Rosie the Riveter: American Women in World War II
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Habas Thalian Association Community Theatre Hannah Block Historic USO/ Community Arts Center & the WW II Wilmington Home Front Coalition Present Rosie the Riveter: American Women in World War II Step back in time and celebrate the beginning of the contemporary Women’s Movement with a tribute to Rosie The Riveter on the 2nd Street Stage at the Hannah Block Historic USO Building. Explore the Rosie phenomenon with a presentation by renowned WWII historian Wilbur Jones that covers women in all aspects of service to the nation followed by a special performance by Elizabeth Michaels as Rosie the Riveter. An exhibition of Rosie the Riveter memorabilia featuring Capt. Jones’ vast collection of artifacts, posters, and artwork will be on display in the lobby museum of the Historic USO Building. The nostalgic mood will be complete with free coffee and donuts courtesy of The Donut Inn and swing dancing with the Cape Fear Swing Dance Society before the performances and during intermission. There will be two performances only; Friday October 20th at 7:30 pm and a special matinee Sunday October 22nd at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $16 with special senior, group and military rates available and can be purchased at 910-341-7860 or at HBHUSO/Community Arts Center. The Hannah Block Historic USO is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and proceeds from Rosie the Riveter: American Women in World War II will be dedicated to the preservation of the building. Wilbur Jones is a Wilmington native, retired Navy captain, military historian, and the author of 18 books, including two award-winners on wartime Wilmington and Southeastern North Carolina. A frequent writer for the Wilmington StarNews Media, his principal field of study is WWII. He is founder and chairman of the WWII Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition, past chairman of the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission (currently a commissioner), and leads an effort to have the U.S. Congress designate Wilmington as the first “American WWII City.” Elizabeth Michaels is an experienced actress who began her career after high school with vast experience in community and regional theatre. Ms. Michaels settled in the Philadelphia area where she became involved with The American Historical Theatre as a historical storyteller. She has portrayed several famous women from the 1700’s to the present time with her favorites being Dolley Madison and Rosie the Riveter. Ms. Michaels has performed at the White House Visitors Center, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Valley Forge National Park just to name a few venues. Elizabeth is also a narrator of books on tape for Audible.com. The Cape Fear Swing Dance Society is a volunteer community organization dedicated to promoting swing dancing and swing era culture in the Cape Fear region. Established in 2015, the club holds weekly meetings at the HBHUSO/Community Arts Center that are open to the public. More information is available at the group’s Facebook page. “For many years, I’ve been absolutely in love with Rosie the Riveter and what she represents as the … » Continue Reading
USO Documentary Press Release
November 16, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Habas Thalian Association Community Theatre 910-251-1788 DOCUMENTARY HONORS 75 YEAR HISTORY OF THE HANNAH BLOCK HISTORIC USO BUILDING Home Away From Home – the USO at 2nd and Orange Wilmington NC. A documentary honoring the 75th anniversary of the Hannah Block Historic USO/ Community Arts Center is now available to the public. Produced by filmmaker Rob Hill, it captures the building’s rich history including how it served our military during WWII, what it meant to them and the community at large, and how the building continues to serve our community today. The film was first shown during the world premiere of Mrs. World War II Wilmington, an original musical written by Tony Stimac in honor of the building’s 75th anniversary, on Veterans Day. The short version, at just under 5 minutes, can be viewed at wilmingtoncommunityarts.org/wwii-museum . “The documentary is an amazing introduction to the history of what I think is the most wonderful building in the world, the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center,” said Wilbur Jones, chairman of the World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition, which is charged with the preservation and maintenance of the Home Front Heritage Museum in the building’s lobby. “It is wonderful to be able to share how important this building was to the war effort, and how it is put to such good use today as an arts center for everyone,” said Susan Habas Executive Director of Thalian Association Community Theatre, which manages the building for the City of Wilmington. Film Maker Rob Hill majored in Motion Picture and Television Production at the University of Southern Colorado. With a small grant in 1999, he produced, directed and edited the non-fiction film Live In It To Win It, which screened at numerous film festivals nationwide. Rob directed, edited and wrote the Emmy nominated documentary The Fort