Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Thalian Hall 2012 - 2013 Season

Thalian Hall's illustrious legacy carries the names of noted artists who have made their entrance onto this glorious stage for more than 150 years. Since the venue's opening in 1858, national and international artists from every genre of the performing arts have been welcomed to Wilmington's distinctive Thalian Hall. As one of America's most celebrated historic theatres, it is, indeed, where Art Comes to Life ...

Photo of Thalian Hall in Wilmington North CarolinaThalian Hall's upcoming 2012 - 2013 season spans the gamut from popular music to outlandish comedy, searing drama to jaw-dropping banjo and guitar. Journey back to the Motown of the 60s or to the squeals of delight when Beatlemania hit our shores. Enjoy a Celtic Christmas and marvel at what an artist can create with a bicycle.

It all happens in one of the most beautiful, memorable theatres in America. There's no need for added video screens, there's no need for binoculars. When it's only 14 rows deep, you're able to reach out and touch the moment - just like the magic moment touches you!

Take a glance at the Main Attractions scheduled for the 2012 - 2013 Season. Please use the links provided to double check show dates as we get closer to these spectacular Wilmington events! Show tickets will be available for sale starting September 1, 2012. Friends of Thalian Hall members can order tickets before they go on sale to the general public. Become a member today!

Yesterday & Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience
October 12, 2012
Talk about a Magical Mystery Tour! Everyone has a personal connection to a Beatles song, and Billy McGuigan has built this remarkable concert on just that premise. The audience determines each night's song list for this one-of-a-kind journey through the music of The Beatles. No show's ever the same - except that each one becomes a guaranteed, unforgettable ticket to ride. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience
October 13, 2012
When you manage to get Billy McGuigan to town, you work hard not to let him get away, so Thalian Hall plans to rock for two nights in a row! Rave On! is an electrifying musical tour-de-force featuring such hits as 'Peggy Sue", "That'll Be the Day", "It's So Easy", and more. You'll even hear Buddy's homage to fellow rockers Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper. It's non-stop music & power-outage charisma led by the country's most popular interpreter of the iconic songbook of Buddy Holly. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Fay Lane's Beauty Shop Stories
October 20, 2012
Fay Lane grew up in TX. Her mama ran a beauty shop in the back room. "While all the ladies were under the dryers, I was the fat little girl in a glittered-up Burger King crown, practicing my beauty queen acceptance speech with a Moon Pie in my hand ..." Dreams come true. Fay Lane's songs and beauty shop stories have now enamored audiences from New York to L.A., from Joe's Pub and Caroline's Comedy Club to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and NPR. "When you're finally crowned a bedazzled Green Bean Queen, there's not turning back". Click here for additional information about this show.

Birmingham Children's Theatre: Sleeping Beauty
October 31, 2012
Birmingham Children's Theatre is among the nation's most respected professional theatres for young audiences. In this classic tale of "Sleeping Beauty", children journey to a faraway land to meet charming princes, beautiful maidens, and fairies both good and bad. When the King and Queen's little Princess is finally born, all the fairies int he kingdom are invited to her christening - except for one - and the classic tale of love, courage, and the triumph of good and evil is unveiled. Click here for additional information about this show.

An Evening with Frank Vignola
November 1, 2012
One of the most extraordinary guitarists performing today, his stunning virtuosity has placed him at the side of artists including Les Paul, Madonna, Ringo Starr and Wynton Marsalis. With a mind-boggling repertoire that defies categorization - and a showmanship that could charm birds from the trees to come in and pull up a chair - the man's fingers fly at the speed of light, zooming from the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt to the hot rock of Frank Zappa. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Photo of Thalian Hall Seating in Wilmington NCEmile Pandolfi in Concert
November 17, 2012
It’s a grand night for music at the Steinway grand. With more than thirty recordings, Pandolfi is among America’s most requested piano artists. Far from some straight-backed formal “recital,” the personal warmth of an evening with Emile transforms his magical music into a conversation with friends. Guest vocalist Dana Russell is a glorious bonus, and don’t be surprised this time around if Emile himself takes a turn at the mic. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Cherish the Ladies: Celtic Christmas
November 28, 2012
Cherish the Ladies is the most successful, sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music, blending virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and irrepressible step dancing into sellout concerts around the globe. Their Christmas CD was chosen as one of the top Albums of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Village Voice and more. Their collaboration with the Boston Pops led to a Grammy nomination, and their latest CD "Country Crossroads" features guest stars Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith and Maura O'Connell. Click here for additional information about this performance.

