WILMINGTON, N.C. — In 2023, Thalian Hall celebrated its 165th year. The hall, located in downtown Wilmington, has a rich history, operating to this day as both the city hall and a place for the performing arts.

What You Need To Know

  • Thalian Hall is used as a performing arts center as well as a government building for Wilmington
  • The hall was built in 1858
  • Thalian Hall is the only surviving theater designed by John Montague Trimble, one of America’s foremost 19th century theater architects
  • Thalian Hall's three venues annually host 422 events attended by nearly 80,000 people, a figure that has doubled in less than 20 years

Thalian Hall is described as magical by the interim executive director, Rob Zapple.

“You know, the fact over 165 years we've now been a part of the entire growth, not only of southeast North Carolina, but all of North Carolina. So I like to call it the magic of Thalia, who's the great muse of comedy from which we get the name Sallie and Hall. Her magic is with us. I'd say certainly on a weekly or even daily basis,” Zapple said. 

The hall itself was built in 1858 and is the only surviving theater designed by John Montague Trimble, one of America’s foremost 19th century theater architects. The hall's three venues annually host 422 events attended by nearly 80,000 people, a figure that has doubled in less than 20 years.

With Thalian Hall’s rich performing arts history, there are few performers that have been performing in the hall their entire life. This includes Kendra Goehring.

Kendra Goehring rehearsing at Thalian Hall. (Spectrum News 1)

Goehring is a mother, a teacher and an actress. After traveling around the world for the performing arts, Goehring is back home in Wilmington, returning to where her career started in Thalian Hall. She is one of the first children to start performing at the hall.

“You're standing on this stage, and you, you look out and you just see this expansive space, and the lights, and it almost feels like like you're, it's almost out-of-body experience,” Goehring described.

After her first performance, she says the acting bug bit her, and she decided to devote her life to the performing arts.

Her career has moved beyond just performing in shows. Now, she’s also a director and choreographer.

“To be a part of the creative process and to teach others how to create and teach others how to love and appreciate art,” Goehring said.

She takes part in putting on shows at Thalian Hall, which means many months of rehearsals. She says she has witnessed firsthand the magic of Thalian Hall through her performances.

The relationships between the performing arts and government of Wilmington and how they're sharing a space is why the performing arts has such strong support in the Wilmington area.

There are both performances and tours available to showcase the rich history of Thalian Hall.