Thalian Association Community Theatre Announces New Artistic Director Bradford Brown
July 17, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Susan Habas
Thalian Association Community Theatre
910-251-1788
Thalian Association Community Theatre Announces New Artistic Director Bradford Brown
WILMINGTON, NC –After an extensive national search, Thalian Association Community Theatre is pleased to announce that Bradford Brown will join the association as Artistic Director. Brown’s appointment follows the resignation of longtime Artistic Director Chandler Davis who stepped down in March but will assist in the transition as Artistic Consultant through the end of 2023.
Bradford Brown has a BFA in musical theater from Syracuse University and an MFA in computer animation and special effects from the Academy of Art University. He’s worked in theater, film, television, and education, and founded theatre and media companies.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of very qualified candidates who applied for this position,” said Susan Habas, Executive Director of Thalian Association. “It was important to find the right person to honor our mission as community theatre, continuing Chandler’s tradition of great production quality, as well as wonderful experiences for our volunteers and theatre family. Bradford’s diverse work history and skills, combined with his love for Thalian and local theatre ideally position him to lead our artistic vision.”
“I’ve always loved my life in the arts and have been incredibly fortunate to have worked in so many disciplines,” said Bradford. “I am thrilled to be coming back to the theater as the Thalian Association Community Theatre’s Artistic Director. I’m eager to use all the tools I’ve gathered over the years to create incredible theater for the Wilmington community.”
About Bradford Brown
The arts have always been central to Bradford Brown’s life. Born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio, as a teen he performed in high school musicals, local television, and was recruited to sing in the Ohio Boys Choir, touring much of the United States and overseas. He attended Syracuse University with a concentration on musical theater direction. After graduation, Bradford moved to New York City where he founded the Off Broadway theatre company Ring of Fire Productions which combined film and computer animation with live actors on stage. He also continued his education by studying with legendary teachers Salem Ludwig (directing) and James Price (Meisner Technique). Bradford moved to Wilmington in the early 2000s and continued his theatre career directing several shows for the Thalian Association Community Theatre including Carousel, Pippin and The Pirates of Penzance. He continued his education with a Master of Computer Science from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where he specialized in computer animation, film, and television special effects. His professional career in the film and television industry began as a set dresser on the show One Tree Hill. Set dressing and Prop Master credits include the films Ironman 3, Scream 5, and The Georgetown Project and television shows Swamp Thing, Under the Dome, Revolution, Sleepy Hollow, Reprisal, Our Kind of People, and Welcome to Flatch. During the years that the film and television industry left the Wilmington area, Bradford became an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he taught computer animation, special effects for film and television, website design, video game and computer user interface design. He also formed the company Laughing Soul Media which developed a virtual reality play space projected inside a geodesic dome, hands free without a headset. Bradford continued to work in theater as a stage technician in local venues as well as performing as the Mad Hatter for Pied Piper Children’s Theater and Fred in Rob Zapple’s production of A Christmas Carol. He’s also created several dance/film hybrid performances over the years at Dancelorus, the first event of the Cucalorus film festival.
Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to enhancing the Cape Fear region through live community theatre and arts education. Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall, four productions at the Red Barn Studio and professionally manages the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington. The youth theatre program offers training and performance opportunities for children ages seven through high school seniors. In 2007, Thalian Association Community Theatre was designated North Carolina’s Official Community Theater by the state legislature. For more information, go to www.thalian.org.