An Evening with the Kruger Brothers
January 19, 2013
“When we began our career in 1975 on the streets of Munich, nothing could have prepared us for the journey that lay ahead.” Now with fifteen albums, their repertoire travels from traditional clawhammer tunes to their Appalachian Concerto collaboration with classical string quartet. Jens Kruger (banjo, vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar, lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass, vocals) personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. From Merlefest to Symphony Hall, the musical horizons of the Kruger Brothers are as awe-inspiring as the vistas from their adopted Appalachian home. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Pied Piper Theatre: Beanstalk -- A Moo-sical for Children
January 20, 2013
In Steve Cooper’s tuneful take on this tall tale, a hero named Jack teaches us about friendship and responsibility. When an errant giant roars into town, Jack meets surprise after surprise as he climbs a magical beanstalk to rescue his multi-talented, tap-dancing cow Bossy! From the creator of Pied Piper’s Aladdin, Bug Story and more, this entertaining moo-sical teaches a valuable lesson -- with a side-splitting story and one very talented cow. Visit www.thalianhall.org for additional information.

The Fred Hersch Trio
January 24, 2013
Jason Moran says "Fred at the piano is like LeBron James on the basketball court. He’s perfection.” The five-time Grammy Award nominee was tagged “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade” by Vanity Fair, and the first artist in the 75-years of New York's legendary Village Vanguard to play week-long engagements as a solo pianist. A recipient of Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellowships, Hersch has performed with artists ranging from Stan Getz, Joe Henderson and Kurt Elling to Renee Fleming, Dawn Upshaw and Audra MacDonald. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Tammy Pescatelli: Finding the Funny
February 28, 2013
When people ask where this funny lady gets her material, she answers, “I wake up!” Her childhood in a large Italian family near Cleveland provided all the fodder she needed to propel her to NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” She was winner of Comedy Central’s “Stand-Up Showdown” and hosted her reality TV series “A Stand-Up Mother” on WEtv about balancing her life as a comic and a mom. Tammy has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Lay Leno,” CBS’s “The Talk,” “Last Call with Carson Daly” and Last Comic Standing’s “The Best of the Best.” Click here for additional information about this show.

Broadway's Craig Schulman: Heroes, Monsters, & Madmen
March 8, 2013
It’s a legacy of unforgettable men and their music. Craig Schulman is the only performer in the world to have performed three of the most extraordinary musical theatre characters ever written. He has appeared in the title roles of Jekyll & Hyde, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera, and nearly 2,000 performances of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, on Broadway and around the world. Craig was chosen to represent the U.S. in the Les Misérables Tenth Anniversary Concert at Royal Albert Hall in London. Click here for additional information about this show.

Photo of Thalian Hall Stage in Wilmington North CarolinaJeremy Kittel Band
March 9, 2013
A full-time member of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island String Quartet and leader of his namesake band, Kittel’s stylistically diverse, boundary-zapping performances produce a breathless fusion of musical styles – and an audience response that borders on Kittel-mania. Considered among the leading improvising violinists of his generation, the Manhattan School of Music graduate has collaborated with musical giants including Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Paquito D’Rivera, Stefon Harris and Chris Thile, and has appeared on Prairie Home Companion, at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and at Bonnaroo and Telluride. Click here for additional information about this performance.

