Community Calendar

Big Dawg Productions is pleased to announce their upcoming presentation of “A Ride Through the Country”, an original play by Wilmington favorite Ray Kennedy, directed by Holli Saperstein and Steve Vernon.
“A Ride Through the Country” will run July 10-13 and 17-20 at Thalian Hall’s Ruth and Bucky Stein Theater.

Tickets can be reserved by visiting the Thalian Hall website at : https://www.thalianhall.org/bdp-country-25

Tickets can also be reserved by calling the Thalian Hall Box Office at (910) 632-2285 on Mon. – Fri. from 12 to 5 pm.

In “A Ride Through the Country”, a lot can happen on a ride through Eastern North Carolina in the Spring!
This new dramedy by playwright Ray Kennedy explores friendship, love and hope. Sometimes funny and sometimes poignant, the play introduces you to characters who, with their humor and sense of nostalgia, paint a beautiful portrait of community, family, and courage in the face of adversity.

When Louie, the matriarch of her Southern family, finds herself having to travel 45 miles each way for her almost daily cancer treatments, her friends and family decide to go along for the ride, filling the time with memories, laughter, and conversations about the importance of Tupperware.

“A Ride Through the Country” is based on true events.

The play stars Greg King, Deb Gillingham, Jenny Wright, Erin Hunter, Elizabeth Michaels, Matthew Thomas-Reid, Cindy Colluci, Fracaswell Hyman, and Michelle Braxton.

Associate Producers Robert Zaytoun and Cyndi & Ron McNeil.

This will be one of two original productions presented by Big Dawg as part of our “Shop Local” summer season. Another locally written play, “Mercury” by Lee Lowrimore, will run Aug. 21-24 and 28-31.

For further details or questions, please contact Steve Vernon, Artistic Director of Big Dawg Productions, at:
svernonadbigdawg@gmail.com

Join us aboard Wilmington Water Tours for a Sunset Cruise with live, local music. This is a great way to end your day with a date or friends. We offer a full bar with refreshments and snacks for all ages. This is a 90 minute cruise, $40. Boarding 15 minutes prior. See link in our calendar for list of musicians. These cruises are Thursdays through Sundays until August 31st.

A monthly open mic variety show including area poets, musicians, artists, comedians, playwrights and more! Every 2nd Saturday at Bottega!

Saturday July 12th / 10pm-12am / No Cover
Shakey Graves Afterparty w/
Micah Kolk
https://linktr.ee/micahkolk
https://www.instagram.com/micahkolk/

The Burgwin-Wright House is pleased to welcome back Todd Lengyeltoti for his show “Power of Pigment.”

The Opening reception, in conjunction with Fourth Friday Gallery Nights, is on Friday, June 27 from 6-9PM.

His artwork will be on display and for sale in our art gallery through July 19. Admission is free. The gallery is open Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm.

From the Artist
“Pigment are the same color no matter how they are viewed, while structural color depends on the viewing angle and the result of selective reflection.”

As a mixed medium artist, my core spirit keeps me creating, especially with resin, acrylics and oil pigments. One of the wonderful things about living on the east coast is that there are so many pigments to draw from nature, from summer’s bright greens to vivid flowering flora in the Fall and Spring. However, I stay away from winter’s somber pigments of dull brown and grey!

That’s because bright pigments make me cheerful and are how I enjoy viewing the world. They remind me of the many wonderful people I have encountered throughout my life, and the magic of God’s creations. I would love for people to stop and take notice of the incredible natural and powerful pigments surrounding us on this globe we call home!

Experience the best of summer at Oceanic’s Summer Music Series, hosted on the historic Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach. Enjoy local bands every Thursday from 6–9 PM and Sunday afternoons from 12–3 PM.

Whether you’re dining or brunching by the sea, savor refreshing cocktails and soak up the relaxed coastal vibes. Don’t miss this unbeatable mix of live music, delicious food, and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean!

Discover the power of original art at "Faces, Figures, and Interiors" Exhibition and Sale. Each piece offers a unique story, crafted by the artist’s hand, bringing authenticity, emotion, and depth to your space. Buying original art supports living artists, enriches your environment, and connects you to a one-of-a-kind creative journey. Own something truly special.

Clarinetist Eric Schultz, with pianist Muriel Balzer, will perform works by Brahms, Debussy, Navarro, Revert, and Harberg at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 4 PM. Their dance-inspired program “Wanderlust” is free and the public is cordially invited. The church is located at 205 East Moore Street in Southport, North Carolina.

Eric Schultz is an American clarinetist equally in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, and interpreter of new music. He maintains an active concerto schedule performing with orchestras across the world and can be seen and heard from Netflix to National Public Radio. Hailed a “mastermind” in the Myrtle Beach Herald and a “pathfinder” by iconic composer Valerie Coleman, Schultz was selected as a quarterfinalist for the 2025 GRAMMY® Music Educator of the Year Award. He is an assistant professor of music at Coastal Carolina University.

Muriel Bennett Balzer, piano, has done extensive solo, chamber, and accompanying work throughout the United States. For many years she was the accompanist for international opera star, Miss Veronica Tyler. Ms. Balzer has taught piano and music theory at the Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Preparatory Department. She has been published in the Journal of Music Theory and has served as the Music Director of the Maryland Opera Society and pianist for the Washington Opera Educational Outreach Program. She is currently a staff pianist for Coastal Carolina University’s Department of Music.

Come aboard Wilmington Water Tours for our Sunset Cruise with Live, Local Music. Enjoy a relaxing time at the end of your day with a date or friends. Join us on our 49 passenger motor catamaran with comfortable seating. We offer a full bar with refreshments and snacks for all ages. This is a 90 minute cruise, $40. Boarding 15 minutes prior.

The Burgwin-Wright House is pleased to welcome back Todd Lengyeltoti for his show “Power of Pigment.”

The Opening reception, in conjunction with Fourth Friday Gallery Nights, is on Friday, June 27 from 6-9PM.

His artwork will be on display and for sale in our art gallery through July 19. Admission is free. The gallery is open Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm.

From the Artist
“Pigment are the same color no matter how they are viewed, while structural color depends on the viewing angle and the result of selective reflection.”

As a mixed medium artist, my core spirit keeps me creating, especially with resin, acrylics and oil pigments. One of the wonderful things about living on the east coast is that there are so many pigments to draw from nature, from summer’s bright greens to vivid flowering flora in the Fall and Spring. However, I stay away from winter’s somber pigments of dull brown and grey!

That’s because bright pigments make me cheerful and are how I enjoy viewing the world. They remind me of the many wonderful people I have encountered throughout my life, and the magic of God’s creations. I would love for people to stop and take notice of the incredible natural and powerful pigments surrounding us on this globe we call home!