Theater
Wilmington has a rich theatrical tradition that is
continually expanding. Wilmington's Thalian Hall Center for the Performing
Arts is home to the Thalian Association, the oldest continuous community
theater in the country, dating from 1788. The theater hosts professional and
amateur productions on an almost nightly basis. Several local theatrical
companies present original and popular productions at such area locations as
Kenan Auditorium at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the
Scottish Rite Temple on 17th Street, Citystage Theater and schools and
churches. Additionally, Wilmington is on the circuit for touring dance
companies, symphonies and musicals.
Big Dawg Productions
(910)
343-9321
Now in its 13th year, this this nonprofit theater company
is dedicated to producing professional theater and cultivating excellence in
the arts. It presents a mix of dramas and comedies each year at Thalian Hall
Center for the Performing Arts. Other programs developed by the group
include the annual New Play Festival, which showcases talented local youth
playwrights, and the development of young talent through writing workshops
and a technical internship program. One production each season is a classic
work, which is offered to local K-12 classes at a discount — past offerings
have included Henry V, The Scarlet Letter and Moby
Dick-Rehearsed.
Brunswick Little Theatre
Odell Williamson Auditorium, 50 College Rd., NE, Bolivia
(910) 457-5338
The goal of Brunswick Little Theatre is to educate,
involve and entertain the community by bringing high-quality
theatrical productions to Brunswick County. Though performances are mainly
held in the Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College, this
group sometimes takes its shows on the road, so to speak. An example is
Godspell, which was performed in November of 2007 at the Boys and Girls
Home in Lake Waccammaw, at the Silver Coast Winery in Ocean Isle Beach, and
at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Southport. Productions have been held at
Franklin Square Park as well, including a free show there in May of each
year. The Stagestruck Players, a children's theater company for ages 9
through 18, also operates under the auspices of this group.
Level 5 at City Stage
21 N.
Front St., Wilmington
(910) 342-0272
Whether you're in the mood for a serious drama, a musical
or comedy, Level 5 at City Stage is the place to go in downtown Wilmington
for great theater. Level 5 at City Stage offers an intimate theater setting
where there are no bad seats. Adjacent to the theater, Level 5 contains a
popular rooftop bar where you can socialize before and after the show.
Ticket prices are reasonable, and the performances are Broadway caliber. In
its seventh season in 2008, Level 5 at City Stage has already made its mark
on the Wilmington theater scene. The Level 5 at City Stage theater group
produces its own shows and provides a rental facility for other local
theater company performances and independent film screenings. If you need a
good laugh, local comedy groups also perform here during the week. Call for
schedule and ticket information.
Opera House Theatre
2011 Carolina Beach Rd., Wilmington
(910) 762-4234
A professional theater company presided over by artistic
director Lou Criscuolo, this group stages five major productions and three
experimental works each season in Thalian Hall. Guest artists and directors
are featured frequently. Auditions are open.
Stage II Production Company
807 N. Howe St., Southport
This nonprofit theater company stages regular
performances in the historic Amuzu Theatre in downtown Southport, in
addition to other venues. The company is working together with the owners
of the Amuzu to revive the theatre, which was originally built in 1918 as a
silent movie theatre and had been unoccupied since 1980. At the same time it
is providing opportunities for local emerging actors and bringing quality
entertainment to downtown Southport. Warning: Performances sell out early!
Thalian Association
Wilmington
(910) 251-1788
www.thalian.org
Willis Richardson Players
(910) 763-1889
Established in 1974 and specializing in dramas by minority
playwrights, the Willis Richardson Players perform several works per season
of interest to all audiences.
The Winding River Players
Supply
(910) 755-7264
This community theater group has grown from a group of
nine women at its inception to more than 40 dancers, actors, singers and
production staff who perform at retirement and long-term care communities,
hospitals and charitable events. The amount of theatrical and artistic
training and knowledge owned by the board of directors is quite impressive
and the members' love of theater is evident in every performance. Previous
productions include: I Love Lucy; Carolina Revue; I Love You, You're
Perfect, Now Change; Radio Hour; Amahl and the Night Visitors; and
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Dance
The Wilmington area offers a broad spectrum of dance
classes. The following is only a sample.
Class Act Dance Company
(910) 452-4765
Class Act is a senior women's dance group that performs
for local civic organizations, nursing homes, schools, churches and
other community activities. Auditions for experienced dancers, 55 years
and older, are held at any time. Rehearsals are held twice weekly at the
New Hanover County Senior Center, Mondays and Fridays from 11:30 AM to 1
PM.
The Dance Cooperative
1209 Market St., Wilmington
(910)
763-4995
The Dance Cooperative is a nonprofit
organization consisting of dance professionals who are bound together by
one common goal — to foster a link between professional dance artists
and the community. Their mission is to nurture the dance community by
providing affordable classes, rehearsal space and performance
opportunities to those under-served artistically, culturally and
economically in the greater Wilmington area. The Dance Cooperative
currently has a program of classes for children and adults (drop-ins are
welcome), and both an informal and formal performance series. They also
host the North Carolina Dance festival and participate in Dance-A-Lorus,
part of the Cucalorus Film Festival. Some scholarships are available for
children who wish to take these classes. Once a month, The Dance
Cooperative hosts special workshops led by master artists. Call (910)
763-4995 for more details and schedule information.
