155th SEASON Castings Now Complete For “Accent On Youth ” old character actor, is to be play ed by R. W. Cantwell, while L. W. Preston takes the part of Flogdell. a remarkable butler. Gordon Do ran is cast as "Chuck,” an ath letic friend .of Dickey’s. Brought to Wilmington in 1938 as a member of the Federal Theater Froject's program to encourage the art of little theaters, Mr. Ganstier was director of the Thalians’ ac tivities for four seasons, produc ing, among other plays. "Stag* Door,” “Stop Thief.” "Room Serv ire,” “Children of the Moon,” "The Late Christopher Bean,” and “Pen ny Wise.” Besides “Accent on Youth.” the Thalians plan to produce at least four more major plays during the coming season, together with sev eral workshop plays. The four ad ditional major plays will probably be chosen from the following list, now under consideration by t h e Eoard of Directors: "Claudia.” "Watch On the Rhine,” “Life With Father.” “Arsenic and Old Lace." "Our Town,” “Family Portrait," "Angel Street, ’ “Kiss and Tell,” and “The Women.” I THALIAN SEASON TICKETS ON SALE AT THE FOLLOWING PLACES , HUGGINS, JEWELERS WILL REHDER, FLORIST HONNET 1867 i . B. GURR, JEWELER FOY-ROE & CO. BEULAH MEIER DRESS SHOP KINGOFF’S FRIENDLY RESTAURANT-CAFETERIA SAUNDERS THE WILMINGTON FURNITURE CO. I BELK’S—MEN’S DEPT. ALBERT PERRY, INSURANCE ST. JOHN’S TAVERN U. S. 0.—2ND & ORANGE STS. TODD FURNITURE CO. MADEMOISELLE SHOPPE THALIANS BEGAN HERE IN 1788 By MARTHA JOHNSON KAPLAN World War II has brought no final curtain for the Thalians, Wil mington’s historic Little Theater group; rather, it has resulted in redoubled efforts to provide relax ation and inspiration to a people weary of the grim realism of the times. Few organizations can trace their history in the misty past quite so accurately as can the Thalians. In 1788, a small group ol Wilmington men organized an amateur dramatic club called “The Thalian Association,” now recog nized as the oldest Little Theater group in America. It was in Wil mington, too, that Thomas Godfrey wrote the first American tragedy, “Prince of Parthia.’’ Among the early Thalian actors were judges, doctors, army offi cers, a bank president, a govern or, and a man who later be came a bishop. They produced, among other things, “The School For Scandal,” “Hamlet,” “She Stoops to Conquer,” and “Richard III.” It was customary in those times, for male actors to assume the roles of female characters in plays, and the Wilmington theater again pioneered in 1830, when it introduced women actresses on its stage. Professional as well as amateur performances were given in Thai tan Hall, with Joseph Jefferson managing a stock company which played there for two seasons. Among 1he great .figures of the stage who appeared here were Janashek, the Polish actress, Sa vini, the great Italian actor, Rich ard Mansfield, Mary Anderson, and in later years, Maude Adams, Naz imova and Robert Mantell. For two years, the Thalians worked under the direction of John F. -Sollers of Baltimore, producing, among other things, O’Neill’s "In the Zone,” “Cock Robin,” and Sut ton Vane’s "Outward Bound.” In 1931, Miss Hazel Skirven of Bal timore, directed “Poor Dear Moth er,” a comedy by Stewart Gib son. Mapy of the Thalians' plays for the next few years were di rected by the members them selves; taking a hand in the di recting were Mrs. Herbert Blue thenthal. Mary Louise Hoffman, Mrs. B. M. Washburn, Louise Dick. Mbs. Hugh McRae Ann Mil WORKSHOP GIVES GROUP GUIDANCE Under the new leadership of Mi chael P. Walker, the Workshop di vision of the Thalian Associatior is providing instruction, guidance and encouragement to anyone in terested in any phase of play pro duction. It is the purpose of this organi zation to teach to beginners the fundamentals of stage craft and little theater work, with no mone tary obligation on the part of those receiving the instruction. Directior is given, not only in acting, bul in stage conduct, play revision, lighting, make-up, and (he techni cal aspects of back-stage work. This auxiliary Thalian group work! largely with one-act plays, read irigs, and short poems. Another function of the workshop theater is to provide a sort of talent pool from which the Thalian Association may draw for their major produc tion?. Although he