Art After Helene: From Mountains to Sea Artist Panel Discussion
2026-01-22 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Art After Helene: From Mountains to Sea Artist Panel Discussion
Thursday, January 22, 2026 • 6:30-7:30 PM
Reception Hall
CAM Members $10 | Not-Yet Members $15 | Students & Educators Free
Join us for an engaging artist panel featuring Western North Carolina artists Julyan Davis, Erika Diamond, and Bill Green, all included in CAM’s exhibition From Mountains to Sea. In conversation with Associate Curator Ben Billingsley, the panel will explore how artists respond to place, change, and lived experience through landscape.
The conversation will also reflect on the impact of Hurricane Helene—the deadliest strike on the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina—highlighting how memory, grief, and ecological trauma can be transformed through creative practice into works of hope and renewal.
The exhibition From Mountains to Sea features landscapes that are at once beautiful and provocative, scarred yet sacred, speaking to loss, change, and rebirth. Learn more about the exhibition here.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Julyan Davis is an English-born artist and writer who has painted the American South for thirty years. He received his art training at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London. In 1988, having completed his B.A. in painting and printmaking, he traveled to the South on a painting trip that was also fueled by an interest in the history of Demopolis, Alabama and its settling by Bonapartist exiles.
Erika Diamond is a textile-focused artist, curator, and educator. Holding degrees from Rhode Island School of Design (BFA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (MFA), Diamond has exhibited nationally and abroad in venues such as Contemporary Craft, SPRING/BREAK Art Fair, Dinner Gallery, Form & Concept Gallery, and Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. As Associate Director of Galleries at Chautauqua Institution and a freelance curator, she creates exhibitions that blur distinctions between the genres of art, design, and craft, while centering diverse voices and practices.
Bill Green, a photographer, explores the idea of lost America wherever he finds it. Green documents the heritage of Southern small-town life and the stories found therein. Obscure everyday scenes people might not otherwise are where he can be most often found. He believes that a mix of time, place, and texture is often dismissed as the uglier side of cities or countryside, yet it resonates aesthetically in ways modern buildings can’t.
FEATURED IMAGERY:
The photographs used in event materials are by Bill Green, one of the panel artists. His paired “before and after” photographs—this example being one of three—document sites before and after Hurricane Helene, highlighting the storm’s destruction and its lasting impact on small-town Western North Carolina.
Photograph credit:
Bill Green (American, b. 1963), A Quiet Stretch [detail], [left] Before 12/30/21, [right] After 1/5/25. Photography, 20 x 30 in. Courtesy of Bill Green. © 2025 Bill Green.
From Mountains to Sea presented to the community by Wells Fargo.

Little Women the Broadway Musical - Presented by the Thalian Association
2026-01-23 - 2026-02-01 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Showtimes
Dates: Friday January 23, 2026 – Sunday February 1, 2026
Friday – Saturday Time: 7:30 pm
Sunday Time: 3:00 pm
Location
2nd Street Stage Hannah Block
Historic USO/Community Arts Center
Music by Jason Howland Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein Book by Allan Knee Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised by critics for its ambition in adapting such a well-known story for the stage. This timeless, captivating story is brought to life in this glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love. The original production starred the unparalleled Sutton Foster, who received Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for her performance. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

Auditions for Thalian Association's How I Became a Pirate - Youth Rookie Show
2026-01-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Thalian Association Community Theatre will hold auditions for the fourth youth show of the season, How I Became a Pirate, Saturday January 24 at 10 am. Auditions will be held at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center at 120 S 2nd St Wilmington NC at 9 am. How I Became a Pirate is the 4th annual “Rookie show”, an opportunity for youth who have never been cast in a Thalian Association production. The musical, directed by Emily Graham, will run at the Community Arts Center March 20 through March 29. If needed, callbacks will be that afternoon and will include a dance call as well as reading and singing from the show.
All roles are available.
Youth performers of all races and ethnicities are welcome and encouraged to audition.
Those new to Thalian Association should bring an up-to-date picture with them.
Audition sign up begins Dec. 15th. To sign up for an audition time, please call 910-251-1788.
For auditions, performers should prepare 30 seconds of a song they feel confident singing.
A typical rehearsal week would be Monday- Thursday, 5-7 pm and Saturdays 10-2 pm.
Conflicts are allowed if given up front. Please arrive early enough to fill out both sides of the audition form.
Synopsis
Sail off on a fantastic musical excursion when a band of comical pirates lands at North Beach looking for an expert digger to join their crew. Braid Beard and his mates enlist young Jeremy Jacob as they look for the perfect spot to bury their treasure. Jeremy finds that adventuring can be lots of fun, but also learns that love and home are treasures you can’t find on any map! The whole family will love this delightful and swashbuckling musical adventure.
Available Roles:
JEREMY JACOB – a boy of about 10
BRAID BEARD – the Pirate Captain – a pirate with a “braided beard” on his chin
SWILL THE PIRATE – a pirate with wire-rim eyeglasses – philosophical – intellectual – who gets blamed for everything that goes wrong
SHARKTOOTH THE PIRATE – foreboding – scowling grin – wears a patch on eye – but yet – they’re a “sensitive guy”
PIRATE PIERRE – talks with a French accent – the ship’s cook – enjoys fine French cuisine
MAX THE PIRATE – they wear a stuffed Parrot on his shoulder – “he’s only a stuffed, plush Parrot but we don’t have the heart to tell ‘im ‘ees not real”
PIRATE SEYMOUR BRAUNSCHWAGGER – A typical Pirate First Mate
PIRATE SCURVY DOG – A typical Pirate Second Mate – with a tendency to “bark”
ENSEMBLE PIRATES

