The Arts Council Of Wilmington/NHC

Peace through Music Concert
2025-10-19 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Basilica of St. Mary, S. 5th Ave. & Ann Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Concert featuring different genres and performing artists.

Cucalorus Fundraiser: An Evening with the Port City Ukuholics
2025-10-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
Join us for a special night of live music with the Port City Ukuholics in support of the Cucalorus Film Foundation! Tickets are $20, with all proceeds benefiting Cucalorus’ year-round programs that uplift emerging and innovative artists through festivals, residencies, community cinema, and youth education.

U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus
2025-10-25 19:30 - 22:30 | UNCW Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403, Wilmington, NC, 28036, United States
Experience a powerful performance of pride and precision as the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus bring patriotic favorites and symphonic excellence to Kenan Auditorium, free and open to all!
The Concert Band & Soldiers’ Chorus are the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band’s performing components. Founded in 1946 and 1957 respectively, these two ensembles combine to present joint concerts on their national tours. They have performed in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries for audiences totaling hundreds of millions.
The 60-member Concert Band and 29-member Soldiers’ Chorus perform regularly in some of the most famous concert halls in the world, and just as often in the humblest auditoriums in the smallest of communities. The joining of these two ensembles allows them to offer unparalleled versatility of programming, ranging from orchestral masterworks and operatic arias to Sousa marches, jazz classics, and Broadway musicals. The band and chorus also perform independently, having recently shared the stage with such ensembles as the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to their national tours, formal concerts, chamber recitals, and educational outreach, members of the Concert Band & Soldiers’ Chorus frequently represent the Army at formal and ceremonial functions, including the Presidential Inaugural Parade, presidential funerals, the Army All-American Bowl, and diplomatic efforts overseas.

Organ Concert
2025-10-26 16:00 - 17:00 | St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 612 South College rd, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
free organ concert featuring Paul Fey, St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, Germany

Auditions for Thalian Association's Ebenezer
2025-10-27 19:00 - 2025-10-28 21:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Ebenezer A Musical Christmas Carol
Thalian Association Community Theatre will hold auditions for their main stage holiday show, Ebenezer, October 27 and 28 at 7 pm, with callbacks Oct. 29. Auditions will be held at the Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street in downtown Wilmington. The production, with direction by Chandler Davis and choreography by Logan Hayes, runs December 12 through December 21 at Thalian Hall.
Please prepare 30 seconds (16 bars) of a musical theatre style song to sing. You may bring sheet music if you prefer but it is not mandatory. An accompanist will be provided.
Audition sign-up will begin September 29th. PLEASE CALL 910-251-1788 TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TIME.
All roles are available.
Callbacks will be August 13 at the Community Arts Center. Please be prepared to read from a provided script and sing from the show.
Actors of all ethnicities are welcome and encouraged to audition for our entire season!
Synopsis:
All the beloved Charles Dickens characters show up as Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas. This musical adaption of Dickens’ famous story showcases diverse musical styles (rock, country, gospel, polka) and varied uses of wording and language that span from one century to the next. The audience will be dazzled with the amazing choreography and unexpected comedic turns in this delightful adaptation.
The words and lyrics of Ebenezer–A Christmas Carol come to life from the creative imagination of North Carolina playwright Frank P. Trimble. Make your holidays even brighter with this outstanding production!

David Sedaris
2025-10-29 19:30 - 22:30 | UNCW Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403, Wilmington, NC, 28036, United States
Back by popular demand, beloved humorist and North Carolina native David Sedaris returns to UNCW with his sharp wit, signature storytelling, and unforgettable blend of humor and heart.
David Sedaris is one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, David Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, and Calypso.
There are over 16 million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 32 languages. He has been awarded the Terry Southern Prize for Humor, Thurber Prize for American Humor, Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor, Time 2001 Humorist of the Year Award, as well as the Medal for Spoken Language from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In March 2019 he was elected as a member into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2020 the New York Public Library voted Me Talk Pretty One Day one of the 125 most important books of the last 125 years.