Evalyn Parry's 'Spin' -- Starring the Bicycle
April 4, 2013
Toronto artist Evalyn Parry’s tour-de-force celebrates the bicycle as muse, musical instrument and agent of social change. Inspired by the true tale of Annie Londonderry – the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894, this mesmerizing hybrid of music, theatre and spoken word features a suspended bicycle as an unimaginably rich source of percussive accompaniment! From 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, Parry reveals a profoundly personal and contemporary journey to liberation – for cyclists and non-cyclists alike! Click here for additional information about this performance.

Kid Power: Operation Lunch Line 3-D!
April 17, 2013
Operation Lunch Line is a highly interactive, one-hour musical designed to help children learn the value of good nutrition and exercise. Using spectacular visual effects in 3-D, the audience joins Kid Power on an amazing journey inside the human body of a boy named Max, who feels lousy because he doesn't eat or move properly. Through audience participation, students educate and motivate Max, and learn that they, too, are filled with all the "Kid Power" needed to feel great by balancing food and exercise. Click here for additional information about this musical.

Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till
April 19, 2013
In 1955, a 14-year-old black Chicago youth traveled to Mississippi with country kinfolk and southern cooking on his mind. He stepped off the train into a world of thick color lines, hard-held class systems and unspeakable taboos. Young Emmett crossed that line and stepped into his gruesome fate by whistling at a white woman. This riveting play chronicles the murder, trial and unbelievable confession of the men accused of Till's lynching. Actor/playwright Mike Wiley also portrays 36 roles in the recent feature film adaptation of this play, currently winning acclaim at film festivals around the world. Click here for additional information about this show.

Broadway's Next Hit Musical 
April 20, 2013
If you enjoy comedy, music, theatre, laughter, giggles, onstage mayhem, jawdropping dexterity and lightning-fast creativity -- this show's for you. It's the improvised musical that's created a side-splitting legacy from coast to coast. The first act is a red carpet awards ceremony spotlighting four 'Best Musical' nominees chosen from the audience's suggested song titles. The second act then takes it to the next unbelievable step - an entire musical - created right on the spot, based on that award-winning song title from the first act. They're braver than we are! Click here for more information about this show. 

Masters of Motown
May 2 & 3, 2013
So many hits, so little time! You’ve got two evenings to travel to Motor City for all of Motown’s iconic songs of the 60s. The full live band and high-stepping vocalists pay tribute to tunes forever playing in our memories -- hits by legendary Motown groups including The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Commodores, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & the Supremes, the Jackson Five & more! Click here for additional information about this performance.

Photo of Wilmington North Carolina Thalian Hall

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2012 - 2013 season at Thalian Hall. Mark your calendar and share these event details with family and friends so that you can enjoy these spectacular Wilmington events together. We look forward to seeing you at Thalian Hall!

Danielle Snyder
Wilmington NC Events

Monday, May 21, 2012

Wilmington NC Memorial Day Weekend Events

Looking for things to do in Wilmington, NC on Memorial Day Weekend 2012? Check out our list of events happening Memorial Day Weekend and start making plans today! If you are visiting from out of town, we invite you to check out the hotel deals provided by Wilmington NC Events! 

Fireworks By The Sea
May 25, 2012
Enjoy FREE fireworks by the sea near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk! The gazebo entertainment begins at 6:30PM and the fireworks will begin at 9PM. Arrive nice and early to reserve your spot at the gazebo or on the beach. Weekly fireworks are hosted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce and the gazebo entertainment is hosted by the Boardwalk Makeover. Check out the 2012 Fireworks By The Sea schedule for more details and future firework dates!  

Orange Street Arts Festival
May 26 - 27, 2012
The Orange Street Arts Festival is Wilmington's largest downtown arts festival. On Memorial Day Weekend 2012, the Orange Street Arts Festival will celebrate its 17th year! The work of more than 55 artists from Wilmington and across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee will be featured! Enjoy Oil & Watercolor paintings, Pottery, Jewelry, Wood, Glass, and Paper Creations on Orange Street. Front Street Brewery will provide a food, beer, and wine tent!  

