there is a space for you!
FRONT OF HOUSE
USHERS: Help escort patrons to their seats on performance days and hand out programs.
BOX OFFICE ASSISTANTS: Help assist patrons with purchasing tickets or finding their previously purchased tickets. (Must be comfortable with technology.)
TICKET SCANNERS: Help scan tickets as patrons enter the main auditorium. (Must be comfortable using with a smartphone.)
GREETER: Provide a friendly, smiling face inside the lobby, welcoming patrons to the theatre and helping them navigate where to go.
BEHIND THE SCENES
STAGE CREW / ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: We always love to have a few extra hands "on deck" during performances, assisting the stage manager, helping with miscellaneous scene / costume changes, and being a general "runner."
SET DECORATION: Help decorate the stage and/or lobby for our performances, especially during the Christmas season! (Examples include decorating Christmas trees, wrapping gifts, light painting, etc.)
SET CONSTRUCTION: If you are good with building, using power tools or, woodworking and would love to give back to your community through art, we would be honored to have you help us construct sets for our performances!
COSTUME COORDINATOR / ASSISTANT: Have an eye for fashion? Are you good at sewing, stitching, or do you have a knack for bargain hunting? We'd love to have you help costume our performances.
LIGHTING AND SOUND TECHNICIANS & ASSISTANTS
HAIR AND MAKEUP TEAM
... and many more!
Why is it spelled like that?
"There is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world."
- Oscar Hammerstein II
From the moment someone hears the name of our newly formed "Hartworks," two questions invariably arise: 1) What do they do?, and 2) How did they get that name? Don't they know 'heart' is misspelled?Well, the short answer to the second question is: no, it's not a typo. More importantly, the name pays homage to a great artist— David Earl Hart.Ever since there was an inkling that my dream of establishing a theatre organization might be materializing in some way, I knew precisely whom I wanted to honor in our organization's namesake.The name "Hart" in Hartworks pays tribute to my mentor and friend, David Earl Hart. I had the good fortune to be one of the many young people who had the opportunity to work with Dave during his time at the Flat Rock Playhouse, where he proudly served as Education Director over Studio 52. I had the pleasure of meeting Dave and becoming friends with him in 2017 while participating in "The Little Mermaid" followed by "Seussical" at the now-gone Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown.Within seconds of meeting Dave, he enveloped you in an embrace. You immediately sensed that this wonderful, sweet man cared deeply about you and the art you would collaboratively create together.Dave's approach to directing and collaborating was unlike anything I had ever witnessed before (and honestly, not like anything I have seen since). There were times when I would enter a rehearsal solely to watch him work, as he captivated everyone around him. It didn't matter who you were; Dave treated you as a colleague, a friend, and most importantly, a partner. Whether you were a Broadway powerhouse like Hal Prince or Elaine Stritch, or a little southern boy who climbed up the mountain because he heard they were putting on "The Little Mermaid," you received the same level of respect and camaraderie.Dave's directing style was like attending a masterclass in theatre. Listening to him discuss art and emphasize the significance of live performances are memories I will cherish forever. I have never encountered anyone who loved the theatre as passionately as he did. Watching him watch a show was as enjoyable as watching the show itself. Dave was passionate, charismatic, and, above all, loving to everyone he encountered and to art itself.As Hartworks embarks on its creative journey—a journey of which I am not entirely certain of the destination or the pathways—I hold onto and cherish three things that Dave treasured dearly: a love for theatre, unwavering collaboration, and- most of all- play.- Neel Patrick