Delaware Children's Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Century Club
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The front of the theatre
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1014 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware |
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| Area | Cool Springs neighborhood |
| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | Minerva Parker Nicholas |
| Architectural style | Colonial revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001336 |
| Added to NRHP | 1983-06-16 |
The Delaware Children's Theatre (DCT) is a special community theatre located in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. This theatre group performs in a very old and important building called the New Century Club. It's a place where young actors can shine and families can enjoy fun shows.
Contents
About the Theatre Company
How the Theatre Started
The theatre group began in 1973. It was first known as the Children's Repertory Theatre of Wilmington. Their very first show was Pinocchio. Since then, they have put on many plays for kids and families.
Run by Volunteers
The Delaware Children's Theatre is a true community theatre. This means that most of the people involved are volunteers. Volunteers act in the plays and help with almost everything else. They build sets, make costumes, and manage the shows.
Keeping the Theatre Going
To pay for things like lights and costumes, DCT sells tickets to their shows. They also get help from the state of Delaware. This support comes from the Delaware Division of the Arts. It helps them keep putting on great performances.
Famous Alumni
Did you know that a Tony Award winner once acted here? John Gallagher, Jr. played Tom Sawyer at the theatre when he was a child. He later became a big star on Broadway, which is the highest level of theatre in the United States.
The Historic New Century Club Building
A Building with a Past
The Delaware Children's Theatre is housed in the historic New Century Club building. This beautiful building was constructed in 1893. The original New Century Club used it until 1975. After that, other groups used it for a few years. The DCT moved into the building in 1982.
Designed by a Pioneer Architect
The building was designed by Minerva Parker Nichols. She was an early female architect from Philadelphia. The building has a Colonial Revival style. You can see special Palladian windows and a unique gambrel roof.
More Than Just a Clubhouse
The New Century Club building was not just a clubhouse. It also had a theatre inside. This theatre hosted many different events. Traveling shows performed there. Important speakers also visited, including future president Woodrow Wilson. Another notable speaker was Margaret Sanger, who spoke about social issues.
A Place for Women's Rights
The New Century Club building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site. It is recognized for its role in the women's rights movement. The New Century Club was a group of upper-class women. They were part of the Progressive movement. They worked for social improvement and charity. They also strongly supported women's suffrage, which meant women getting the right to vote.
Influential Members
Many important women were part of the New Century Club. Emily P. Bissell was one of them. She led a Red Cross campaign against tuberculosis. A state hospital is named after her. Another member was Emalea Pusey Warner. She worked hard to create public vocational education. A local elementary school is named in her honor. Other New Century women's clubs also formed nearby. These were in places like Milford and Newark, Delaware. There were also clubs in Pennsylvania.
