Center Info – A to Z

Visit the Accessibility Information Page

See Food and Beverages, below

Animals or pets of any kind are prohibited with the exception of service animals for guests with disabilities. Service animals are welcome inside the building and must remain under the owners control at all times. If you intend to bring a service animal to the building, please notify your ticket representative at the time of purchase (or call 910-362-7895 ) so that appropriate seating may be reserved for you. We reserve the right to relocate guests if needed, based on safety and the requirements of the show.

Since its inception, the Wilson Center has been committed to being a true community resource. From high school graduations to free-of-charge dance residency performances, the Center has hosted thousands of young people and underserved community members — but that’s only the beginning!

Through the generosity of private donors and a grant program administered by the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, the Broadway for a Better World initiative provides free-of-charge tickets to the Wilson Center’s PNC Broadway & Star Series, both of which are presented by Cape Fear Stage. The mission of this program is to make the transformative power of live performances, and all of the associated benefits, available to underserved populations, particularly young people under the age of eighteen.

Generally, cameras are prohibited at all Center events unless accompanied by appropriate media credentials and approved in advance. Video cameras, iPads, and audio recorders are also prohibited at the Center unless specifically approved. Please check in advance by emailing  questions@wilsoncentertickets.com .

In the event that one of our performances is cancelled or postponed for any reason, Ticket Central will be in touch with ticket holders as quickly as possible. Email is the preferred method in such cases, as it is the quickest way to reach hundreds of ticket holders at the same time, and it allows guests to have consistent written information to refer back to. Please make sure Ticket Central has your most current contact information, including email address, phone number, and mailing address.

Please note however, that if you have purchased your tickets via a third party (resale marketplace, ticket broker, scalper, etc.) that you will need to make any refund applications to that third party. The Wilson Center is only responsible for orders made directly via Ticket Central.

In addition to contacting ticket holders, we will post messages on our website, social media, local media and news outlets.

The Wilson Center offers a wide variety of concessions, including premium offerings, at each of its two concession stands, which are located on the Orchestra and Grand Tier level.

The Wilson Center is committed to the safety of its guests, students, volunteers, crew and staff. To see what steps we are taking, as well relevant guidelines for attending events at the Center, please click below.

We are delighted to offer tickets to Cape Fear Stage events to non-profit organizations in Pender and New Hanover counties (the service area of Cape Fear Community College) as part of our Broadway for a Better World program. For non-Cape Fear Stage events, please contact the event promoter directly.

The time the doors at the Center open will vary according to each event. Please check in advance by visiting your event’s information page. Pertinent information about each show will be sent in an email to ticket buyers in the day prior to the show. Lobby doors typically open 1 hour prior to the start of the event and doors to the performance hall open 30 minutes prior.

The Center is located in beautiful downtown Wilmington within walking distance of many restaurants, hotels, and bars.  For more information about downtown Wilmington, visit Wilmington Downtown, Inc. or the  Wilmington and Beaches CVB .

While the Center has no official dress code, dressing in layers is often advisable. Guests wearing obscene or indecent clothing may be denied entry. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times.

For your safety and convenience, ADA and passenger drop-off is located inside the Hanover Parking Deck near the elevators. It is not safe to drop off passengers at any other location. Guests will proceed to the front entrance of The Center at 3rd and Hanover Streets.

Accessible parking

• ADA/Wheelchair-accessible parking is located in the Hanover Parking Deck, near the elevators at each corner on every level.
• The path between the Deck and the front doors is step-free.
• Guests utilizing drop-off or ADA parking should enter the deck through the Hanover and 2nd Streets entrance.
• Volunteers with transfer chairs will be present to assist you.
• Please ask any Center Staff Member for assistance.

Please arrange services in advance by emailing us at  accessibility@wilsoncentertickets.com . For all day-of-show requests, call (910)362-7895 .

Elevators are located in the lobby. We offer step-free seating on the Orchestra level in rows A-Q and the Parterres. Volunteers will be on hand to help you with any questions you may have regarding the elevators. Please note that for some events, lines for the elevators can form both before and after the event.

Cape Fear Community College works closely with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the security and safety of guests at the Wilson Center. The NHCSO Deputies are supplemented by private security guards.  Security will be present at all Center performances.  If you are in need of assistance, please contact the nearest Center staff member and in the unlikely event of an emergency, please dial 911.

The Center is committed to providing the highest standard of safety for our visitors and employees. Center personnel have been trained to assist in emergency situations. Visual and audible alarms are located throughout the building in the event of an emergency.

We encourage you to enjoy the show, while being mindful of those around you. Following some simple guidelines will help make everyone’s night at the theater more enjoyable.

