Historic Athens Theatre restored to its 1911 glory!
New Bern Civic Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018 in the newly restored Athens Theatre. In 2017 The Athens Theatre façade was restored to its 1911 glory. Compare the old to the new! The interior of the theatre, however, hosts a state-of-the-art sound system and comfortable seating.
The 2018 NBCT Season will prove to be a smash hit. Check out the season line up.
January - Bonnie & Clyde
February - The Wiz
March - Madagascar Jr.: A Musical Adventure
May - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
July (Saax Bradbury Players) - Bring It On: The Musical
September - Peter and the Starcatcher
November - My Fair Lady
ATHENS HISTORY: Construction began on the Athens Theatre at 412 Pollock Street in 1910. The doors opened April 11, 1911. Designed by architect Herbert W. Simpson, the Athens Theatre was a gala theatre for silent movies, Vaudeville, traveling theatre troupes and locally produced live productions.
It was regarded as one of the most beautiful and best equipped theatres in the area. The Athens had gas-electric lights, fans to cool the patrons, elaborate interior decorations of forest green colors, velvet upholstery, ornate woodwork, chandeliers, gold gilded theatre boxes, modern dressing rooms and many other features. The original curtain was painted with the chariot race scene from Ben Hur. New Bern enthusiasts of that day once called New Bern “The Athens of North Carolina” because of its Greek revival architecture and that is where the Theatre got this name.
By 1929, Vaudeville and the silent movies bowed to talkies. To learn more about The Athens Theatre history visit: https://www.newberncivictheatre.org/history
Season tickets available November 2017 at www.newberncivictheatre.org or by calling the box office at 252-633-0567.
