Main Stages

Stage

Presence

By Fritts Causby

Shows at Live Oak Bank Pavilion and the Wilson Center have upped the area’s entertainment ante in recent years.

photo by T.J. Drechsel

REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin at Live Oak Bank Pavillion during the 2022 Azalea Festival

The Wilson Center and Live Oak Bank Pavilion are consistently bringing high-level talent to Wilmington. Now, it’s no longer a necessity to find a vacation rental or hotel in a far-away city if seeing live acts such as Widespread Panic, ZZ Top,

Diana Ross, The Doobie Brothers or touring

Broadway productions is the goal. “Without question, the Wilson Center and

Live Oak Pavilion have elevated the arts in

Southeastern North Carolina, offering unique experiences in two unique settings,” said

Rhonda Bellamy, executive director of the

Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover

County. “The grandeur of the Wilson Center, coupled with an ambitious Broadway series and robust calendar of local and national acts, rivals cities several times our size.

Similarly, how many cities can boast having the Cape Fear River as the backdrop for a 7,200-seat amphitheater? Both facilities have helped establish our region as an arts destination.”

USHERING IN NEW SHOWS

Cape Fear Community College opened the Wilson Center, with more than 1,500 seats, in late 2015. Officials call it the most technologically advanced theater in the eastern part of the state.

“We are constantly reinvesting our earnings back into the building, to ensure that we can continue to offer the broadest range of talent possible, with the highest level of quality possible,” said Shane Fernando, vice president of advancement and the arts at CFCC.

The popularity of the comedy acts, musicians and theater performances may serve as an indication of the success of the venue.

A few highlights for the rest of 2022 include stops by well-known performers such as Pat Benatar, the Blue Man Group,

“Weird Al” Yankovic, Jason Isbell and Trombone Shorty. Musicals including Tootsie, On Your Feet and Anastasia make up this year’s touring Broadway slate, with crowd favorites Annie and The Book of Mormon slated for next spring.

With about 300 events a year, the Wilson Center’s schedule has returned to pre-pandemic levels. “Around 30 percent of our ticket sales were to buyers from out of town,” Fernando said.

“In just the first six months, we entertained guests from all 50 states and every continent except Antarctica.”

AMPHITHEATER ACTS

The $35 million Live Oak Bank Pavilion – paid for mostly by the city of Wilmington but including $4 million from venue manager Live Nation – opened with fanfare in July 2021 as the centerpiece of the city’s new Riverfront Park along the Cape Fear River.

The economic impact created by Live Oak Bank Pavilion, which celebrated its opening with three sold-out shows by Widespread Panic, has already been significant. The city receives $2 from each ticket sold at the 7,200-seat concert venue, as well as $200,000 in yearly rent from Live Nation. “We can’t wait to kick off our second season at Live Oak Bank Pavilion,” Live Nation general manager Ryan Belcher said. “This year’s lineup has something for everyone. We are featuring a wide range of genres.”

This year’s calendar is filled with top names such as Josh Groban, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Darius Rucker, My Morning Jacket, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats and more.

“We’re able to secure notable acts by leveraging our extensive industry and touring relationships while utilizing our knowledge of the region,” Belcher

Wilson Center shows: Trombone Shorty (from top left), 9 to 5, Legally BlondeThe Musical, and The Midtown Men

INSIDER’S CORNER

Nick & Deloris Rhodes

Nick and Deloris Rhodes have lived in Wilmington since 2001 after Deloris retired from Fairfax County Virginia Public Schools and Nick from the U.S. Air Force and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Locally, Deloris worked as assistant superintendent of schools in Pender County Schools, and both remain active in local organizations.

Hometowns: Lake Waccamaw and Riegelwood Why did you choose to retire here? “We chose Wilmington to retire because of the moderate climate, close proximity to family, the university, the airport, libraries, good medical services and the downtown area.”

What community activities are you involved in? Deloris: Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Davis Heath Care CenterThe Davis Community, Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW), WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative advisory board, Cape Fear Community College trustees and Landfall Foundation; Nick: 100 Black Men of Coastal Carolina mentorship program for minority youth, Child Development Center board, Kids Making It board, N.C. Agricultural Foundation board, New Hanover County Airport Authority board and Wilmington Downtown Rotary Club What do you recommend for others moving here who want to be involved with the community? “Wilmington has over 135 nonprofits in the area. Additionally, there are organizations that need the support and assistance of Wilmington-area retirees. Be open for new experiences and embrace differences and explore the unknowns.” Any restaurant picks? “Wilmington has so many outstanding restaurants. We love Blue Surf, True Blue, Caprice Bistro, Landfall Country Club and so many more!” Widespread Panic at Live Oak Bank Pavilion’s opening in 2021

photo by Michael Cline Spencer

said. “Wilmington is also a big draw for bands and live music fans.”

BEYOND THE HEADLINERS

While Live Oak Bank Pavilion and the Wilson Center are the largest and newest entertainment venues for the area, other stages from Thalian Hall to Brunswick Community College’s Odell Williamson Auditorium to UNCW’s Kenan Hall have been used for years to stage local productions and national names, just with smaller seating capacities.

The arts, Bellamy pointed out, have been an active part of the area.

In 2015, the arts council was the local organizing partner for an Arts & Economic Prosperity study on the county – before Wilson Center and the amphitheater factored in.

“We will launch the next study in May and update the numbers, which, in 2015, showed an economic impact of $55.8 million, supporting the fulltime employment of 2,076 jobs and generating $5.6 million in local and state tax revenues, not including the cost of admission,” Bellamy said about the impacts of arts and cultural organizations and audiences in New Hanover County.

Recognizing that the arts are not only a valuable economic driver but also a major cultural benefit to those who live in or visit the Wilmington area, Fernando and his team have worked to make the Wilson Center a lab for student learning.

“We focus on experiential, handson learning here,” he said.

It is not just about providing CFCC students with a chance to perform on stage. There are many roles, tasks and responsibilities that need to be taken care of to effectively pull off a show; graphic design, carpentry, welding, physical therapy, hair and makeup, set design and A/V management are just a few of the on-the-job learning opportunities provided to students. Each event requires a staff of about 200 to make it happen, and students always make up a portion of the crew.

“Our major focus is on providing access so students can learn,” Fernando said. “We waive the base rent for school systems, something that is very unusual for a touring house of our size.”