"Among Neighbors" screening at Jengo's Playhouse
2026-01-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
Celebrate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, January 27 with a special screening of Among Neighbors, co-presented by Cucalorus and the Jewish Film Festival. The event features a brief introduction by award-winning filmmaker Yoav Potash, followed by an in-depth post-film Q&A compilation filmed at sold-out screenings in New York, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Blending evocative hand-drawn animation, verité footage, and revelatory interviews, Among Neighbors examines a small rural Polish town where Jews and Catholic neighbors lived side by side for centuries before World War II shattered that coexistence. Through the last living eyewitnesses—including a Holocaust survivor and an aging witness to violence committed not by Nazis, but by her own neighbors—the film reveals a powerful story of love, betrayal, and moral reckoning. Tickets are $10 and available at jengos.eventive.org.

Nested Walking Meditation
2026-01-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Nested Walking Meditation with Kelly Purcell, RYT200
Thursday, January 29 | 6:30 – 7:30 PM
CAM Courtyard
FREE with registration – $5 donation appreciated
Experience a peaceful, immersive walking meditation among the glowing nests of Meredith Connelly’s Nested: Where Light Gathers and Nature Holds installation in the CAM Courtyard. Guided by Wilmington Yoga instructor Kelly Purcell (RYT-200), this silent meditation includes a soothing sound bath of crystal singing bowls, designed to reset the nervous system and deepen awareness of neutral and positive sensations.
Participants will move slowly through the illuminated courtyard, reflecting and sharing on the interconnected nature of the artwork. As Kelly describes it, “Soak in the sounds and vibrations of the crystal singing bowls to support a deeper meditative experience as you enjoy and walk through the exhibition.”
While evenings can be chilly, fire pits will add warmth to this special outdoor experience.
REGISTER
Learn more about Nested: Where Light Gathers and Nature Holds exhibition here.
About the Instructor
Kelly Purcell is a certified yoga teacher and Community Resiliency Model® instructor who specializes in trauma-informed practices and sound healing. She creates supportive, grounded spaces that help students connect with their inner resilience through movement, breath, and crystal singing bowls. When she’s not teaching, Kelly enjoys reading, beach walks, live music, and time outdoors.

"Earth's Greatest Enemy" screening at Jengo's Playhouse
2026-01-31 12:00 - 16:00 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
Earth’s Greatest Enemy reveals a hidden truth rarely questioned in mainstream reporting: the role of the U.S. military as the world’s largest institutional polluter, tracing the link between war, empire, and ecological destruction. Drawing on powerful testimonies from veterans, scientists, and frontline communities, it uncovers how military operations poison ecosystems, accelerate global warming, and sacrifice the future for endless expansion. From Alaska’s melting glaciers to contaminated bases across the U.S. and toxic battlefields abroad, Earth’s Greatest Enemy delivers a provocative and unflinching examination of the untouchable institution playing an outsized role in the climate crisis.
Join us for the Film and Falafel Event!
12:30 PM: Social Hour with homemade Palestinian dishes including Falafel!
2:00 PM: Movie starts
There will be a post-screening discussion with the director, Abby Martin, DSA and the Cultural Committee of Palestine Coalition.

