Serving Up Dinner & A Show
Alisa Harris knows why dinner and a show is a classic combination. It works. She’s seen its success in her years as a local actress and that’s one reason she was eager to open her performing arts complex TheatreNOW. Earlier in the summer, the box-like building at 10th and Dock Streets in downtown Wilmington was still under construction. Harris, though, was looking ahead to July, when she could unveil the jewels inside – golden walls, a rich purple curtain to cover the curved corner theater and an ice-like acrylic topped bar.
With the stage set, Harris then turned to a series of original shows – a little something to please everyone from locals to tourists. There’s a night of comedy, a murder mystery dinner show and movie night. If you prefer your fun in the daytime, check out the Sunday gospel jazz brunch or a performance geared toward children called Super Saturday Fun Time.
The basis for Friday night’s comedy show is that the actors of Dawson’s Hill have planned a much-publicized fundraising performance. At the last minute, the actors are a no-show and the crew decides that the show must go on.
“They think that the easiest show to perform would be one that doesn’t have any lines,” Harris said. “They decide to do The Helen Keller Story. And hilarity ensues.”
On Saturday nights, the mood is a bit darker for Murder at the Bellamy. The guests are invited to the “Wilmington Historical Attractions and Tours (WHAT)” award banquet and soon there’s a mystery to solve. The actors include a lead detective, who guides the guests through this interactive experience of finding the killer.
The menu for the dinner shows include salad, dessert and an entrée of choice such as Porchetta (a hand-rolled pork roast) and Port City Chicken with a porcini-and-shallot bread pudding, created by TheatreNOW’s chef Denise Gordon. Vegetarian options are also available; just choose that option when ordering tickets. Tickets for the dinner theater shows are $38 and $32 for children under 12.
Local jazz and gospel musicians, Marc Siegel and Friends, are set to perform during a traditional Southern brunch buffet ($18 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under). Lunch is included for the kid’s show ($12 general admission) and the kitchen is open for the Sunday Movie Night ($6 general admission) for a la carte snacks.
For more information and to order tickets, go to http://theatrewilmington.com.