• Cell phones should be turned off or to silent mode, even phones set to vibrate can disturb a performance. Kindly double-check your phone upon entering the theater and re-entering after intermission to prevent accidental interruptions. Refrain from texting or illuminating your phone during a performance, as the light can disturb audience members and performers alike.
• Once the house lights are dimmed, please refrain from talking. The performance spaces are designed to amplify sound, so even whispers are more audible than you might think. Similarly, candy or cough drop wrappers can be quite loud. If you must partake, please unwrap quickly, and ideally during a break in the performance or during uproarious applause.
• Even the most courteous audience member will sometimes experience an uncontrollable coughing episode.  We understand this. Many times simply covering your mouth and muting the cough will suffice, but if the cough persists, use your best judgment to determine if you need to remove yourself from the theater. Complimentary cough drops are available at the Guest Services desk. Fear not, you may re-enter when you are ready.
• Children must be able to sit quietly in their own seat without disturbing other guests. Scroll to “Kids at the Center” for more information.
• The Center is committed to providing an enjoyable family atmosphere for our audience. In order to maintain a pleasant and safe environment, we request that all guests be courteous to those around them and abide by all theater policies and regulations. Guests who engage in inappropriate behavior will be removed from the theater. Guests are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to the nearest usher, security guard, or Center staff member.

At the discretion of Management, guests may be subject to ejection without refund, and/or revocation of future tickets. Guests found in violation of local or state ordinances may be subject to arrest and prosecution.

The fees associated with ticket purchases reflect the different entities involved in making our productions happen.

• Sales tax is required by the Department of Revenue of the State of North Carolina and by New Hanover County.
• The Convenience fee helps our ticketing software provider cover their cost of providing tickets online, web hosting, accurate tracking, communication services, credit card security, etc. This fee can be avoided by purchasing during business hours via phone (910) 362-7999 or in person.
• The Facility Fee helps with the everyday expense of keeping the facility open, clean, lit, etc. It also helps defray the processing fee levied by the banks, our investment into the ticketing technology, hardware, staffing costs, long-term maintenance and other associated costs. In addition, one dollar from every ticket sold supports students in our area, and the college students in the departments which share the building with us.
• If there is an additional fee shown beyond those listed above, it likely is one requested by the artist and/or the producing organization.

Per NCGS 14-269.2, Weapons, Firearms and/or Concealed Handguns (with or without a license) are not permitted at the Center. If any guest arrives at the facility with a firearm or handgun, he or she will be instructed to return the weapon to their vehicle. The Center does not have a weapons check-in, and we will not take possession of firearms under any circumstance. Only credentialed local, state, and federal law enforcement officers will be allowed to bring firearms into the Center.

Guests in need of emergency first-aid should contact the nearest Center staff member for assistance. Minor first-aid items are available at the Guest Services kiosk located in the Entry Lobby.

The Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College offers a variety of snacks and beverages at the concession windows on the Orchestra and Grand Tier lobby levels. This includes some heartier fare from our friends at The Veggie Wagon, including a charcuterie platter, hummus, Boursin cheese, along with crackers and crostini. (For Studio Theater events, concessions availability varies by event.)

Guests are not permitted to bring any food or beverages into the Center. Containers such as bottles, cans, thermos bottles, or plastic coolers are not permitted. We invite you to enjoy refreshments before the show in our dramatic three-story glass-walled lobby. Our concessions features soft drinks, bottled water, wine, and beer and also a variety of candy, chips, pretzels, and cookies, and will vary by show. Please note that our overall menu is much more snack-oriented than meal-oriented, and make your plans accordingly.

• We close concessions at the start of performances so as not to interrupt our captivated Guests with constant comings and goings. Should there be an Intermission, we reopen.
• We strictly follow NC ABC’s statute (NCAC 025.0232) that only one drink may be served to a person at a time. This greatly aides in our constant effort to not overserve our Guests.  We shoulder a responsibility to all of our Guests, from their time at the theater to when they exit.
• All persons wishing to purchase alcoholic beverages must be age 21 or older and provide legal identification prior to purchase.
• We are a community college, our top priority is the enrichment of our campus, students and community. This will always take precedence over the sale of alcohol.
• Our concessions are run exclusively by NC ABC-certified volunteers, which is an unprecedented business model for a theater of our size and caliber. We value our volunteers’ time and health and will never jeopardize their well-being by extended hours of sales.
• Center management has the right to refuse service at any time and sales can be terminated at any time at the discretion of the Center.

It is very much our intent to provide reasonable amounts of alcohol to responsible Guests. While we recognize the importance of revenue generated by concessions, our responsibility lies in the safe and remarkable experience of our Guests.

If you’d like to give the gift of a live performance – a Broadway musical, a wonderful concert, an evening of hilarious comedy or exquisite dance – but aren’t quite sure what the recipient might like best, may we suggest a Gift Certificate?

