A New Season for Theater Arts

Thalian Association’s 2019–20 season is one of the largest yet, with shows at Thalian Hall and Kenan Auditorium. 

With the opening of ARTfall, Thalian Association’s fall exhibition at Community Arts Center, and the beginning of tech week for Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Susan H. Habas, executive director of the Thalian Association, is busy. 

“Our amazing artistic director, Chandler Davis, has selected one of our biggest seasons in many years with a fabulous lineup of Wilmington premieres and beloved classics,” Habas says. Due to renovations at Thalian Hall, two of the community theater productions will take place at UNC-Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium. 

The 2019–20 season begins at Thalian Hall with the Wilmington premier of Matilda the Musical. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book, the Tony Award–winning musical will be shown the weekends of September 27 and October 4. Then, in December, Buddy the Elf will take the stage to spread holiday cheer for all to hear in Wilmington’s premier of Elf the Musical.

In February 2020, the musical comedy Guys and Dolls and Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida will come to Kenan Auditorium. As part of the North Carolina Azalea Festival, Aida will open the parade with a performance from the show.

The season will conclude at Thalian Hall in May with Mel Brooks’ The Producers. The Broadway musical version of the cult classic comedy film won a record 12 Tony Awards and is sure to please with in-your-face, show-biz-style humor. 

Of course, no community theatre season is complete without youth theatre. “Everyone should come to a youth theater show even if you don’t have children or know someone of the cast,” Habas says. “Our main stage community theatre creative teams produce these shows, and the talent of our young people is unbelievable!”

The team’s next show will be the Wilmington premier of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. this November. All youth theater productions are on the 2nd Street Stage in the Hannah Block Historic USO Building. 

In the new year, the team will produce an original musical The Disney Magic Revue, followed by Xanadu Jr., which will feature kids on stage on skates. The season will close in late April with Freaky Friday the Musical, based on the Disney Channel original movie in which a hyper-organized mom and her rebellious teenage daughter experience an unexpected one-day body swap. 

“I hope everyone will consider coming to see one of our shows and supporting local community theatre,” Habas says. “We always strive for the highest quality productions and our shows are the place to see your family and friends on stage.”

Providing community theater, performances and education since 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is one of the oldest groups in the country, thanks to the ongoing support of Cape Fear region citizens. 

Tickets are available online at thalianhall.org. For more information on upcoming shows or on youth, military and senior discounts, call the box office at (910) 632-2285.