WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thalian Hall will open its doors to the public Saturday for its annual Community Day, featuring tours, local arts organizations and demonstrations of a rare 19th-century sound effect machine known as the Thunder Roll.
The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and will also include the public on-sale of the 2026–27 Main Attractions season.
A centerpiece of the day will be demonstrations of the Thunder Roll, a mechanical device dating to 1858 designed to simulate the sound of a thunderstorm in live theatrical productions. Organizers say it is one of only two known working examples in the world. Demonstrations are scheduled for 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m…