Floating Lantern Ceremony
2026-02-01 15:00 - 19:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
The Floating Lantern Ceremony has been rescheduled
New Date: February 1, 2026, 3 – 7 PM
Free Outdoor Event | Discounted Admission to the Galleries All Day
Join us for CAM’s annual Floating Lantern Ceremony on Sunday, February 1, for a beautiful evening of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. Participants can create and design a floating lantern to be placed in our Reflection Pond, all while enjoying live music, food, and drinks.
The ceremony will take place around CAM’s serene Reflection Pond, with live music and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Lantern decorating supplies will be available at our Pancoe Education Center, and CAM Café will offer hot chocolate, beverages, and light food service throughout the evening.
Create your own floating lantern to honor a loved one, celebrate a special moment, or simply find peace in the act of reflection. We all have our reasons to create a Floating Lantern… what’s yours?
Please note that gallery admission applies to all indoor exhibitions, but the Floating Lantern Ceremony is free for all. Come share this meaningful experience with us!
Museum Admission:
10 AM- 7 PM: Galleries open; Discounted Admission: $5 for adults and children 12 & above
Ages 12 & under are free
Lantern Sleeves:
Before February 1, 2026:
Available to purchase at CAM Visitor Services during regular hours.
$20 (CAM Members: $15)
Day of event: $20.
Enjoy 20% off CAM memberships on 2/1/26.
Thank you for helping us keep our pond clean! Please do not attach plastics or other non-paper materials to your lantern sleeve. We strive to keep this event environmentally safe.
How to Make and Float a Lantern:
1. Purchase a lantern sleeve.
2. Take home and make it special with your own materials – crayons, markers, pencils – or bring your sleeve to CAM on February 1 and use CAM’s supplies. Remember someone special or express your gratitude or create a wish. It’s a great activity to share with friends and family.
3. Bring your personalized sleeve to CAM on February 1 and assemble on CAM-supplied floating base.
4. Walk your decorated lantern to CAM Reflection Pond for lighting and floating.
5. Savor the moment.
SCHEDULE
• Sunday, February 1, 2026:
10 AM-7 PM: Galleries open; Discounted Admission: $5 for adults and children 12 & above.
Ages 12 & under are free
Regular Brunch Menu 10 AM-2 PM & Full-Service Bar available inside at CAM Café
3-7 PM: Light Bites Menu and Refreshments from CAM Café available outdoors.
3-7 PM: Trolley available. Overflow parking is located at the Barclay Center at Independence Blvd., across from Museum Drive.
3-6:45 PM: Lantern decorating in Pancoe
3-5 PM: Live music at Pancoe porch by Royce Williams, Keyboards
4-6 PM: Live music (near pond) by Josh Youse, Guitar, and Perry Smith, Drums
5 PM: Lantern Floating Begins. 5 gongs for official launch start time (Sunset 5:21 PM)
5-6:45 PM: Lighting and floating of lanterns at CAM Reflection Pond
6-7 PM: Live music (near pond) by Dara Kahkonen, Flute
7 PM: Lantern Floating Ends. 7 gongs, official end time for Floating Lanterns
For any Accessibility requests, please contact Georgia Mastroieni at 910-726-9492 or georgia@cameronartmuseum.org
Service animals only.
Thank you to Fox Wilmington for sponsoring the 2026 Floating Lanterns Ceremony.

Floating Lantern Ceremony
2026-02-01 15:00 - 19:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
The Floating Lantern Ceremony has been rescheduled
New Date: February 1, 2026, 3 – 7 PM
Free Outdoor Event | Discounted Admission to the Galleries All Day
Join us for CAM’s annual Floating Lantern Ceremony on Sunday, February 1, for a beautiful evening of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. Participants can create and design a floating lantern to be placed in our Reflection Pond, all while enjoying live music, food, and drinks.
The ceremony will take place around CAM’s serene Reflection Pond, with live music and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Lantern decorating supplies will be available at our Pancoe Education Center, and CAM Café will offer hot chocolate, beverages, and light food service throughout the evening.
Create your own floating lantern to honor a loved one, celebrate a special moment, or simply find peace in the act of reflection. We all have our reasons to create a Floating Lantern… what’s yours?
Please note that gallery admission applies to all indoor exhibitions, but the Floating Lantern Ceremony is free for all. Come share this meaningful experience with us!
Museum Admission:
10 AM- 7 PM: Galleries open; Discounted Admission: $5 for adults and children 12 & above
Ages 12 & under are free
Lantern Sleeves:
Before February 1, 2026:
Available to purchase at CAM Visitor Services during regular hours.
$20 (CAM Members: $15)
Day of event: $20.
Enjoy 20% off CAM memberships on 2/1/26.
Thank you for helping us keep our pond clean! Please do not attach plastics or other non-paper materials to your lantern sleeve. We strive to keep this event environmentally safe.
How to Make and Float a Lantern:
1. Purchase a lantern sleeve.
2. Take home and make it special with your own materials – crayons, markers, pencils – or bring your sleeve to CAM on February 1 and use CAM’s supplies. Remember someone special or express your gratitude or create a wish. It’s a great activity to share with friends and family.
3. Bring your personalized sleeve to CAM on February 1 and assemble on CAM-supplied floating base.
4. Walk your decorated lantern to CAM Reflection Pond for lighting and floating.
5. Savor the moment.
SCHEDULE
10 AM-7 PM: Galleries open; Discounted Admission: $5 for adults and children 12 & above.
Ages 12 & under are free
Regular Brunch Menu 10 AM-2 PM & Full-Service Bar available inside at CAM Café
3-7 PM: Light Bites Menu and Refreshments from CAM Café available outdoors.
3-7 PM: Trolley available. Overflow parking is located at the Barclay Center at Independence Blvd., across from Museum Drive.
3-6:45 PM: Lantern decorating in Pancoe
3-5 PM: Live music at Pancoe porch by Royce Williams, Keyboards
4-6 PM: Live music (near pond) by Josh Youse, Guitar, and Perry Smith, Drums
5 PM: Lantern Floating Begins. 5 gongs for official launch start time (Sunset 5:21 PM)
5-6:45 PM: Lighting and floating of lanterns at CAM Reflection Pond
6-7 PM: Live music (near pond) by Dara Kahkonen, Flute
7 PM: Lantern Floating Ends. 7 gongs, official end time for Floating Lanterns
For any Accessibility requests, please contact Georgia Mastroieni at 910-726-9492 or georgia@cameronartmuseum.org
Service animals only.
Thank you to Fox Wilmington for sponsoring the 2026 Floating Lanterns Ceremony.

