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Our Mission To produce entertaining, thought-provoking, and socially responsible theater, with an emphasis on involving youth and the community in the performing arts. |
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Our History
Founded in 1995, our non-profit 501 (c)(3) theatre company, Big Dawg Productions, has been 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 moved to 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.
Founded in 1995, our non-profit 501 (c)(3) theatre company, Big Dawg Productions, has been 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 moved to 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.
Artistic Director, Steve Vernon.
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Steve brings with him over 20 years of experience in the Wilmington theatre community, including a decade as Artistic Director for BUMP Productions and 18 years with The Comically Impaired, Wilmington's longest running comedy improv troupe. He has directed, produced and acted in over 100 productions and is looking forward to developing strong ties to the wide array of talented artists that our community is so fortunate to have in its midst. |
14th Annual New Play Festival
Education and Big Dawg
Arts education is an integral part of Big Dawg Productions' mission. We, as a local theatre company, are committed to education and to helping bring anyone of any age into the world of live theater. For most of the past 17 years, we have organized a New Play Festival, actively seeking new and original plays written by students in grades 6-12 to give them a chance to showcase their work and to get a hands-on personal experience at professional local theatre. These students go through workshops conducted by local educators where 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.
Arts education is an integral part of Big Dawg Productions' mission. We, as a local theatre company, are committed to education and to helping bring anyone of any age into the world of live theater. For most of the past 17 years, we have organized a New Play Festival, actively seeking new and original plays written by students in grades 6-12 to give them a chance to showcase their work and to get a hands-on personal experience at professional local theatre. These students go through workshops conducted by local educators where 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 an adapted works from classical literature. We use these shows as a way to work with local teachers to integrate our productions into the school curriculum and invite students and teachers to attend at a discount. Past productions have included Moby Dick-Rehearsed by Orson Welles, The Scarlet Letter, The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail, Shadowlands, Of Mice and Men, Anne Frank, Our Award-winning Show The Lion In Winter. We will be continuing the Fall Classic series this year and reaching out to local schools for our show Tartuffe.
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.
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.
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Non-profit Theatre Company in Historic Downtown Wilmington
PO Box 507 Wilmington NC 28402 | (910) 367-5237 bigdawgpro@gmail.com |
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