has been an active member of the Thalian Associatior for several years, this is Mr. Wal ker’s first year as head of the Workshop Theater. -Sgt. B. R. Par ker. Harvard graduate, and pro fessional movie director, is ir charge of classes and actual di rection of the workshop plays. Instruction in stage mechanics will be given by members of ti e Wilmington Stage Mechanics ana Motion Picture Opeiators Organi zation, and lectures will be com bined with actual experience with stage equipment. Meetings of the workshop or, Tuesday and Thursday nights a( St. James Parish Hall are open to everyone. ton, and Emma Bellamy William son. A reviewer whimsically call ing himself “A Minor Character.” reports that “a noble and perse vering gi-oup of, amateur artists struggled with the double edged and difficult incantations of Oscax Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ until it evolved into a polished production.” To open the 1933-34 season, the Thalians presented a play "Love Is Not All” wxitten by lessie Reh der, Wilmington’s own playwright. This same year, the association took a play of Essex Dane’s “When (he Whirlwind Blows” (o the an (Continucd on Page Seventeen) Castings are now complete and rehearsals underway for the Thal ians’ first production of the 1943-44 season, “Accent on Youth,” a com edy by Samson Raphaelson. How and P. Ganstier, will direct the play which was a sucessful Broad way production in 1934, starring Herbert Marshall and Sylvia Syd ney. “Accent on Youth” is the story of playwright Steven Gaye. 50-odd, who departs from comedies which have made him famous, to write a tragedy about an old man who loves a young girl. With his play barely completed, Gaye becomes himself the reai-iife counterpart of the old man in his play, when he falls in love with his 26-year-old secretary. Playwright Gaye will be portray- ( ed by Howard P. Ganstier, while Mary Pray Conun takes the role of Linda Brown, the secretary. Youthful actor Dickie Reynolds will be played by Guerard Simkins. Juanita English has been cast as actress Genevieve Lang, and Lelia Ellis Corbin as Miss Darling, an other actress. Frank Galloway, an I IIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIlimi""'........ ' mi »+i 11 m i i„h. M I TODD I | FURNITURE (0. 1 + • • ss: 215 S. Front bt. Phone 6787 !! EE i + ii I • • I I SIm \ ! BUY YOUR 1 1 : * :: = ! l THALIAN ASSOCIATION ii I » + ' 1 sus I t SEASON TICKETS ii I • fj» • » — I i here I | I \ 4* ii | Buy Your THALIAN Ticket Here! A HOLIDAY GIFT THAT WILL DELIGHT A WOMAN’S HEART. LOVELY FLOWERS Enhance this Thanksgiving gaiety with a gift of lucious chrysanthemums. We have them in gorgeous full hloom. Ato other flowers in season including potted plants . , . corsages.,. roses... etc. • ' Will Rehder YOUR FLORIST ( - 121 & St. Opposite Postoffice Phone 7178 Now Is The Time To Select Your duality Gift Suggestions * fitted and Unfitted • Wrist * LEATHER CASES [WATCHES * ★ * Cigaretie • Leather ~ LIGHTERS picture frames * ★ THERMOS VACUUM-MATIC JUGS * f E CHECK THE ITEMS BELOW THAT INTEREST YOU, AND m MAIL THIS CARD. JO I AM INTERESTED IN: COURSES IN 0 □ Acting □ Diction ^ □ Make-up and Costuming □ Acting £ ° !?firecti°\ , □ Stagecraft § □ Stage Lighting* and Wiring D Costume, and Make-up ^ □ Scene Painting and Design Cl Playwriting > I would like to see . ......... Produced by the Thalians My Name Is: ...... My Address . My Telephone Number Is ........ is he . , _ 9 ? Coming Home ON FURLOUGH?' Any red-blooded American boy gets a big thrill.. in fact, a good m&ny big thrills out of his training in the armed forces. Yet the biggest thrill of all is that unfor gettable experience of coming home on furlough. The delight of seeing home once again ... mother and dad and the girl friend. The unutterable joy of tast ing mother’s cooking ... of sleeping in his own room. The ecstasy of living sev eral days in these surroundings with no annoying reveille or taps! Join The Thalian Association! Wilmington’s theatre group deserves your support—to carry on its splendid pro gram. It will give you enjoy ment throughout the theatre season. /* ^ j See that your home looks its best when he comes home. The replacement of even one or two worn out, shabby pieces of furniture will work won ders. May we help you? . . *