Theatre Dance Workshop
(910) 458-3302
Theatre Dance Workshop is a place where singing, dancing
and acting all come together. Classes in the performing arts are
available for adults and children ages 7 and older. The students are
part of senior and junior companies that perform original choreography,
scenes and songs from Broadway shows.
Writing
North Carolina Writers' Network
(919) 967-9540
North Carolina Writers' Network, established in 1984, is
a vital resource for North Carolina writers. This well-established
organization helps writers sharpen their skills in poetry, fiction,
nonfiction, playwriting and technical writing through statewide writer
workshops and member services. The North Carolina Writers' Network also
provides information and submission guidelines for statewide and
regional competitions as well as a literary calendar. The annual themed
Fall Conference, hosted in alternating North Carolina regions, is a
popular event for writers of all skill levels.
Crafts
Azalea Coast Smockers Guild
(910) 392-2696
This active group of needlewomen teaches smocking and
heirloom sewing. Beginning as well as experienced smockers are welcome.
Call for monthly meeting information.
Brunswick Quilters
Moose Lodge, Rt. 130, Shallotte
(910) 842-8474
This quilters group comprises members from as far away
as South Carolina and boasts more than 80 members. Meetings are held the
second and fourth Tuesday of each month with a business meeting at
the second Tuesday meetings and teaching workshops or programs at the
fourth Tuesday meetings. The group often hosts speakers and teachers
from out of the area. Visitors are always welcome. Members are invited
to participate in monthly Block of the Month lotteries as well as Fat
Quarter lotteries. One of the group projects is the making of Comfort
Quilts, which are donated to the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department
to be given to children involved in traumatic situations. In 2006 grants
were received for this project from businesses including ATMC, BEMC,
Wal-Mart and from the Calabash VFW. The group has made more than a
thousand of these quilts. Other projects include the making of walker
bags for nursing-home residents and quilts for wounded soldiers. These
quilts are delivered to Camp LeJeune. The Brunswick Quilters will be
hosting the next annual Meet the Quilters Day for area quilting groups
in 2008. This event features a special speaker, show and tell, door
prizes and time to visit.
Carolina Coastal Carvers
Bonaparte Baptist Church, 9031 Shady Forest Dr., Calabash
(910) 579-4461
Coastal Carolina Carvers is a multifarious group of men
and women who get together every Monday evening from 6 until 9 PM
wielding knives and carving tools and sharing expertise, making beauty
from wood. Members come and go with the rhythm of the tourist season and
visiting carvers from all over the country join in on their travels
thanks, in part, to listings in Carving Magazine and
Woodcarving Illustrated. Carvers work on individual projects, which
can range from egghead caricatures, to animals, to birds, to musical
instruments, though sometimes classes are held to teach a particular
project. Interested in joining? All it takes is a phone call to Don
Walker, who organized the club in 2005.
Oak Island Beach Quilters
Oak Island Recreation Center, 3003 E. Oak Island Dr.,
Oak Island (910) 754-6626
The Oak Island Beach Quilters is a sociable, friendly
group that welcomes members, visitors and vacationers alike, from
beginners to experts. The group meets every Wednesday at 10:15 AM with a
business meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. These meetings
include new techniques presentations, sharing of ideas and techniques,
show and tell, and just working together on individual or group
projects. Every year there is a quilting challenge that involves a
theme, a particular color, fabric or shape or a combination of these.
Challenge entries are displayed at Franklin Square Gallery in Southport,
where visitors can vote for their favorites. The group responds to
national and world natural disasters, such as those in New Orleans and
Mississippi in 2005, with charity quilts for the victims. They also
donate Cognitive Quilts to nursing homes. These quilts are hung on the
wall and used to stimulate discussions, which are therapeutic for
patients with Alzheimers. The group maintains a lending library of
quilting books and plans road trips to quilting stores and shows as
well.
Oak Island Senior Center
5918 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island
(910) 278-5224
For very resonable membership dues you can meet others,
make friends, be involved in many activities and receive a monthly
newsletter through this non-profit organization. Activities include a
monthly covered dish social, van trips for shopping and entertainment,
movie nights, brunches, ladies' teas and games, including Dominoes,
Canasta and Pinochle. Classes are available in beginning and advanced
watercolor, oil painting, decorative painting, basket weaving (including
Nantucket baskets), needlework (including knitting and crocheting) and
bow making. They also offer computer classes in beginning computers,
word processing, Excel, Quicken, digital PhotoShop and greeting cards.
Fees for most classes are $25 for members and $35 for non-members,
though some fees are less.
Port City Basketmakers
Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 U.S. Hwy. 17 N., Wilmington
(910) 686-4868
Members of this group work to stimulate public interest
in the art of basketry and to preserve the techniques of the craft.
Workshops and seminars are available, and new members, from novice to
advanced weavers, are welcome. Call Sarah's Baskets at (910) 602-3308
for meeting dates and times.
Una Luna World Gallery
1320 Castle Hayne Rd., Wilmington
(910) 772-1777
This combination gallery and showroom hidden on the
outskirts of town offers some of the most original and gorgeous art and
furniture in the region. In addition to highlighting the work of local
artists and craftsmen, the gallery also features pieces from all over the
world. Furniture crafted of African teakwood or Brazilian peroba rosa can be
found next to exotic lamps and handmade jewelry from the four corners of the
earth. Owner Marcus Rich boasts a substantial list of celebrity clients and
also hosts a monthly full moon party complete with live entertainment and
tasty refreshments. If you're looking for an unusual or unique piece for
your home, office or establishment, take a spin out toward the country to
watch the moon rise.