Key Takeaways
- The Wilmington area is hosting various entertainment options, including the relaunch of the historic Willis Richardson Players theater company with the production of "Purlie Victorious".
- A 40th-anniversary screening of the Wilmington-shot film "Blue Velvet" will take place at Thalian Hall.
- The 161st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher will be commemorated with living history displays, artillery demonstrations, and family activities.
- Live music performances will be held throughout the weekend, featuring various genres and artists.
- Visual art exhibitions, including "Living Waters" and "In Search of Memory", will be on display at local galleries.
Introduction to the Weekend’s Events
It’s shaping up to be a pretty epic weekend in the Wilmington area, with lots of intriguing entertainment options. For starters, a historic Wilmington theater company is back on the boards after a hiatus of more than six years. The Willis Richardson Players, which formed in 1975 to perform plays about the Black experience, presents "Purlie Victorious," the 1961 comedy by Ossie Davis about the Rev. Purlie Victorious Judson, who returns to his home in rural Georgia to claim his inheritance and challenge a racist plantation owner.
Theater and Comedy
The Willis Richardson Players’ production of "Purlie Victorious" will take place at Thalian Hall from January 16-18. Multi-time Wilmington Theater Awards winner Fracaswell Hyman directs the play. In addition to the theater production, comedian Ahamed Weinberg will perform at the Dead Crow Comedy Room on January 16-17. Weinberg has appeared on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and opened for such comics as Shane Gillis and Hasan Minhaj.
Film Screenings
A 40th-anniversary screening of the Wilmington-shot film "Blue Velvet" will take place at Thalian Hall on January 16. The film, directed by David Lynch, hit theaters in 1986 and features lots of Wilmington locations. Another film screening will take place on January 16-17, featuring David Lynch’s 1977 debut "Eraserhead". The film is an impressive, if unsettling, piece of work, and is not for the faint of heart.
Live Music
Live music performances will be held throughout the weekend, featuring various genres and artists. On January 16, a free concert will take place at the Cape Fear Community Center Wilson Center, featuring Wilmington bands Churchyard Ghost, Kicking Bird, and Tercel. Other live music performances will include Petty Rewind, a Tom Petty tribute band, on January 16 at Bowstring, and The Warped Band, an official tribute band of the hard-rocking Warped Tour, on January 17 at Bowstring.
Historic Site Commemoration
The 161st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher will be commemorated on January 17 at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site. Activities will include living history displays, artillery demonstrations, and family activities. Guided tours will also be available for a fee.
Visual Art and Exhibitions
Visual art exhibitions will be on display at local galleries throughout the weekend. On January 18, artist R. Stein Wexler will talk about her peaceful, yet spooky and thought-provoking, immersive installation "Living Waters" at the Cameron Art Museum. Another exhibition, "In Search of Memory", will feature work by Wilmington artists Angela Rowe and Karen Paden Crouch at the Art in Bloom Gallery.
Other Events
Other events taking place throughout the weekend include a Bowie & Elvis birthday dance party on January 17 at Satellite Bar and Lounge, and a 5th-anniversary celebration at Hi-Wire Brewing on January 17, featuring a full day of free music. The Wilmington Symphony will also present its annual Young People’s Concert on January 18 at the CFCC Wilson Center, designed for kids age 6 and up.