46th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival
2026-02-05 19:30 - 2026-02-07 00:00 | Hotel Ballast, 301 N Water St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
One of the oldest Traditional Jazz Festivals in the country, the North Carolina Jazz Festival celebrates its 46th anniversary on Feb. 5, 6, &7, 2026. The event is held in the ballroom of the Hotel Ballast in Wilmington, NC, and features internationally renowned musicians from the US, Australia and Italy.
Thursday Night Showcase
Our Special Even night opens with the Benny Hill Quartet, with Benny Hill on sax, Bradd Merritt on piano, Doug Irving on bass, and John Hill on drums.
The main event for the evening showcases Noel Freidling and Maria Howell, who define chemistry, musically breathing as one as they explore and re-interpret some of the best musis of the last 80 years.
The evening will close with some of our weekend All-Stars in a Traditional Jazz Jam.
Friday and Saturday Nights
We continue our celebration with 14 All-Star Musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. The All-Star lineup includes:
Ehud Asherie and Rossano Sportiello, pianoPa
Herman Burney and Bradi Disterheft, bass
Adrian Cunningham and Chloe Feoranzo, reeds
Kevin Dorn and Chuck Redd, percussion
Wycliffe Gordan and Dion Tucker, trombone
Bruce Harris and Ben Polcer, trumpet
Nate Najar, guitar
Jonathan Russell, violin
Patron Brunch
On Saturday from 10:30 AM until 2:00 PM we treat our patrons to a musical brunch, when our All-Star musicians play for their pleasure. The last hour will include a Jam session when patrons who are musicians can play with the All-Stars.

Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express
2026-02-06 19:30 - 2026-02-15 14:00 | Historic Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, 28401
Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express
https://www.thalianhall.org/tact-murder-26
Showtimes
Dates: Friday February 6, 2026 – Sunday February 15, 2026
Friday – Saturday Time: 7:30 pm
Sunday Time: 2:00 pm
Location
Main Stage Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut St.
By Agatha Christie, Ken Ludwig’s clever adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic boasts all the glamour, intrigue, and suspense of Dame Agatha’s celebrated novel, with a healthy dose of humor to quicken the pace. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.

Rising Stars Opening Weekend
2026-02-07 10:00 - 2026-02-08 17:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Celebrate the creativity of Southeastern North Carolina’s young artists during the opening weekend of the Rising Stars student art exhibition at Cameron Art Museum.
Rising Stars, organized in collaboration with schools across the eight-county radius we serve, showcases the exceptional talent of high school students in Southeast North Carolina. Join us in celebrating the creativity and innovation in our schools!
Participating students and their families can enjoy free museum admission throughout the run of the exhibition.
OPENING RECEPTION
A reception for student artists and their families will be held on February 7 from 11 AM-2 PM. During the opening reception, exhibiting students and their families are invited to explore the galleries and view the varied responses to the natural world by contemporary North Carolina artists. Enjoy hands-on art activities inspired by historical landscape painters and complete a mini masterpiece to take home.

VIVALDI’S THE FOUR SEASONS
2026-02-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Wilson Center Cape Fear Community College, 703 N 3rd St, Wilmington, 28401
“Step into the vivid, ever-changing world of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra’s third Classics Series concert of 25/26 Season—an evening that blends baroque brilliance with virtuosic flair. This concert also features Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C Major.
We are thrilled to welcome two extraordinary guest artists from Boston’s renowned Handel and Haydn Society: Aisslinn Nosky, Concertmaster, and Guy Fishman, Principal Cellist. With Nosky leading Vivaldi’s beloved masterwork from the violin, audiences will experience the iconic concertos as both timeless and newly alive, rich with character, color, and seasonal storytelling.
Complemented by a program that celebrates baroque elegance and vibrant textures, this performance promises a night of exhilarating musicianship and deeply moving interpretation.”