"Beef is Better Than Veal" – A Scala Sausage Cinema Evening
2025-10-31 18:00 - 21:00 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
This Halloween at Jengo’s Playhouse, dive into a night of cult cinema, suspicious snacks, and cocktails with a psychedelic twist. We’re serving up a double feature with Little Shop of Horrors and The Trip, plus a grill full of questionable sausages starting at 6pm. LSD-themed cocktails (without the actual LSD) will keep the vibe strange, and the dress code is simple: look like you’ve taken drugs — think tie-dye, glitter, or sunglasses at night. For $25, you’ll get both films, a cocktail, and an unforgettable plunge into weirdness.

DVOŘÁK + COLBERG
2025-11-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Wilson Center Cape Fear Community College, 703 N 3rd St, Wilmington, 28401
“Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s ebullient Ouverture in C Major opens the WSO’s second concert of the 25/26 season with a combination of classical poise and romantic drama. It’s clear her unique musical personality comes from the same source as her famous brother Felix, but she has a trajectory and voice all her own – full of vitality and passion.
The WSO shines a spotlight on the rich, expressive voice of the viola with a deeply moving performance of Christian Colberg’s Viola Concerto. This evocative work—equal parts lyrical and bold—takes center stage in the hands of Paul Aguilar, the brilliant violist who recently earned 2nd place at the 2025 Sphinx Competition and is already making waves as a rising star on the national stage.
Aguilar’s performance promises to be a tour de force, full of emotional depth and virtuosic flair, perfectly complementing Colberg’s cinematic writing and vivid orchestral color.
The concert concludes with the ever-popular Symphony No. 8 by Dvořák, a cheerful, pastoral work inspired by life in the countryside and by his beloved Bohemian folk songs. Both comfortably familiar and uniquely Dvořák in its outlook, the Symphony has something for everyone and is sure to leave you feeling uplifted and inspired

Jazz at CAM: Thrio
2025-11-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Thursday, November 6 | 7 PM
CAM Members: $40
Not-Yet Members: $60
Students and Educators: $15
Join us for Jazz at CAM as we present Thrio!
Expect a performance filled with tight ensemble interplay, rich improvisation, and a deep reverence for the jazz tradition. With a sound that’s both grounded and exploratory, Thrio brings fresh energy to originals and reimagined standards alike.
Jazz at CAM is must for jazz lovers in the Wilmington area!
CAM Café is open for dinner the night of jazz performances. If you’d like to have dinner before the show, please reserve a table by calling (910) 777-2363. If attending the jazz show, we recommend making your reservation time no later than 6 PM to ensure you make it to the performance on time.
ABOUT THE GROUP
Thrio is the uncompromising sound of pianist Andrew Berinson, bassist Paul Creel, and drummer Donovan Cheatham—three deeply connected musicians whose artistry is rooted in the straight-ahead jazz tradition while embracing creative exploration. Formed in central North Carolina, Thrio presents a compelling blend of original compositions and reimagined American standards, delivered with clarity, swing, and purpose.
The group emerged organically from years of collaboration, musical kinship, and shared spiritual and artistic values. Thrio is a band in the truest sense—three distinct, consistent musical voices committed to creating something greater together. Their sound reflects not only their diverse musical influences but also a bond forged by brotherhood, faith, and a shared devotion to the music. Thrio released their debut single Find Your Way in August 2022, followed by their first full-length album Thrio Volume 1 just one month later. Their latest release, Thrio Volume 2, dropped worldwide on March 21, 2025, showcasing the group’s growth in dynamic range, compositional depth, and ensemble cohesion.
Individually and collectively, the members of Thrio have performed at premier events including the Duck Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Topsail Jazz Festival, and Jacksonville Jazz Festival. They are sought-after collaborators who regularly perform with notable figures such as Nnenna Freelon, Pierce Freelon, Carmen Lundy, and Stephen Riley. Between them, they have shared the stage with jazz luminaries including Branford Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Mary Stallings, Joe Chambers, Wallace Roney, Nicholas Payton, Herlin Riley, Tia Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, and many others. Thrio continues to carve a space for honest, swinging, and spiritually grounded jazz in the modern musical landscape.

