About Us

In 2007, the North Carolina legislature named the Thalian Association Community Threater the Official Community Theater of North Carolina. In an official ceremony held in Wilmington, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall emphasized that our organization’s prestigious title was not a distinction given lightly.

“This is truly unique,” Marshall said. “But what this really does is honor a tradition of inspiring people, helping children, healing a community, all the things that the performing arts and an association to support that can mean.”

Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall. In fact,  Thalian Hall was proudly named for our organization in 1858. Our mission is to present quality live theater that illuminates the human experience for the citizens of Wilmington, New Hanover County and beyond.

All of our productions are cast through auditions which are open to the general public. Through the years thousands of local actors, directors, choreographers, conductors, musicians, designers and technicians have enjoyed the opportunity to develop their craft working with the Thalian Association Community Theatre.

We were voted Wilmington’s Best Theatre Company in 2006 by the readers of Encore, the Cape Fear guide to arts and entertainment and have since reclaimed that title for many subsequent years.

Our Youth Theatre was founded in 1979 and offers training and performance opportunities for children ages 7 through 18 or high school seniors.

Young people may choose to be involved on stage as actors, in the orchestra pit as musicians, or back stage as a part of our design and production team.  Auditions are open to all children aged 7 through high school seniors, unless otherwise noted.   Our mission is to teach life skills through theater education and provide an outlet for artists and technicians to develop and exercise their crafts.

Thalian Association Community Theatre has managed the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington since 1994 and offer rehearsal and classroom space at little to no charge for visual & performance arts as well as partnering with other organizations for community events. Every year we host the North Carolina Azalea Festival Children’s Art Contest and the North Carolina Official Juried Art Show presented by the Wilmington Art Association.

In 1995 we launched the Orange Street ArtsFest to promote downtown Wilmington and the Community Arts Center. Held every Memorial Day weekend on Orange Street beside the Community Arts Center, this beloved festival has become the largest arts festival in the region. Artists throughout the southeast exhibit oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture and paper creations. Performing art is another staple at the popular street fair with entertainment provided by local musicians and Thalian Association Community Theatre performers and all artists who perform in the Community Arts Center.

				Arts Fest 2013   Wilmington’s largest downtown arts festival returns for its 18th year on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th.  The work of more than 55 artists from Wilmington and across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee will be featured.  Participants will exhibit Oil & Watercolor paintings, Pottery, Jewelry, Wood, Glass, and Paper Creations on Orange Street between Front and Second Streets, and inside the newly renovated Historic USO. The public is also invited to tour the World War II exhibits while visiting the artist’s displays.
In addition, there will be food vendors, live entertainment, and other special programs.  The Orange Street Arts Fest is both relaxing and exhilarating.  With its laid back attitude and historic Downtown Wilmington setting, the Orange Street ArtsFest  has been described as “A Jewel of a Show”.    Mark your calendars for this Memorial Day weekend, Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th!   2013 ArtsFest Application