Jazz at CAM: Keith Davis Trio
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Thursday, February 12 | 7 PM
Join us for Jazz at CAM as we present the Keith Davis Trio!
Experience the elegance and swing of a jazz pianist who has shared the stage with legends from Wallace Roney to Donald Byrd. Backed by his seasoned trio, Keith Davis delivers expressive originals, inventive takes on jazz classics, and the kind of interplay that can only come from true musical knowledge and experience.
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.
TICKETS
CAM Members: $40
Not-Yet Members: $60
Students and Educators: $15
ABOUT THE MUSICIAN/GROUP
During his 40-year career as a professional musician, Keith Davis has established a distinguished reputation as a jazz pianist, composer, and educator. He has toured with the Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw orchestras, and with Matt “Guitar” Murphy (Blues Brothers). Other appearances have included performances with musical greats David “Fathead” Newman, Ben Riley, Donald Byrd, Mike Mainieri, Pat LaBarbera, Jeff Hirshfield, Jamie Baum, Joel Spencer, Wallace Roney, Javon Jackson and Rakalam Bob Moses, among others.
Keith studied with Atlanta jazz legend Ted Howe and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, at which time he studied with renowned saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. His participation in the 1985 Banff Summer Jazz Workshop in Banff, Alberta, Canada included intensive study with such greats as Dave Liebman, Dave Holland, John Abercrombie, Don Thompson, Kenny Wheeler and Cecil Taylor. He served on the faculty of the Brevard College Summer Jazz Workshop from 1998 through 2001 with guest artists including Conrad Herwig, Byron Stripling, Ronnie Cuber, and Wycliffe Gordon. In September of 2017 he was inducted into the Coastal Jazz Hall of Fame at the Savannah Jazz Festival, where he also performed with renowned saxophonist Javon Jackson and bandmates Delbert Felix and Quentin Baxter.
Keith regularly performs throughout the Southeast, operating from his home base of Greenville, SC, where he hangs out with his two beautiful sons and many friends. He serves as adjunct instructor of jazz piano at Furman University and teaches privately around Greenville. He performs regularly with his trio partners Ron Brendle on bass and Justin Watt on drums, as well as appearing in many engagements as a solo pianist and others as a freelancer. As well as appearances as a sideman on recording projects, Keith has released three CDs of original music. His latest, the second offering by his trio, is entitled “But Were We” and was released in December 2019. His solo piano project “Presence” was released in 2014 and “Still”, by the Keith Davis Trio, was released in 2013.
Keith also practices and teaches Hunyuan Chen Style Taiji, created by Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang. His teachers are Master Wang Fengming and Master Yang Yang.

"Homegrown" screening at Jengo's Playhouse
2026-02-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
On President’s Day, experience a gripping and unflinching documentary that places viewers at the center of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Constructed from intense close-up footage, the film captures the chaos, emotion, and consequences of a day that reshaped American democracy.
Homegrown captures three Trump supporters from different backgrounds, who unite to campaign across America in 2020, advocating for his re-election while laying foundations for what they hope will be a long-lasting political movement.

TACT Auditions: Wizard of Oz
2026-02-16 19:00 - 2026-02-17 21:00 | NC
Thalian Association Community Theatre will hold auditions for their annual Azalea Festival Show, The Wizard of Oz, on February 16 and 17 at 7 pm. Auditions will be held at the Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street in downtown Wilmington. The production, directed by Sam Chappell, runs April 10 through April 19 at Thalian Hall.
Please prepare 30 seconds (16 bars) of a musical theatre song to sing during the audition.
You may bring sheet music if you prefer, but it is not mandatory. An accompanist on piano will be provided.
Audition sign-up will begin January 16th.
PLEASE CALL 910-251-1788 TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TIME.
Callbacks will be February 18 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:
Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. The timeless tale, in which young Dorothy Gale travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz, continues to thrill audiences worldwide.

Fisk Jubilee Singers
2026-02-20 19:30 - 21:30 | UNCW Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403, Wilmington, NC, 28036, United States
Experience the rich harmonies and powerful legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the world-renowned ensemble preserving over 150 years of history through the soul-stirring tradition of Negro Spirituals.
Fisk University opened in Nashville in 1866 as the first American university to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.” Five years later the school was in dire financial straits. George L. White, Fisk treasurer and music professor then, created a nine-member choral ensemble of students and took it on tour to earn money for the University. The group left campus on October 6, 1871. Jubilee Day is celebrated annually on October 6 to commemorate this historic day.
The first concerts were in small towns. Surprise, curiosity, and some hostility were the early audience responses to these young black singers who did not perform in the traditional “minstrel fashion.” One early concert in Cincinnati brought in $50, which was promptly donated to victims of the notorious 1871 fire in Chicago. When they reached Columbus, the next city on tour, the students were physically and emotionally drained. Mr. White, in a gesture of hope and encouragement, named them “The Jubilee Singers,” a Biblical reference to the year of Jubilee in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 25. Continued perseverance and beautiful voices began to change attitudes among the predominantly white audiences. Eventually skepticism was replaced by standing ovations and critical praise in reviews. Gradually they earned enough money to cover expenses and send back to Fisk.
In 1872 they sang at the World Peace Festival in Boston and at the end of the year President Ulysses S. Grant invited them to perform at the White House. In 1873 the group grew to eleven members and toured Europe for the first time. Funds raised that year were used to construct the school’s first permanent building, Jubilee Hall. Today Jubilee Hall, designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Department of Interior in 1975, is one of the oldest structures on campus. The beautiful Victorian Gothic building houses a floor-to-ceiling portrait of the original Jubilee Singers, commissioned by Queen Victoria during the 1873 tour as a gift from England to Fisk.