"2025 Annual Holiday Show" Featuring Clarence Mayo & Joan McLoughlin
2025-11-07 10:00 - 2026-01-04 17:00 | 970 Inspiration Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405, 970 Inspiration Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Art in Bloom Gallery is celebrating this holiday season through its Annual Holiday Show, featuring the powerful exhibits of mixed-media painters Clarence Mayo and Joan McLoughlin! Combining strong color with unconventional materials, Clarence’s playful creations draw from instinct, cultural echoes, and his own personal roots. Meanwhile, inspired by the renewal of nature and the energy of abstraction, Joan works freely to express a love of life, imagination, joy and hope.
Join us in the gallery on Sunday, November 9th, 2-5pm for our Holiday Show Reception! Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by guitarist Miles Moore! Delight in the discovery of our 30+ Gallery Artists’ new holiday creations, and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts that are sure to bring smiles all year-round!
Clarence Mayo: “The Evolution of Identity: Defining Myself”
My work explores the interplay of strong colors, textures, and unconventional materials. I experiment with plaster, drywall compound, silicone acrylic chalk, modeling paste, wallpaper adhesive, acrylic paint, oil stick, and cold wax and oil – applied with whatever tool feels right in the moment: brushes, palette knives, credit cards, plastic bags, fingers, spoons, and forks.
These studies often emerge as intuitive, primitive, childlike, and abstract expressionist. They reflect a deep curiosity about form and surface, while drawing inspiration from African art symbolism, outsider art, and my own family history. Each piece is a layered exploration of material and memory, shaped as much by play and instinct as by cultural echoes and personal roots.
Joan McLoughlin: “Awakening”
My paintings are celebrations of color, movement and emotion.
Inspired by trees, flowers, and the energy of abstract form, I work in a loose, lively style that embraces freedom and spontaneity.
Through variations of size and vibrant hue, I wish to express growth, rebirth, and new beginnings. Each canvas is a reflection of the heart, an exploration of optimism and possibility.
I invite viewers to feel the same sense of love of life, imagination, joy and hope that can be found in my paintings.

Exhibition Openings: Cameron Art Museum: The Collection, & From Mountains to Sea
2025-11-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Friday, November 7 | 6-9 PM
This fall, CAM comes alive with two new exhibitions: Cameron Art Museum: The Collection & From Mountains to Sea. Celebrate both with this dual-exhibition opening night! These exhibitions showcase the breadth of North Carolina art, from Romare Bearden to contemporary voices of the western mountains.
We also invite you into the contemplative space of Living Waters, an installation that calls us to consider the fundamental significance of water to human life.
Fort Lowell Records will spin a music set in the galleria from 6-9 PM. You’ll hear some tunes from the EP This Water is Life, which highlights new hip-hop/ indie rock music from artists in Southeastern North Carolina. Music fuses with the art and our universal need for water.
CAM Café will be open late for a Friday night light bites menu from 6-8:30 PM.
Enjoy an inspiring night at CAM celebrating our community, our environment, and the incredible new art on view!
Members: FREE
Not-Yet Members: $15
Students & Educators: FREE
Member Preview Tours
Members are invited from 10 AM to 5 PM to get an early sneak peek at these two new exhibitions. Members-only tours will be held at 11 AM and 2 PM and are free to members. Registration is appreciated!
11:00 AM – REGISTER ON WEBSITE
2:00 PM – REGISTER ON WEBSITE

Veterans Day USO Show & Dance
2025-11-07 19:00 - 22:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center will be THE place to celebrate Veterans Day 2024 with a 1940s style USO Show & Dance to honor Southeast North Carolina veterans. The one night only event will be Friday, November 7, 2025. Tickets are $20, on sale at wilmingtoncommunityarts.org or 910-341-7860.
This very special evening is presented by AARP, Southeast North Carolina Veterans Day Parade Committee, and Thalian Association Community Theatre to remember the men and women who served our country. Concessions including wine and beer will be available. All proceeds benefit the Historic USO Building Preservation Fund.
Relive the sounds of the 1940s, hit songs, famous performers, and unforgettable dances with an original USO Show!
The fun starts at 7:00 pm with a free swing dance lesson from Cape Fear Swing Dance Society. The USO Show will begin at 7:30 pm but dancing will continue nonstop until 10:00 pm. The USO Show will feature songs from the most famous vocalists of the 1940s with a special tribute to The Andrews Sisters, known as The Sweethearts of the Armed Forces Radio Service.

