Thalian Hall kicks off $25 million renovation project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A cornerstone of Wilmington’s arts scene for more than a century is set for a dramatic transformation, as Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts officially launched a $25 million renovation project Tuesday night.

Community members and local leaders gathered for a kickoff event that marked the start of the multi-year effort with a countdown and cheers for a project that will modernize the more than 160-year-old venue into a state-of-the-art performance and entertainment space.

The renovation will significantly expand the building’s footprint, doubling both its square footage and capacity. Plans include a larger front lobby, a new box office, and additional concessions stands.

Thalian Hall CEO Shane Fernando said the project will also repurpose historic spaces within the building, like the former Wilmington City Hall.

“This section will become what is called the Wilde Cat Club,” Fernando said. “And so this will be a live music venue. There will be a round rotating stage in the middle, will be featuring live music, mostly regional artists is what the focus will be.”

Meanwhile, the former City Council chambers will become the “Hippodrome,” an immersive theater space equipped with advanced technology capable of transforming the environment for performances.

“Imagine a theater company wants to perform in the Gobi Desert — at the press of a button, the floor turns to sand and you have a 360-degree desert horizon around you,” Fernando said. “There is no space like this in the American South.”

Upgrades are also planned for the historic main stage, including new seating, improved lighting, sound systems, and other technical enhancements.

Fernando said community support has been key to the project reaching this point.

“When she was 12 years old, the hall had her first renovation, and that community at the time lifted her to the next generation. The community has always been here, every generation has lifted her and so now it’s our turn to lift her to the next generation and get her ready.”

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said the renovation reflects broader growth across the region’s cultural landscape.

“It shows the growth of our region to have the amphitheater, the Wilson Center, the new museum and library and now the expansion of Thalian,” Saffo said. “It is growing, it is popular.”

Thalian Hall is expected to remain open during construction, with the project slated for completion in 2028.