5th Annual Invitational Joy of Art Show and Sale
2026-02-21 - 2026-02-22 | UNCW Burney Center
Art show and sale

Living History Day
2026-02-21 10:00 - 17:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Free Event | 10 AM – 5 PM | Reception Hall, Galleria, Grounds | *Gallery Admission Price Still Applies
Join us for Living History Day, an annual community event held on the anniversary of the Battle of Forks Road—an important Civil War battle that took place on the very grounds where Cameron Art Museum stands today. Commemorating the 161st anniversary, the day features living history presentations, family activities, and engaging lectures by USCT Historian Jerilyn James Lee and author and historian David Cecelski.
Bring the whole family! This day is centered on learning, reflection, and community through hands-on family activities, lectures by guest speakers, and historical reenactments. Drop-in any time! Lectures are free with registration — more info below.
We invite you to spend this historic day learning more about the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and the lasting significance of this battle.
Lectures (Free with Registration):
–1PM at Boundless: Join David Cecelski as he speaks on topics from his book, The Waterman’s Song: Slavery and Freedom in Maritime North Carolina and the Wilmington and Cape Fear area in his lecture, Freedom and the Sea: African American Life on the Cape Fear.
David Cecelski Lecture Registration
** The first 50 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of The Waterman’s Song.
–2PM: Jerilyn James Lee, USCT Historian, will present an illustrated lecture on the history of the USCT. Drawing on dozens of historical images, Jerilyn will highlight the courage, service, and claims to citizenship of USCT soldiers, NCOs, officers, cavalrymen, and U.S. Navy sailors.
Jerilyn James Lee Lecture Registration
$5 donations are suggested for the lectures.
– What was the Battle of Forks Road?
Occurring 161 years ago on Cameron Art Museum’s grounds, the Battle of Forks Road was a Civil War battle fought in 1865. Victory was won by the United States Colored Troops (USCT), leading to the fall of Wilmington.
The impact of the USCT is significant, yet their story is virtually unknown.
– What is Living History?
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time.
The history of the USCT and the Battle of Forks Road is brought to life by USCT reenactors from Battery B, some who were cast for the Boundless sculpture.
Through engaging demonstrations, visitors can learn more about camp life and daily experiences of the USCT from the 1860s.
– What is Boundless and the PNC USCT Park?
Boundless is a permanent sculpture by North Carolina artist Stephen Hayes honoring the legacy of the USCT and their fight for freedom.
The life-size figures were created using molds taken directly from the faces of 11 African American men with personal ties to this history—descendants, reenactors, veterans, and community leaders.
Boundless honors the USCT and their fight for citizenship and stands proudly on our museum grounds and as the centerpiece of this commemoration.
The PNC USCT Park is an award-winning park on CAM’s grounds. It is currently the only sculpture park in the nation
created to honor the United States Colored Troops and their fight for freedom.
About the Speakers:
David Cecelski has written several award-winning books and hundreds of articles about history, culture and politics on the North Carolina coast. His most recent book is The Fire of Freedom: Abraham Galloway and the Slaves’ Civil War (UNC Press, 2012). He divides his time between two places he loves deeply, Durham, N.C. and his family’s homeplace in Carteret County, N.C. His writing focuses passionately on telling stories from his little corner of the world that illuminate American history more broadly. Dr. Cecelski was recently the co-recipient (with Tim Tyson) of the N.C. Literary and Historical Association’s Crittenten Award for lifetime achievement.
Jerilyn Lee James, author of ‘The Kinship of War: Stories of the United States Colored Troops’ is a native of Chicago, Illinois and currently resides in Mount Olive, North Carolina with her husband Kenneth Lee. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Mount Olive with a B.S. in Business Administration and holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of Maryland in Organizational Management. She is a 2019 recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for service in North Carolina. Jerilyn is active within the Civil War community as a USCT historian and speaker, and creator of the Facebook page “Stories of the United States Colored Troops” with 8,000+ followers.
Photos taken by Alan Cradick

A Living Last Supper - FREE Concert!
2026-02-21 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-02-22 15:00 - 16:30 | 1416 Market Street, 1416 Market Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401-4999, United States
A Living Last Supper is a dramatic and poignant depiction of Jesus and his disciples on the night before his betrayal. Each disciple rises to share his thoughts upon learning that there is a traitor among them. The St. Andrews-Covenant Choir enhances this powerful narrative with music from the Lenten portion of Handel’s Messiah, creating an unforgettable Lenten experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a profound moment in history brought to life through music and drama.
*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 First-Come, First-Served basis.*