At the Wilson Center, a Gift Certificate and a Gift Voucher are the same thing. You can purchase them by contacting our Ticket Central box office, or you can purchase them online (our ticketing system uses the term Gift Voucher).

If you and your group would like to attend an event together, we can make it easy for you and save you some money at the same time. Visit our Group Services page for more information.

Guest Services is the hub for many helpful amenities and is located in the Entry Lobby on the ground floor.

Services include:

• Listening devices
• Coat check
• Earplugs
• First-aid
• Friends of the Center sign-up
• Guest comment cards
• Lost and found
• Restaurant and parking info
• Wilson Center tour information
• Cough drops
• Maps of the immediate area
• Printed seating charts

If you are visiting Wilmington for a performance at the Wilson Center, we hope you’ll have the opportunity to spend a few days with us. From quaint inns to seaside resorts to riverside hotels, the Wilmington area has lots of accommodations options for those looking to stay in the Port City. We recommend the Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront, directly along the Cape Fear River.

While The Center strives to make quality programming available to all guests, please read the event description carefully to see if this show is appropriate for your children before purchasing tickets. Please consider whether your children are able to sit quietly in their own seats without disturbing other guests as this is a necessary courtesy for theater attendance. Each person, regardless of age, must have a ticket and occupy their own seat. Lap seating is strongly discouraged, however, we do have booster seats for your young children. If your child creates a disturbance, you will be asked to leave the hall or theatre out of courtesy to the performers and other patrons, and a refund may not be granted.

The Center requires all children under the age of 16 to be accompanied by one parent or adult chaperone.

The Center is equipped with an assistive listening system. Receivers are available for all events and provided free of charge. Guests who are interested in this service should visit Guest Services located in the Entry Lobby on the ground floor. We offer two types; please check with your physician to determine which type of listening device is appropriate for you.

If you lose an item during an event, please contact any Center team member for assistance. Found items can be turned in to Guest Services. Please contact us at 910.362.7913 or questions@wilsoncentertickets.com  to inquire about lost items. The Center is not responsible for lost items. Found items will not be held past 30 days.

Upon entering the Lobby, parents should discuss a meeting place with their children, in the event that they become separated.  Also, parents should point out Center security guards or house managers for children to turn to in case of emergency. Lost children/parents should be escorted to Guest Services to notify Center security, who will arrange search procedures.

Want to hear first about upcoming events?

Cape Fear Stage Members get a variety of perks here at the Wilson Center, including early access to ticket buying opportunities, free parking for Cape Fear Stage events, access to the Rippy Cadillac Director’s Club in the Grand Tier Lounge, and more.

For our top-of-the-line show experience, choose our Opera Boxes with Butler service. Boxes seat 4–6 guests on the Grand Tier level. Enjoy an incredible view of the stage, private entrance to your box, beverage service, and gourmet delights–sweet and savory–in a tasty spread in your personal Opera Box.

Opera Boxes must be reserved by phone or in-person at Ticket Central at this time. Call (910) 362-7999 to check availability per show.

The selling or sampling of merchandise, food, beverages, tickets or other items on the CFCC Campus without written authorization is strictly prohibited.

Parking for events at The Wilson Center may be available in the Hanover Parking Deck, the surface lot directly behind the Center, or in the on-street spaces on the streets around the Center

• Hanover Parking Deck – located adjacent to the Center with entrances on Hanover Street and 2nd Street. This deck has over 1,000 parking spaces, including ample ADA parking. Access into the Hanover Parking Deck from Second Street is on the First Level and the Hanover Street entrance is on the Second Level.  Parking rates are $5 per event per vehicle; cash only, please.  Please note that parking rates are subject to change.
• Surface Parking Lot – Parking may also be available in the surface lot directly behind the Wilson Center. Parking is $5 per vehicle, and only cash is accepted at this time.
• On-Street Parking – Limited metered on-street parking is available on the streets around the Center.

We recognize that some customers are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. We cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during a visit to the Center.  We strongly encourage you to take the necessary medical precautions if you have any allergies.

(see Cameras, Video Cameras, Audio Recorders)

In an effort to enhance the safety and security of our students, performers, guests, and employees:

Any bags larger than 12” x 12” x 6” will not be permitted into the Venue. Exceptions will be made for diaper bags (with a child in attendance) and for medical devices.

All property and persons are subject to search.

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Outside food and beverages
• Illegal drugs
• Weapons of any kind
• Items that hinder the view, distract from the performance or inhibit the safe passage of other attendees
• Any item which could become a projectile
• Cameras

Any and all of these items must be discarded or returned to your vehicle.

Re-entry is usually not allowed but varies depending on the event. Please check with the staff at the doors to determine the policy for your specific event. If re-entry is permitted, please have your ticket ready for exit and re-entry scanning.

