Dear Friends,
As a longtime supporter and volunteer of Thalian Association Community Theatre I feel very honored to have been selected to serve as its president for a second term. I know of no other organization in North Carolina with a history as long and distinguished as ours and I welcome and thank you for joining us for our 227th 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 changed our name to Thalian Association Community Theatre and updated our logo to better describe our productions in three local venues, youth theatre programs and community contributions. We continue to realize our dream of accessible theater for the entire community with a new $15 reduced rate ticket for all Thalian Hall performances for youth 17 and under. Thursday evening performances will also continue to be offered at the $15 discount rate for audience members of any age, a popular tradition known as Thrifty Thursdays.
We have a diverse and exciting season planned for Main Stage Thalian Hall beginning with a Halloween treat, the Wilmington premiere of The Addams Family, our holiday extravaganza Mame, next up is Arthur Miller’s great classic Death of a Salesman, followed by the highly anticipated premiere of Green Day’s American Idiot and the season finale the funniest farce ever written for the stage Noises Off. Our Youth Theatre will be producing five full length productions on the 2nd Street Stage at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center: West Side Story, Babes in Toyland, T23:It Takes Two, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids and The Secret Garden: Spring Edition.
Theatre Arts Youth Academy is our arts education program and offers two three month semesters 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 Community Theatre is committed to helping our most underserved and vulnerable young citizens with after school programs at area organizations. We are proud to teach six classes weekly at the Community Boys & Girls Club and Brigade Boys & Girls Club, perform youth theatre productions at their facilities and will present special school performances of the entire Youth Theatre season for the students at A. H. Snipes Academy of Arts & Design.
Since 1994 Thalian Association Community Theatre 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, we 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 Thalian Association Community Theatre.
Best Regards,
Jerry Flake
President
