Thalian Association

Official Community Theatre of North Carolina

Thalian Association Community Theatre has been enriching the cultural landscape of Wilmington for 232 years thanks to the loyal support of our members. This season for the first time we planned to present five productions on the Main Stage of Historic Thalian Hall with the season finale at Kenan Auditorium. Four major musical theatre productions and two award-winning plays; Cole Porter’s classic Anything Goes, the modern holiday favorite Elf the Musical, Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Driving Miss Daisy, the jukebox musical All Shook Up featuring the songs of Elvis Presley, the Wilmington Premiere of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible The Youth Theatre season on the 2nd Street Stage at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center was to be equally exciting; Peter Pan Jr., Disney’s Descendants the Musical, Original Beatles Revue, Pinkalicious, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Sadly, due to the pandemic, our plans for the season must change. Since conditions are ever changing we will announce changes, postponements, and cancellations on a show by show basis. Our Main Stage opening show Driving Miss Daisy has been postponed to a later date, when live theatre is possible on the Main Stage of Historic Thalian Hall. The much anticipated Elf the Musical will not be possible this season, but we are producing a streaming Holiday variety show called All We Really Want for Christmas Is You to be viewed from the comfort of home.

The Youth Theatre season looks different as well. Peter Pan was cancelled, and an original show called The New Normal was filmed and presented virtually to New Hanover County Schools and on Facebook. The Descendants was postponed in favor of a delightful smaller show called Dear Edwina Jr, the first hybrid live performance/streaming show of the season. Next up is a tribute show, The Beatles A Music Revue in February 2021. Since daytime field trips are not an option this season, all Youth Theatre productions will be filmed for presentation to NHC Schools.

We are determined to continue our theatrical productions and theatre arts education as safely as possible. I hope you will consider supporting Thalian Association even if the theatre is dark. Revenue from ticket sales alone funds only a portion of our operating costs. Like most non-profit organizations, Thalian Association Community Theatre depends on the generosity of patrons like you to bridge that crucial gap. We invite you to get involved today and let the community know that you support local theatre in the Port City.