America250 at CAM: Veterans Celebration Community Day
2025-11-08 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
FREE admission all day!
Cameron Art Museum joins the nationwide America 250 commemoration with a full day of storytelling, music, family activities, performances, and living history demonstrations. This Community Day highlights the bravery and service of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and honors the enduring contributions of Black veterans in the ongoing fight for freedom.
All ages are welcome and encouraged to take part in this day of recognition, learning, and celebration.
Agenda
Ongoing (10 AM–5 PM)
USCT Reenactors – Experience living history through demonstrations, drills, songs, and storytelling. Visit reenactor camps to learn about Civil War history and the service of the USCT.
10 AM
Opening Welcome at Boundless – With Dr. Sonny Kelly, USCT reenactors, and storyteller Donna Washington. Through poetry and song, we gather at the Boundless sculpture to begin this day of recognition.
10 AM-12 PM
FREE Kids at CAM session will be held in the courtyard for kids & families. More info and registration here: https://cameronartmuseum.org/event/kids-at-cam-veterans-day-celebration-with-elja-bowens/
11 AM–12 PM
Performance by Storyteller Donna Washington: Through Their Own Eyes – An all ages performance of folktales by storyteller Donna Washington. We know that folktales are told for many reasons. They can inspire, delight, and even scare us. They aren’t created in a vacuum. These stories reflect the strength, fear, and hope of generations. Families are invited to “Through Their Own Eyes”, a celebration of the stories that sustained, inspired, and helped African Americans overcome their darkest moments to reach for the light and hope of the future.
12:15–1 PM
Workshop – History Through Human Eyes: Who Gets to Tell the Story? – Family-friendly storytelling workshop with Donna Washington. Why do we remember some stories from history and forget others? Who were the people who fought these battles? What did they want? In this workshop, we try to go beyond the slogans and the selected story that makes it into the history books. What would it be like through the eyes of the men and women who stood their ground and fought for what they thought was right?
Register Here – spots limited: https://cameronartmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/p1doawvn1sqf3jz/
2–3:30 PM
The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans – Dr. Sonny Kelly presents a theatrical presentation on the centuries of service by Black soldiers. “The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans” is a one-man presentation & performance elevating Black freedom fighters and veterans with North Carolina connections – known & unknown, on and off the traditional battlefield – who have engaged in over 400 years of a struggle for freedom, liberty, and equality. Their sacrifices, resistance, and resilience have contributed to American democracy, even as they were denied the full rights of citizens. Through listening to their stories in this production, we can gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s founding ideals, and harness the hope to continue the work, together, of making those ideals a reality for all.

Veterans Day Concert
2025-11-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
The Wilmington Virtuosi Brass is a British-style brass band founded by cornetist Richard Hillson in 2023 two years after moving from England, where his family was long involved in competition level brass bands. After joining the Wilmington Symphony and the Symphonic Winds he was impressed by the level of talent in the community and decided Wilmington was ready to have its own competition level band. An open rehearsal held for that purpose drew an overwhelming response from local musicians, and the Wilmington Virtuosi Brass was soon launched. Its roster consists of retired military bandsmen, local music teachers and professors, freelance professionals, and dedicated amateurs. It enjoys a strong relationship with the UNCW Department of Music where it rehearses under the direction of Dr. Dominic Talanca, Steve Skillman, and Tony Granados, one of the nation’s top directors with many awards to his name. Despite being the only new band at the annual North American competitions held in Ft. Wayne last April, the WVB placed well in its division and plans to return in 2026. The WVB is a 501(c)(3) organization relying on donations from members and the local community.
The band will honor America’s Armed Forces and allies at the Veterans Day USO concert with “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copland, patriotic music by John Philip Sousa, John Williams, and other music composed for brass bands.