TACT Auditions: Hello! Dolly
2026-02-23 19:00 - 2026-02-24 21:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Thalian Association Community Theatre will hold auditions for the final show of their Main Stage Season, Hello Dolly!, Feb. 23rd & 24th at 7 pm. Auditions will be held at the Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street in downtown Wilmington. The production, directed by Chandler Davis with choreography by Candi and Stephen Terry, runs from May 15 through May 24 at Thalian Hall.
PLEASE CALL 910-251-1788 TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TIME.
Please prepare 30 seconds (16 bars) of a musical theatre style song to sing at the audition. You may bring sheet music if you prefer, but it is not mandatory. An accompanist will be provided.
Callbacks will be Feb. 25th at the Community Arts Center. If called back, please be prepared to dance, read from a provided script, and sing from the show.
Actors of all ethnicities are welcome and encouraged to audition for our entire season!
Please note: This rehearsal process is condensed so there will be occasional Sunday rehearsals.
Synopsis:
This musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s hit play The Matchmaker bursts with humor, romance, energetic dance and some of the greatest songs in musical theatre history. The romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Gallagher Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker and “woman who arranges things,” are certain to thrill and entertain audiences again and again.
Dolly Levi: Matchmaker, widow, meddler, opportunist, life-loving, commanding, strong stage presence. Stage age: above 35 Vocal range: alto-soprano. Dance ability: some.
Horace Vandergelder: Well-known half-a-millionaire, widower, owns the Feed Store, gruff, set in his ways, authoritative. Stage age: 40+ Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: some.
Cornelius Hackl: Head clerk at the Feed Store, energetic, enthusiastic, and adventurous. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
Barnaby Tucker: Assistant to Cornelius at the Feed Store, naïve, energized, follower. Stage age: 17+ Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: medium.
Irene Molloy: Owns the Hat Shop, widow, beautiful, smart, fun-loving. Stage age: Vocal range: soprano. Dance ability: medium.
Minnie Fay: Irene’s assistant, naïve, straight-laced, fresh, follower. Stage age: 17+ Vocal range: mezzo-soprano. Dance ability: strong.
Ambrose Kemper: Struggling artist, good-natured, accommodating, wants to marry Ermengarde. Vocal range: tenor. Dance ability: strong.
Ermengarde: Horace’s niece, whining, high-strung, wants to marry Ambrose. Vocal range: any. Dance ability: strong.
Ernestina: Accommodating, good-time girl. Stage age: 30-45. Vocal range: any.
Rudy: Maître d of the Harmonia Gardens, proper, commanding. Stage age: 40-60. Vocal range: bass. Dance ability: some.
Mrs. Rose: Street vendor/Ensemble.
Ensemble: Looking for strong adult vocalists and/or dancers. Roles for 2-3 youth performers.

"Mr. Nobody Against Putin" screening at Jengo's Playhouse
2026-02-25 16:30 - 18:30 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film
Pasha Talankin is an unlikely hero—a beloved Russian primary school teacher, known as a mentor and prankster who offers students a safe haven in his office. After Russia invades Ukraine, Pasha’s role in the school changes dramatically as he is reluctantly drawn into Putin’s propaganda machine. Forced to promote state-sanctioned messages and horrified by the transformation of his school and community, he struggles with guilt and a sense of powerlessness, leading him to become an international whistleblower.
As the school’s videographer, Pasha documents intimate and revealing footage of Putin’s regime, capturing the rise of militarized children’s groups, repressive laws, fervent nationalism, and the recruitment of graduating students to fight in the war. When he learns his own life may be at risk, Pasha is forced to plan a dangerous escape from Russia.
Directed by David Borenstein and co-directed by Pasha Talankin, this uniquely collaborative film is as captivating and joyful as it is eye-opening and sobering. Mr. Nobody Against Putin showcases rare footage that reveals the profound impact of Putin’s regime on the lives of everyday Russians, particularly its children.
Second screening: Wed, Feb 25th, 7:00 PM

From Mountains to Sea: Artist Talk with Colton Klein
2026-03-01 14:00 - 14:30 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Sunday, March 1, 2 PM
Hughes Wing
CAM Members $10 | Not-Yet Members $15 | Students & Educators Free
Join Colton Klein, guest curatorial associate of From Mountains to Sea, for a gallery talk exploring how artists use creative expression to navigate environmental change in North Carolina and beyond. Discover how their paintings, photographs, sculptures, and installations reflect resilience and adaptability in the face of intensifying hurricanes, fires, and development. The talk will highlight how artists envision a collaborative future for our planet—one that embraces the mutual benefits of learning from and working with the natural world.
About Colton Klein:
Colton Klein is a PhD student in the History of Art and a Whitney Humanities Center Fellow in the Environmental Humanities at Yale University, where he studies the art of the United States with research interests in material and environmental histories. He guest curated the exhibition The Visionary Art of Minnie Evans (2025) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This exhibition features works on loan from the Cameron Art Museum and builds upon his article “The Turpentine State: Minnie Evans and North Carolina Ecologies”, that won First Prize at the 48th Annual Symposium at The Cleveland Museum of Art and was published in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s American Art journal.