Free Movies By The Lake
May 27, 2012
Enjoy a FREE Movie By The Lake in Wilmington, NC on Sunday, May 27th. Puss In Boots will be playing Memorial Day Weekend at Carolina Beach Lake Park. Movies start at dusk (around 8:45PM). Bring your chairs and find a spot on the lawn where the entire family can enjoy a movie! This summertime special event promises to entertain the entire family! 

Memorial Day Observance - USS NORTH CAROLINA
May 28, 2012 at 5:45PM
People of all generations will gather together on May 28, 2012 at the Battleship to pay their respects. This annual Memorial Day Ceremony has been observed for the last 47 years and is honored to have guest speaker, Major General Rodney O. Anderson at the 2012 event. This emotional ceremony begins and ends with military musical arrangements provided by the Army Ground Forces Band. The public is invited to this FREE Memorial Day 2012 event.

Wilmington Swimming Pools
City of Wilmington Pools are planning to open Memorial Day Weekend. Check out the Wilmington Pool schedule for details. Take advantage of these special hours Memorial Day Weekend before the full summer schedule starts June 11, 2012!

Memorial Day Weekend Getaway
Plan a weekend getaway to celebrate this special May holiday! There are exciting events happening in Columbia, South Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina this Memorial Day 2012. Escape for the weekend and visit one of these nearby cities for a relaxing Memorial Day Weekend getaway.

What are your plans for Memorial Day Weekend? Please contact us with any additional Memorial Day Events and discounts happening in Wilmington, North Carolina! Have a very happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Danielle Snyder
Wilmington NC Events

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mother's Day 2012 in Wilmington, North Carolina

Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, May 13, 2012. How will you celebrate with your Mom on this special May holiday? Check out the Wilmington, North Carolina Mother's Day gift ideas listed below and start making plans for your Mom today!

Mother's Day Staycation in Wilmington, North Carolina
Treat your Mom to a special Mother's Day Staycation right here in Wilmington, North Carolina. Allow Mom to escape from reality for Mother's Day Weekend while she relaxes at one of Wilmington's favorite local hotels. Mom can relax and enjoy some personal time, spend the weekend with her significant other, or bring the entire family along! Just choose the room type that works best for you. Call The Holiday Inn Wilmington or the Staybridge Suites Wilmington today and ask for their best weekend rates!

Mother's Day Brunch in Wilmington, North Carolina
Looking for a delicious Mother's Day Brunch? Look no further! The Savoy Grill in Wilmington, North Carolina is offering a spectacular Mother's Day Buffet on Sunday, May 13, 2012 from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. Reward Mom with something special this year! The Savoy Grill Mother's Day Brunch features an omelet station, made to order waffles, meats, salads, fruit, desserts, and more! Call 910-392-1101 and make your reservation today! Check out their Mother's Day Buffet Menu below:

Photo of Wilmington NC Mothers Day Buffet Menu

Mother's Day Weekend Getaway
Plan a weekend getaway for you and your Mom to celebrate Mother's Day 2012. Interested in checking out one of South Carolina's most popular attractions? Plan a weekend getaway to Columbia, South Carolina and visit Riverbanks Zoo & Garden! There are great hotel zoo packages available in Columbia. Looking for another city along the coast? Celebrate Mother's Day in Charleston, South Carolina and enjoy historic downtown, the beautiful beaches, and incredible plantations that make Charleston such a remarkable city!

Whether you are celebrating in Wilmington or planning a weekend getaway, we wish you and your family a very happy Mother's Day Weekend!

Danielle Snyder
Wilmington NC Events

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

May 2012 Wilmington North Carolina Events

Happy May Everyone!
Wilmington, North Carolina is getting ready for a month full of exciting local events. Whether you are a member of the local community or visiting from out of town, we encourage you to attend as many of these Wilmington events as possible. If you are visiting from out of town, check out the hotel deals and free activities listed on WilmingtonNC-Events.com. Are you attending or hosting a May event? Contact us with event details so that we can promote your event for free!