Artist Reception – “2025 Annual Holiday Show” Featuring Clarence Mayo & Joan McLoughlin
2025-11-09 14:00 - 17:00 | 970 Inspiration Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405, 970 Inspiration Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Searching for a special hand-crafted gift? Join us in the gallery on Sunday, November 9th, 2-5pm for our Holiday Show Reception! Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by guitarist Miles Moore! Delight in the discovery of our 30+ Gallery Artists’ new holiday creations, and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts that are sure to bring smiles all year-round!
Art in Bloom Gallery is celebrating this holiday season through its Annual Holiday Show, featuring the powerful exhibits of mixed-media painters Clarence Mayo and Joan McLoughlin! Combining strong color with unconventional materials, Clarence’s playful creations draw from instinct, cultural echoes, and his own personal roots. Meanwhile, inspired by the renewal of nature and the energy of abstraction, Joan works freely to express a love of life, imagination, joy and hope.
Gallery events are always free and open to the public. On view along with these exhibits, Art in Bloom Gallery showcases a plethora of fine art by over 30 local artists. Art in Bloom is open Monday–Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday – Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 12-5pm at 970 Inspiration Drive, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington, NC.
Clarence Mayo: “The Evolution of Identity: Defining Myself”
My work explores the interplay of strong colors, textures, and unconventional materials. I experiment with plaster, drywall compound, silicone acrylic chalk, modeling paste, wallpaper adhesive, acrylic paint, oil stick, and cold wax and oil – applied with whatever tool feels right in the moment: brushes, palette knives, credit cards, plastic bags, fingers, spoons, and forks.
These studies often emerge as intuitive, primitive, childlike, and abstract expressionist. They reflect a deep curiosity about form and surface, while drawing inspiration from African art symbolism, outsider art, and my own family history. Each piece is a layered exploration of material and memory, shaped as much by play and instinct as by cultural echoes and personal roots.
Joan McLoughlin: “Awakening”
My paintings are celebrations of color, movement and emotion.
Inspired by trees, flowers, and the energy of abstract form, I work in a loose, lively style that embraces freedom and spontaneity.
Through variations of size and vibrant hue, I wish to express growth, rebirth, and new beginnings. Each canvas is a reflection of the heart, an exploration of optimism and possibility.
I invite viewers to feel the same sense of love of life, imagination, joy and hope that can be found in my paintings.

The Gentlemen’s Quartet in FREE Concert!
2025-11-09 15:00 - 16:00 | 1416 Market Street, 1416 Market Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401-4999, United States
Experience an afternoon of musical brilliance with the Gentlemen’s Quartet (GQ), as they present a modern, elegant take on timeless classics and popular hits, from Beethoven to John Legend. Their unique arrangements fuse multiple genres together in a perfect symphony of sophistication, virtuosity and humor. The talented quartet includes Peter Sachon on cello, Matt Scharfglass on guitar & bass, Ben Saporito on drums, David Shenton on piano and violin, and a surprise female vocalist.With impressive musical credits, these versatile musicians promise an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind concert!
*All Music on Market Concerts are free, open to the public and family friendly*
*Tickets are not required. Venue Seating is Limited. Seating is on a First-Come,First-Served basis.*

The Gentlemen's Quartet in FREE Concert!
2025-11-09 15:00 - 16:00 | 1416 Market Street, 1416 Market Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401-4999, United States
Experience a night of musical brilliance with the Gentlemen’s Quartet (GQ), as they present a modern, elegant take on timeless classics and popular hits, from Beethoven to John Legend. Their unique arrangements fuse multiple genres together in a perfect symphony of sophistication, virtuosity and humor. The talented quartet includes Peter Sachon on cello, Matt Scharfglass on guitar & amp; bass, Ben Saporito on drums, David Shenton on piano and violin, and a surprise female vocalist. With impressive musical credits, these versatile musicians promise an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind concert!
*All Music on Market Concerts are free, open to the public and family friendly*
*Tickets are not required. Venue Seating is Limited. Seating is on a First-Come, First-Served basis.*

