Dear Friends,

As a longtime supporter and volunteer of the Thalian Association I feel very honored to have been selected to serve as its president. I know of no other organization in North Carolina with a history as long and distinguished as the Thalian Association and I welcome and thank you for joining us for our 226th year of providing exciting theatrical performances and arts education to Wilmington and the surrounding areas. Serving as the Official Community Theater of North Carolina and the professional managers of the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center we are continuing a fine tradition begun in 1788.

This year we welcome our new fulltime Artistic Director, David T. Loudermilk to the Thalian family. David will oversee all our productions including Main Stage Thalian Hall, Children’s Theater, Red Barn Studio and special events while working closely with our Executive Director Susan Habas on the vision and overall future development of our 226 year old community theater group.

David has called this our Iconic Season and I can’t help but agree. PETER PAN, A CHRISTMAS CAROL and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN are classic productions that represent fond memories to everyone, RING OF FIRE is the story of Johnny Cash, one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 20th century and CLYBOURNE PARK is a Pulitzer Prize winner based on Raisin In the Sun and a landmark housing issue. Our Children’s Theater Company (TACT) will be producing five full length productions on the 2nd Street Stage at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center: THE MUSIC MAN, JR., MACY’S YES VIRGINIA THE MUSICAL, SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR., TACT AROUND THE WORLD A MUSICAL REVUE and CATS.

TACT Academy is our arts education program and offers a six month semester at two convenient locations; the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center and the North East Branch of the New Hanover County Library. Our curriculum is aligned with North Carolina Educational Standards and designed to encourage enjoyment of the arts and to enhance learning skills in all areas of study.

Though our Theater 4 Change community outreach program, Thalian Association is committed to helping our most underserved and vulnerable young citizens, the children of the Youth Enrichment Zone. We are proud to teach four classes weekly at the Community Boys & Girls Club, perform three Children’s Theater productions on their campus, offer two classes for the Friday Afternoon Enrichments program at D. C. Virgo Preparatory Academy and will present special school performances of the entire Children’s Theater season for the students at A. H. Snipes Academy of Arts & Design.

Since 1994 Thalian Association has managed the HBHUSO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington. We offer space for arts instruction, meetings and special events at very affordable rates. As always, Thalian Association will continue to support the local community by providing space for rehearsals and meetings to qualifying non-profits at little to no charge to encourage and support the arts at all levels. Of course none of these things would be possible without the generous support of donor organizations and our membership. If you are not currently a member, please consider giving at a level that is significant to you. If you are a supporter, let me extend to you my personal thanks for your belief in the arts and the Thalian Association.

Best Regards,
Jerry Flake
President