Coming up this weekend!
Jump right in and plan to attend a Wilmington event during the first weekend of May 2012! On Friday, May 4th, Bellamy Mansion presents "Settling The Cape Fear" with Dr. Chris Fonvielle. Enjoy a 2 hour trip on the Cape Fear with Chris and Capt. Doug Springer while you visualize the ecology and early settlement along the river. After a morning cruise, stop by Wilmington Wine for a FREE wine tasting on the hip part of Castle. They have outdoor seating in the back, which is a great place to gather with family and friends! On Saturday, May 5th, catch a performance of The Snow Queen presented by City Ballet of Wilmington at Kenan Auditorium on the UNCW Campus. Interested in a unique outdoor adventure? Safari Hunt 2012 is like an underwater Easter egg hunt on a shipwreck. Join Aquatic Safaris on Saturday, May 5th for your chance to scuba dive and win prizes at Safari Hunt 2012! Adding to the excitement of Saturday, May 5th is the Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Party. Kick off the festivities with Kentucky Derby treats and instead of betting on horses, place your bid on fine prizes from local businesses and restaurants. Come dressed in your beautiful bonnets and bodacious bow ties and win prizes!

Local Sports & Outdoor Adventures
Cheer on the Wilmington Sea Dawgs Basketball team and participate in their exciting theme nights! May 11th is Scout Night, May 18th is Cancer Awareness Night, and May 25th is Kids Night. Learn more about their theme nights on the Sea Dawgs website. Looking to try a new outdoor adventure this month? Why not plan a family camping adventure with Mahanaim Adventures. Create lasting memories with your family as you eat your meals around a camp fire, sleep in a tent, and explore the outdoors! If this is something that sounds exciting but you do not have the gear or experience for this kind of adventure, call Mahanaim Adventures today to set up a family camping trip.

Wilmington Concerts & Shows
If you love to go to the theatre and local concerts, Wilmington is the place for you! Visit Thalian Hall on May 11, 2012 for a night of brass, class rhythm and swing with the John Brown Jazz Orchestra. Enjoy Big Band hits kicked up a notch under the guidance and indisputable finesse of jazz master John Brown. Also on May 11, 2012 Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews and Porch Theatre Company welcome audiences to grab a group or friends and join in on the party for the Totally 80's Class Reunion! Get ready to eat, drink, laugh, dance, and solve a murder because this reunion is going to be killer! Up next is Project X featuring Juicedon, Mikey Beats, and Dr. Steppa at Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews on Thursday, May 10th. There will be 1000+ glow sticks, lights, and lasers! Get your tickets today for these fantastic performances!

Wilmington Tours
Interested in learning more about Wilmington and the local community? Take a guided tour of historic downtown with friends and family! Horsedrawn Tours Wilmington offers non-reservation, continuous 1/2 hour narrated tours each and every day. As seen on Southern Living Magazine, your costumed driver narrates your unique adventure along the riverfront and past stately mansions of historic Wilmington. Wilmington Trolley Company features excellent narrated tours as well! Weave through the bumpy brick laid streets of historic downtown and learn about the beautiful mansions, museums, TV & Movie Locations, Civil War Shipyards, and more that make Wilmington such a remarkable city! 

Farmer's Markets
Looking for a way to support the local community? Visit a Wilmington Farmer's Market to enjoy fresh food, flowers, arts and crafts, and more from local vendors. The Poplar Grove Farmer's Market is every Wednesday from 8:00AM - 1:00PM and the Carolina Beach Farmer's Market is every Saturday from 8:00AM - 1:00PM!

Enjoy these wonderful Wilmington events coming up in May 2012. Let us know which events you attend by sharing comments, pictures and videos on our Facebook wall! We look forward to hearing from you!

Danielle Snyder
Wilmington NC Events