UNCW Presents: “Fall 2025 Senior Exhibition: The Sum of Us”
2025-11-13 - 2025-12-12 | CAB ART Gallery, 5270 Randall Dr, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s “Fall 2025 Senior Exhibition, The Sum of Us”, will open with a free, public reception on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 in UNCW’s Cultural Arts Building (CAB) Art Gallery.
The exhibition will be on view until December 12, 2025 and showcases the work of 18 graduating seniors majoring in Studio Art:
Logan Beechner
Andrea Boctot
Karoline Carl
Atlanta Carrera
Sara Driver Dyjak
Madelyn Frazier
Dana Moon
Sarah Horning
Brandon Huebner
Chaniris Jimenez Nieves
Ryan Lewis
Tatiana O’Brien
Kit Osborne
Maya Scalabrino
Emelia Stinson
Julie Sydes
Owen Varner
Ella Williamson
“The Sum of Us” is a multi-media exhibition characterized by various art styles and subject matter. The works range from digital prints, to screen prints, pastel drawings, oil paintings, photography and feature everything from digitally created characters to biblical figures brought to life in soft pastel.
This exhibition is the culmination of artwork created over the last four years; the painstaking hours, days, and weeks spent learning technique, exploring new media, and searching for their own voice.
These graduating seniors will also give individual artist presentations in the UNCW Cultural Arts Building, Room 2033, on Friday, December 5th, 2025 beginning at 11:30 am. These presentations are free and open to the public.
CAB Art Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended hours on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The gallery will be closed November 26-28 for Thanksgiving.
The CAB Art Gallery is located on UNCW’s campus on the ground floor of the Cultural Arts Building, near the building’s main entrance. Visitors can access the gallery from South College Road or Racine Drive, and parking is available in front of the box office entrance to the building.
For more information visit https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/arts/venues/cultural-arts-building/
Interested media should contact Gallery Director, Keltsey McKoy, at cabartgallery@uncw.edu or 910.962.3031.

How I Became a Pirate Audition Workshop
2025-11-15 10:00 - 12:30 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
How I Became A Pirate Audition Workshop
November 15
10am – 12:30pm
Join us for our Rookie Audition Workshop for How I Became a Pirate! This free audition workshop for interested youth performers ages 7 – high school seniors will take place on November 15 at 10am. Parents will be invited to an information session following the workshop at 12:00 pm. Anyone wishing to sign up should call 910-251-1788.
Designed especially for young or first-time performers, this fun and supportive workshop will help participants learn what to expect at an audition—from stage presence and confidence to reading lines and simple movement. Our Director, Emily Graham, will guide students through age-appropriate exercises and scenes inspired by the upcoming production, helping them feel comfortable and prepared for their moment in the spotlight. Whether you’re brand new to performing or just want to sharpen your audition skills, this is the perfect way to get ready to set sail for a fantastic show adventure!
Thalian Association Community Theatre has very special plans for the 4th show of the 2025-2026 Youth Theatre season. How I Became A Pirate will feature an all-rookie cast with all seats for the six public performances free to the public on a first come basis. The production will be directed by Emily Graham and performed on the 2nd Street Stage at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, Mar. 20 – 29, 2026. Shows are scheduled Fri. – Sat. at 7:30 pm with Sun. matinees at 3:00 pm.
For the fourth year in a row, a rookie show has been planned to give youth who have never been cast in a Thalian Association production the chance to participate in live theatre. The benefits of theatre participation are well documented, improved reading comprehension, support of verbal & non-verbal communication skills, overall academic achievement, and higher rates of high school graduation. Studies also indicate theatre engagement develops soft skills not always taught in school, including leadership, analytical ability, teamwork, & adaptability. Youth cast in the show will receive the equivalent of 6 – 8 hours of arts education during the rehearsal/production process.

Guys and Dolls Sr. Audition Workshop
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Guys and Dolls Sr. Audition Workshop
November 15, 2025
10am – 1pm
10am-1pm | November 15th
Donn Ansell Studio
120 S. 2nd Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Come meet the director, Laurene Perry & get insider tips and hands-on experience in this exclusive audition workshop led by the director of the production of Guys and Dolls Sr. Participants will learn how to select material, make strong first impressions, and bring characters to life during auditions. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a seasoned professional in musical theatre!
Must be 55+ to audition.
Sign up by calling 910.251.1788
Have you ever wanted to act, sing, and dance onstage but never had the time? Now is your chance thanks to Let’s Take The Stage, a new theatre program for adults 55 and over, offered by the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. This initiative celebrates the creativity and vitality of seniors by providing a variety of opportunities to get involved in the performing arts.
The first production will be Guys & Dolls SR, scheduled for June 2026. Plans include a how-to audition workshop with an expanded rehearsal process for the production, one of five musicals in Music Theatre International’s new Broadway Senior collection. The new program adapts classic musicals to meet the needs and abilities of performers 55 and over, including accessible scripts and a 60 minute running time. There’s no fee to participate in the production, and everyone over 55 is invited to audition! Complete details about Guys & Dolls SR can be found at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Guys & Dolls SR director Laurene Perry will offer a free how-to audition workshop at the Community Arts Center on Nov. 15th. The workshop will cover the practical skills needed to audition, such as script analysis, vocal and movement technique, monologue and song preparation, and what to expect during rehearsals. Auditions will be March 10 and 11, and the performances will be June 5 – 7 on the 2nd Street Stage at the Community Arts Center. Please call 910-341-7860 to register for the how-to audition workshop.