Fisher Hermit, which won Best Documentary Feature at the Hollywood Digital Film Festival and is distributed internationally by American Public Television and Cinetic Media. The National Academy of Television Science nominated Rob for the prestigious Rising Star Award in 2007, and in 2011 Rob received his third EMMY nomination for the PBS documentary BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA: The Showboat Legacy. The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center is owned by the City of Wilmington and managed by Thalian Association Community Theatre. The building is a historic and cultural treasure that has been the center of recreation and art for generations of local children. Today the building continues to be the home for children, art and recreation while serving as a mini museum of the Wilmington and New Hanover County WWII home front. The World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) preservation organization, is the de-facto preservationist of the building’s history and maintains the home front museum. For more information go to www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Cast Announcement for Mrs. WWII Wilmington
October 24, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Habas Thalian Association Community Theatre 910-251-1788 CAST ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE ORIGINAL MUSICAL MRS. WORLD WAR II WILMINGTON “We Fell in Love at the USO” At the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center November 11 – 13, 2016 – Tickets On Sale Now Thalian Association Community Theatre (TACT) and the World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition are honored to announce the cast of Mrs. World War II Wilmington, an original musical to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Historic USO Building. The original piece honors the building’s namesake and Cape Fear matriarch, Hannah Block, who became known as Mrs. World War II Wilmington, thanks to her tireless efforts on behalf of our military personnel. The Hannah Block Historic USO is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and proceeds from Mrs. WII Wilmington will be dedicated to the preservation of the building. Written and directed by nationally celebrated director, producer and author Tony Stimac, the play will open on Veteran’s Day, November 11th with a gala reception and four weekend performances on the Second Street Stage in the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. Rasa Love takes center stage as Hannah Block and will be joined by Wilmington theatre community veterans Chris Connor (Vinnie), Jeff Phillips (Wiley) and Beth Swindell (Millie). Two newcomers are at the heart of the love story, Johanna Winkel (Frances) and Marlon Ramos (Vinnie). “I am very honored and excited to be part of a wonderful cast for Mrs. WWII as well as celebrating such a great milestone for the Hannah Block Historic USO building,” said Ramos. “Being a cast member on this show also holds a special meaning to me having being a veteran serving the United States Marine Corps. I know firsthand what great services the USO provides, so being part of this production, I hope, can show my gratitude and respect for such a distinguished organization that bridges families and communities to services members across the nation and those forward deployed.” Andie Creech, Ava Eller, Jessi Hoadley, Emma Hutchinson, Maggie Stone, Bryson Byers, Jackson Lee, Tre Ricanee, Cameron Staley, and Derek West complete the cast. Many of the ensemble members perform in TACT Youth Theatre productions at the Historic USO Building. The creative team for Mrs. World War II Wilmington includes Cherri McKay (Assistant Director/Production Stage Manager), Sharon Miller (Music Director), Tina Leak (Choreographer), Sheryl Liu (Set Design), Lance Howell (Costume & Lighting Design), John Deveaux (Sound Design), Ev Smith (Rehearsal Stage Manager), and Captain Wilbur Jones (Historian). Mrs. WW II Wilmington is a captivating tribute to the USO and all the morale boosting performers that entertained the men who sacrificed so much for their country. The show is filled with unforgettable songs of the period like “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Goodnight Sweetheart,” “Sentimental Journey”, and “Don’t Sit under the Apple Tree.” It is a musical love story, filled with humor, poignancy, romance and features pulsating production numbers that will take … » Continue Reading
Thank You for your Donation
Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Thalian Association. Revenue from our ticket sales alone funds only a portion of our operating costs. Like all non-profit institutions, the Thalian Association depends on the generosity of patrons like you to bridge that crucial gap. Please let the community know you support live theater in the Port City. The difference begins with you… Our Mission: The Official Community Theater of North Carolina exists to enrich the lives of the residents of the Wilmington area by producing quality community theater, teaching youth life skills through theater education and providing an outlet for artists and technicians to develop and exercise their craft.
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