Have you ever wanted to act, sing, and dance onstage but never had the time? Now is your chance! The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center (HBHUSO/CAC) is thrilled to launch Let’s Take The Stage — a new, free theatre program for adults aged fifty-five and over that celebrates creativity, connection, and the joy of performing. This exciting new initiative offers opportunities for older adults to engage in the performing arts community and take center stage, regardless of prior experience.
Launching with Guys & Dolls SR
The program’s inaugural production will be the classic musical comedy Guys & Dolls SR, directed by theatre veteran Laurene Perry. The show is part of Music Theatre International’s Broadway Senior Collection, which adapts beloved musicals to meet the needs and abilities of performers fifty-five and older — featuring accessible scripts and a lively 60-minute runtime.
There is no fee to participate, and everyone aged 55+ is invited to audition. Complete details, including audition notices and role descriptions, are available at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Free Workshops
Before auditions, choreographer Laurie Grace Wood will lead free dance and movement workshops Feb. 21 and Mar. 7 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM at the Community Arts Center. Workshops will focus on simple, accessible dance moves and performance techniques. These sessions will continue on a monthly basis and are open to all prospective performers. To register for workshops or auditions, call 910-341-7860.
Audition Information
Dates: March 10 & 11, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Callbacks (if needed): March 12, 5:00 PM
Location: 2nd Street Stage, HBHUSO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street
Video Submissions: Please call to sign up at 910-341-7860, Accepted via email at [email protected]
Participants should prepare 30 seconds (16 bars) of a musical theatre-style song to sing (a cappella or with a karaoke track). Dress comfortably and be ready to dance and read from provided script excerpts. All performers aged fifty-five and up, of all backgrounds and ethnicities, are warmly encouraged to audition.
To register for workshops or auditions, call 910-341-7860.
About the Show
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys & Dolls SR is a fast-paced, 60-minute romantic comedy following gamblers, showgirls, and dreamers in their hunt for love and luck. The musical includes iconic characters like Sky Masterson, Nathan Detroit, Sarah Brown, and Miss Adelaide, offering roles for a variety of talents and personalities. Full character breakdowns and details are available online at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Performance Details
- Run Dates: June 5 – 7, 2026
- Friday & Saturday: 7:30 PM
- Sunday: 3:00 PM
- Location: 2nd Street Stage, Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center
- Tickets: $15 (plus preservation fee & tax)
Available at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org or 910-341-7860
Synopsis:
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls SR. is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls SR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong – all in 60 minutes!
Sky Masterson: Sky Masterson is the quintessential, “smooth-as-velvet”
Broadway gambler; he is slick and charming. In today’s terms he would be
called “a player.” Sky should have a strong voice capable of owning the stage
when delivering “Luck Be a Lady.” He has a soft spot for Sarah Brown.
Nathan Detroit: Nathan Detroit is the heart and soul of Guys And Dolls JR.
Nathan’s big secret is that he wants to marry Adelaide; he just cannot bring
himself to admit it.
Sarah Brown: Sarah Brown is the “girl next door” with an adventurous side
that is waiting to escape. She is gently authoritative, the mirror opposite of
Sky. Sky is her weakness. Sarah is about substance as much as Sky is about
style.
Miss Adelaide: Miss Adelaide is the classic “intellectually-challenged floozy.”
Nicely-Nicely Johnson: Nicely – Nicely Johnson is walking, talking, Broadway
comedy.
Rusty Charlie and Benny Southstreet: Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie
are the small-time gambler sidekicks of Nicely- Nicely Johnson.
Big Jule: Harry the Horse and Big Jule are colorful additions to the
crapshooters crew.
Harry The Horse: Harry the Horse and Big Jule are colorful additions to the
crapshooters crew.
Lt. Brannigan: Lt. Brannigan is the police officer that always plays the patsy
and is outwitted by the Gamblers. This is a non-singing role.
Master Of Ceremonies: The Master of Ceremonies is the host at the Hot Box
Club.
Arvide Abernathy: Arvide Abernathy is Sarah Brown’s grandfather and the
bass drum player in the Mission Band.
General Cartwright: General Cartwright is the formidable leader of the Save-a-
Soul Mission organization.
Mission Band: The Mission Band is the tireless group and serve as a contrast
to the gamblers and Hot Box dancers, representing purity, sobriety, and faith.
Hot Box Girls: The Hot Box Girls work in the club and are in the act “A Bushel
and a Peck” where Miss Adelaide is the headliner.
Gamblers/Guys: The Gamblers/Guys are the well-dressed “comic glue” of the
show, a variety of gamblers, pedestrians, and NYC workers.
Dolls: The Dolls are ensemble females that are not Hot Box girls or Mission
Band members.
Details:
Audition: Mar. 10 & 11, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, if needed callbacks will be March 12 at 5:00 pm
To sign up for auditions, please call 910.341.7860 starting January 19th, 2026
Show Dates and Times: June 5 – 7, 2026, Fri. – Sat. 7:30 pm, Sun. 3:00 pm
Location: 2nd Street Stage, HBHUSO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd Street
Tickets: Available at www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org or 910-341-7860
Price: $15 plus preservation fee & tax
The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center is owned by the City of Wilmington and
managed by Thalian Association Community Theatre. The building is a historic and cultural treasure and has been the center of recreation and art for generations of local children. Today the building continues to be the home for children, art and recreation while serving as a mini museum of the Wilmington and New Hanover County WWII home front. For information about the building history, special events and rentals, go to www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to enhancing the Cape Fear region through live community theatre and arts education. Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall and manages the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington. The youth theatre program offers training and performance opportunities for children ages seven through high school seniors. In 2007, Thalian Association Community Theatre was designated North Carolina’s Official Community Theater by the state legislature. For more information, go to www.thalian.org.
Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desks and Oliviers. Frequently revived, the show has been done with numerous all-star casts, including productions/concerts featuring Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Jessica Biel. Performers 55+ can now join this illustrious group in Guys and Doll SR!
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls SR. is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls SR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong – all in 60 minutes!