WSYO Chamber Ensemble Concert
2025-11-16 16:00 - 17:00 | St. James Episcopal Parish, 25 S 3rd St., Wilmington
Join us for a free chamber concert, featuring our WSYO Chamber Ensembles (students are in 9-12 grades)! The chamber ensembles are led by WSO musicians.

Mass In Troubled Times
2025-11-16 16:00 - 17:30 | UNCW Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403, Wilmington, NC, 28036, United States
Experience the drama and beauty of two choral masterpieces as Cape Fear Chorale presents Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and John Corigliano’s moving and lyrical Fern Hill. Haydn’s bold and triumphant mass—often called his greatest—resonates with urgency and hope, while Corigliano’s setting of Dylan Thomas’s nostalgic poem captures the aching beauty of youth and time. Don’t miss this inspiring afternoon of music, presented by Cape Fear Chorale, orchestra, soloists, and artistic director Aaron Peisner.

UNCW Presents: “unDISCIPLINEd 3”
2025-11-18 17:00 - 18:30 | Beckwith Recital Hall, 5270 Randall Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Join us Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 5 p.m. in Beckwith Recital Hall for “unDISCIPLINEd 3”, an exciting arts showcase featuring faculty members from Art and Art History, Creative Writing, Film Studies, Music, and Theatre who push the boundaries of their disciplines in unique and inspiring ways.
Featuring:
Nick Hudson / Art & Art History
Michael Ramos / Creative Writing
Michael Betts / Film Studies
Justin Hoke / Music
Elizabeth Wellman / Theatre
Admission is FREE and open to all students, faculty, staff and community members.
Reception to follow in the Cultural Arts Lobby, sponsored by CHSSA Dean’s office.
The Cultural Arts Building is located at 5270 Randall Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403, on the corner of Randall Parkway and Reynolds Drive on the UNCW campus and can be accessed from South College Road or Racine Drive. Visitor parking is in front of the box office entrance to the building.
Interested media should contact Nancy King, at kingn@uncw.edu or (910) 962-4048

CAM After Dark: The Art of Glass and Light - Exhibition Openings
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Exhibition Opening & Outdoor Installation Debut
Thursday, November 20 | 6–9 PM
CAM Members: Free | Not-Yet Members: $15 | Students & Educators: Free
See CAM come alive after dark with glowing glass art, a brand-new lit-up outdoor installation, music, and more.
Join us for this luminous evening at CAM as we celebrate the exhibition opening of Magic, Light, and Sacred Geometry: Glassworks by Frederick G. Kahl and the outdoor installation debut of Nested: Where Light Gathers and Nature Holds by Meredith Connelly.
Inside the galleries, explore Frederick Kahl’s radiant glass forms in Magic, Light, and Sacred Geometry—a decade-long exploration of light, reflection, and craftsmanship. At 6:30 PM, Kahl will present an illustrated talk on the innovative techniques and technologies behind his intricate works, created during his 2025 residency with Starworks in Star, NC.
Step outdoors to see Nested: Where Light Gathers and Nature Holds – Outdoor Illuminated Installation by Meredith Connelly, which will transform CAM’s courtyard into a glowing celebration inspired by nature and living forms. The work invites reflection on the beauty, resilience, and interconnectedness of the natural world.
Throughout the evening, enjoy:
A live set by DJ Louis
Free bourbon tastings from Ian Williams of Cook’s Mill
Access to all 3 of CAM’s galleries, open and alive with incredible new fall exhibitions
Food and drinks from CAM Café, open from 5-9 PM. Call 910-777-2363 for dinner reservations.
Visit the CAM Shop for blown glass gifts by regional artists and take home a unique drawing generated on site by Kahl’s exhibition.
Member Preview Tours
Members are invited from 10 AM-5 PM to get an early sneak peak at these two new exhibitions. Members-only tours will be held at 11 AM and 2 PM and are free to members.
Nested: Where Light Gathers and Nature Holds – Outdoor Illuminated Installation by Meredith Connelly, sponsored in part by Dr. Michael A. Freeze and Mx. Lenwood “Bo” Dean.

