The Owl and the Pussycat
by: Bill Manhoff
February 2-5, 9-12, 16-19
God's Favorite
by: Neil Simon
Cape Fear Playhouse, 613 Castle Street
February 13 & 14, 2012

Welcome to Big Dawg Productions

(click here for our home page)

Reservation line: (910) 367-5237

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Founded in 1995, Big Dawg Productions is a non-profit 501(c)(3) theater company committed to producing entertaining, thought-provoking, and socially responsible theater, with an emphasis on education and the promotion of the performing arts.

For our first 12 years we performed in rented spaces such as Thalian Hall’s Studio Theater, but in 2008, we decided we needed our own home, a place where we could build our sets in place, where the actors could rehearse in the same space they would be performing, and where we could store our sets, props and costumes.

We found that home at 613 Castle Street, site of the former Friendly’s Department Store in the heart of the Newcastle Art and Antiques District. Built around 1910, the building had been unused for several years, and after several months cleaning and renovating it for use as a theater, we opened in July of 2009 with our acclaimed production of A Thousand Clowns, and have reveled in our new space ever since.

Big Dawg Productions is committed to education, and to helping bring anyone of any age into the world of live theater. For most of the past 16 years, we have organized a New Play Festival, actively seeking new and original plays written by students aged 8-18. Through workshops conducted by local educators, the students hone their works and get them ready for production.

We also encourage local youth to participate as actors or backstage as theater technicians during the festival. Many of our young playwrights come back year after year to improve their skills and become better writers, and several have submitted their work to national competitions and have had their plays produced across the country.

In addition to our New Play Festival, every fall we present our Fall Classic - either a classic theatrical play or one adapted from classical literature. Past productions have included Moby Dick-Rehearsed by Orson Welles, The Scarlet Letter, The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail, Shadowlands and Of Mice and Men. We work with local teachers to integrate our productions into the school curriculum and invite students and teachers to attend at a discount.

So, as you can clearly see, Big Dawg Productions is not your average community theater company. Our mission goes beyond a commitment to providing leading-edge and critically acclaimed live theater. We also believe in education and outreach, and in ensuring that live theater is successfully woven into the very fabric of our society.


The Cape Fear Playhouse is part of the Newcastle Art & Antiques District in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.

Getting There

From Raleigh and I-95: Take I-40 east for about 120 miles, until you merge onto US-117 S/NC-132 S/N COLLEGE RD. After about 1.5 mi., turn RIGHT onto US-74 W/MARTIN LUTHER KING JR PKWY. After approximately 4.6 miles, this becomes N 3RD ST. Travel 1.5 mi., then turn LEFT onto CASTLE ST. Take a left into the parking lot at 613 Castle St.

From Charlotte: Take Highway #421 or Highways #74/#76 west and cross the Cape Fear River onto North 3rd St. Turn RIGHT onto CASTLE ST, and take a LEFT into the parking lot at 613 CASTLE ST.

From Pleasure Island: Take Highway #421 to Downtown Wilmington where it will turn into 3rd St. Turn RIGHT onto CASTLE ST, and take a LEFT into the parking lot at 613 CASTLE ST.

From Myrtle Beach: Take Hwy #17 N and cross the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge turn LEFT on south 3rd St. Turn RIGHT onto CASTLE ST, and take a LEFT into the parking lot at 613 CASTLE ST.

For more information about restaurants and accommodations (log on to the Cape Fear Coast convention and Visitors Bureau @ www.cape-fear.nc.us)

Need more help? Go to MapQuest.com

(To contact someone at Big Dawg, click on their name below.)

  • Ken Cressman
  • Doug Dodson