Thalian Association Community Theatre has recast one of its lead roles.
The Wilmington theater organization announced Thursday that Chandler Davis will take the stage as its new artistic director effective June 1.
Most recently, Davis served as managing director for City Stage Co. in Wilmington. Before that, she was stage manager for Roanoke Children’s Theatre and music director at Studio Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia, according to a news release from Thalian Association.
Davis earned a bachelor of arts degree in musical theatre and a minor in directing from Emory & Henry College.
Since coming to Wilmington, Davis has led a variety of theatre classes with Thalian Association Community Theatre’s youth academy, and also taught musical theatre classes at DREAMS of Wilmington as well as at TheatreNOW’s Musical Theatre Summer Camp, the release stated. She is an inaugural member of Wilma magazine’s Women to Watch Leadership Institute.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Chandler will be on our team,” Susan Habas, executive director of Thalian Association Community Theatre, said in the release. “Her experience, talent, management skills and energy are exceptional, and she shares our vision for what community theatre should and needs to be.”
Davis replaces David Loudermilk, who was named Thalian Association’s artistic director in April 2014. He told local media outlets May 2 he had been let go by the association.
Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit, membership organization whose productions take place in three venues: Thalian Hall, the Community Arts Center and the Red Barn Studio. Opening Thursday at Thalian Hall is the organization’s staging of the Tony-nominated British comedy Noises Off.
The Red Barn Studio is owned by actress Linda Lavin and her husband Steve Bakunas. In June 2013, the couple leased the 50-seat theater to Thalian Association on a rent-free basis for three years. Habas said Thursday that Lavin and Bakunas have extended the lease – on the same terms – until June 30, 2017. Thalian has planned a season of four productions at the Red Barn for 2016-17.
“We are very grateful to Linda and Steve and delighted to continue their tradition of staging complex dramas and comedies in the Red Barn, enhancing what community theatre can bring to Wilmington,” Habas said in an email Thursday afternoon.