Soup to Nuts Live! Featuring Rob Abernethy
2025-11-20 19:30 - 20:30 | McErny Gallery at WHQR, 254 North Front Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, 28401, United States
Soup to Nuts Live! presents Rod Abernethy at WHQR MC Erny Gallery on Thursday November 20th. Doors open at 6:30 pm and show starts at 7:30 pm.
Rod Abernethy is a unique blend of an authentic southern folk troubadour, master acoustic guitarist, and award winning songwriter and composer for film, TV and video games and the Overall Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 International Acoustic Music Awards. In 2019 he was the Grand Prize winner of American Songwriter’s Bob Dylan Song Contest. His last album Normal Isn’t Normal Anymore, produced by Grammy nominated producer Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gauthier, Kim Richey, Glen Phillips), received rave reviews from No Depression, American Highways and The Wall Street Journal and was the Top 20 CD of 2021 at No. 11 on the Folk International Folk Charts.
Reserve your seats by emailing soup@whqr.org or call 910-343-1640 Ext 203 during regular business hours. ($10 suggested donation)

Campana sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
2025-11-21 19:30 - 22:30 | UNCW Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403, Wilmington, NC, 28036, United States
Celebrate the magic of the season with a vibrant Mexican Christmas, featuring the world-class music of Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and the dazzling dance of Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande.
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar
Originally from Bakersfield, California, Jimmy Cuellar began his mariachi career as a teenager alongside his father Jaime Cuellar and was a founding member of Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar. His dedication to his musical craft drove “El Pollo” to fine-tune his skills on the violin, guitarron, vihuela, guitar and guitarra de golpe, securing him a ten-year tenure with Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. In subsequent years, Jimmy accompanied well known Latin recording artists Yolanda del Rio, Mercedes Castro, Humberto Herrera, Lila Downs, Vikki Carr, Aida Cuevas, Eugenia Leon, and Jose Feliciano as well as has been an instrumental member in various recoding productions, including the 2010 release of Ry Cooder and The Chieftains, San Patricio.
Beginning In 2005, Jimmy saw Grammy success when he was a featured artist on the Grammy Award winning album cELLAbration: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins. The following year “Llegaron Los Camperos: Concert Favorites of Nati Cano’s Mariachi Los Camperos” received a Grammy nomination for “Best Mexican Album”. 2008 added to his Grammy success with “Cien Por Ciento Mexicano” by Pepe Aguilar with 2009 rounding out a Grammy award to add to his mantle for Best Regional Mexican Album with “Amor, Dolor, y Lagrimas”.
Composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, three-time Grammy Award nominated and three time Grammy Award Winner, Mr. Cuellar understands the importance of education. Having received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach’s Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in 2009, “El Pollo” decided to continue his musical education and enroll with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he is pursuing a Masters in Music Composition. His talents as an educator as well as nationally-regarded expert
in the genre have earned Jimmy a yearly seat as an adjudicator for the statewide Mariachi Competition held in Texas. Mr. Cuéllar is the director of the mariachi program at Redlands Univesity and the director of the new school CUE Music, in Montebello, CA, where he teaches classes on mariachi and other genres of Mexican music.
Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande
Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande (BFRG), under the direction of Miguel Peña, is a thirty-member organization comprised of alumni of the internationally recognized collegiate folklórico program offered at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV offers the only folklórico dance major in the United States and produces the wellspring of highly skilled professional dancers that comprise BFRG. With numerous state, national, and international concerts under their belt, they have been showcased at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts in Washington, D.C. for four consecutive years. BFRG has toured the world visiting countries such as Canada, France, Italy, Argentina, and Mexico. Their recent international work includes performances in Santiago, Argentina and Tamaulipas, Mexico. BFRG has also performed nationwide for important artists such as Los Tigres del Norte and Aida Cuevas. They now partner with Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar for joint shows celebrating all aspects of Mexican culture, including the Día de Los Muertos and Christmas holidays.