WSYO CONCERT
2026-03-01 16:00 - 17:00 | UNCW Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403, Wilmington, NC, 28036, United States
Concert Sponsored by: Bob King Buick GMC • Jerry A. and Marilyn S. Cook Family Foundation • James E. Moore Insurance Agency • Decision Point Wealth Partners @ Rockefeller Global Family Office • Varnam Strings

Jazz at CAM: Lynn Grissett Quartet
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S 17th St, Wilmington, 28412
Join us for Jazz at CAM as we present the Lynn Grissett Quartet!
Expect a powerhouse performance from a trumpet virtuoso who has toured the world with Prince’s New Power Generation and shared the stage with jazz greats like Branford Marsalis and Terri Lyne Carrington. Blending technical mastery with soulful expression, Lynn Grissett brings an electrifying mix of jazz tradition, funk energy, and genre-bending versatility to the stage.
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.
TICKETS
CAM Members: $40
Not-Yet Members: $60
Students and Educators: $15
ABOUT THE MUSICIAN
Born in Wilmington, NC, Lynn J. Grissett Jr. is a formally trained, dedicated musician whose first love is jazz but whose versatility spans all genres. A 2003 graduate of West Brunswick High School, he went on to earn his B.A. in Music Performance (Jazz Studies) from UNC Greensboro’s Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program and an M.M. in Music Performance (Jazz Studies) from North Carolina Central University, studying with Branford Marsalis, Robert Trowers, Dr. Ira Wiggins, Brian Horton, and Baron Tymas.
In addition to trumpet, Grissett is an accomplished saxophonist and has performed with an extraordinary roster of artists including Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers, Maceo Parker, Trombone Shorty, Marcus Anderson, the Marsalis family, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Max Weinberg. He is a longtime member of the New Power Generation Hornz, the horn section of Prince’s legendary band, appearing on Hit N Run Phase One & Two and touring internationally to festivals such as Montreux, North Sea, and Essence. His television appearances include Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Arsenio Hall Show.
From leading his own trio and quartet to performing with elite jazz ensembles, Grissett brings technical mastery, deep musicality, and an electrifying stage presence to every performance.

Viking River Cruise Raffle 2026
2026-03-07 - 2026-04-22 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Viking River Cruise Raffle 2026
Win the 8-Day Rhine or Danube River Excursion of Your Choice
Support Thalian Association Community Theatre
Value Up to $8198
Thalian Association Will Cover The Federal Taxes
TICKETS ARE $50 ONLY 750 WILL BE SOLD (odds are better than the lottery)
FREE COCKTAIL DRAWING PARTY April 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM sponsored by Viking & AAA
HANNAH BLOCK HISTORIC USO/COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN
Viking River Cruises are consistently voted Best River Cruise Line by USA today and British Travel Awards! Experience the best, a legendary Viking River Cruise courtesy of Viking and AAA ! A dream trip for two to the destination of your choice; Rhine Getaway, Romantic Danube, Danube Waltz, or Castles, Vineyards, & Villages. Cruise package includes one French Balcony Stateroom up to Category D, meals, shore excursions, and tours. Value up to $8198.00 and Thalian Association will pay the taxes! For information about river cruise destinations visit Viking River Cruises.
Rules and Regulations
Luxury Amenities & Services Included in Your Cruise Package!
We hope you can join us for the drawing party, April 22, 2026, 6:00 pm, at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. You do not need to be present to win. Your purchase will support our theatrical productions and youth arts education. Your ticket stubs will be mailed to your home and scanned to your email address.
Viking River Cruise Raffle
Win The Vacation Of Your Dreams – A Viking Rhine or Danube River Cruise! Support Thalian Association Productions & Youth Theatre Arts Education Programs Win your choice of an 8 day Rhine or Danube River Cruise Tickets are $50 & only 750 will be sold (what a deal)! Join us for the ticket drawing at a free cocktail party hosted by Viking Cruises and AAA April 22, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. You do not need to be present to win.

Guys and Dolls Sr Auditions
2026-03-10 17:00 - 2026-03-11 19:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Audition: Mar. 10 & 11, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, if needed callbacks will be March 12 at 5:00 pm
Call 910.341.7860 to schedule your audition
Location: 2nd Street Stage, HBHUSO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street
The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center will hold auditions for Guys & Dolls SR. March 10 and 11 at 5 pm. Auditions will be held at the Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street in downtown Wilmington. The production, directed by Laurene Perry with choreography by Lori Grace Wood, runs from June 5-7, 2026 at The Hannah Block Historic USO /Community Arts Center. Please prepare 30 seconds (16 bars) of a musical theatre style song to sing. You may sing acapella or use a karaoke track on your phone.
Audition sign-up will begin February 23rd. PLEASE CALL 910-341-7860 TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TIME.
Callbacks will be March 12 at the Community Arts Center. If called, please be prepared to dance, read from a provided script, and sing from the show.
Actors of all ethnicities over the age of 55 are welcome and encouraged to audition!

"Coexistence, My Ass!" screening at Jengo's Playhouse
2026-03-11 16:30 - 18:30 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up the literal poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a hard pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. But as the region sinks deeper into devastating violence, she must meet the moment by challenging her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter.
Second screening: Wed, Mar 11th, 7:00 PM