All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. In the event of a cancellation for which there is no rescheduled date, ticket holders will be contacted by Ticket Central regarding refunds. Please be sure Ticket Central has your up-to-date contact information, including email address and phone number. For more info regarding COVID-19 event cancellations and postponements, click below.

The Wilson Center offers spaces suitable for a variety of events, including the Ruth & Bucky Stein Performance Hall (cap. 1559), the Main Lobby (cap. 2200), and the Wilma W. Daniels Gallery (cap. 130). For more information regarding availability, pricing, requirements, deadlines, and more:

Restrooms are located throughout the Center for your convenience on the Orchestra and Grand Tier lobby levels. Balcony level guests should use the Grand Tier level restrooms. All restrooms are accessible facilities. Gender-neutral/Family restrooms for guests with children are located on the Orchestra and Grand Tier levels by the elevators. Baby changing stations are located in all public restrooms in the Center.

At the Wilson Center’s discretion, all guests are subject to a search of their person and or possessions – including jackets, coats, bags of a normal size (which may be allowed entry after examination). Guests with prohibited items will be asked to dispose of those items or return them to their vehicle before being allowed entry. Any guest refusing to cooperate will not be allowed in. No refunds will be given for refusing a search. No storage or check-in of prohibited items will be provided.

The Center is happy to provide sign language interpretation for guests with hearing disabilities. Please note that requests for this service must be received 30 days prior to the event and must be approved by the featured event. For more details or to request this service, please contact us at  accessibility@wilsoncentertickets.com .

In compliance with local and state laws and the Cape Fear Community College campus policy, the Center is a smoke-free facility. Guests are prohibited from smoking anywhere inside the Center. Smoking, including alternative smoking devices such as electronic cigarettes and/or vaporizers, are also prohibited. For some events, guests wishing to smoke may exit the building, but please note that New Hanover County also prohibits smoking within 100 feet of bus stops; in public parks and on trails; and on public sidewalks abutting schools, hospitals, and city and county property which includes the Center.

The Wilson Center is proud to welcome all types of concerts to our stage. Sometimes during the course of a concert performance, audience members will show their enthusiasm by standing and dancing, especially when encouraged by the performers to do so. Unless directed by the show, we do not ever enforce a “must sit” policy at concerts. For most concerts, this would not be acceptable to the performers on stage who often love it when the crowd is moved enough by the performance to stand. This is especially true for rock shows and for seats closest to the stage.

Please know that we do not have a “no standing” policy and in most situations will allow guests to stand even if they block the view of the stage for other guests. If you know that you will be bothered if someone in front of you stands, please contact Ticket Central to determine the best seating location for your ticket purchase. If your view is ever blocked during a performance by a standing or dancing guest, please contact an usher and we’ll attempt to find alternative seating.

Temperature management in a large, four-story-high open room and lobby filled with 1,500+ guests, all with varying perceptions of comfort is a complex challenge. Our temperature settings are adjusted to achieve a goal room temperature of typically 70-72 degrees, while taking into account the size of the audience, body temperatures, heat from theatrical lighting, humidity, etc.

In analyzing our guest survey feedback, less than 2% of guests tell us that temperatures could be improved at the Wilson Center. Of those, about half said temperatures were too warm and the other half said temperatures were too cool. As you can see from this survey data, meeting everyone’s sense of the perfect temperature is a complicated part of managing a large public assembly building like the Wilson Center.

Our recommendation is to dress comfortably for being in a large crowd, taking your own temperature sensibilities into account. If you are susceptible to cold, just bring a sweatshirt, light jacket or sweater just in case. Likewise, if you are frequently warm in an assembly, dress in lighter layers. We wish the temperature could be perfect (and adjustable) in each and every one of our 1,500+ seats, but that technology just does not yet exist.

The Center strictly prohibits ticket scalping and the resale of tickets on the premises.

Furthermore, Ticket Central including CapeFearStage.com, CFCC.edu, and Spektrix.com are the only OFFICIAL TICKETING PROVIDERS for events at The Center. Tickets obtained from other unauthorized sources may be stolen, counterfeit or invalid due to payment issues and will not be honored. Tickets purchased from other sources are often greatly inflated in price and are not eligible for assistance if tickets are ever lost or stolen or if the event is canceled or rescheduled. The Center is not responsible for tickets purchased from other sources.

In the event of extreme weather, make sure to monitor local media, the Center’s website, and social media. The Center follows the emergency weather policies of Cape Fear Community College and will close or delay when the College is closed/delayed.  If events at the Center are canceled, all ticket holders will be contacted with information regarding refunds and/or exchanges. Email is the fastest and best way for us to get detailed, written information out to many people at once, so please be sure we have accurate contact information for you when you purchase your tickets.

Under special circumstances, The Center does offer those that miss the show the option of attending a future Cape Fear Stage event as a make-good if weather or travel conditions prevent you from attending your ticketed performance. Special conditions of this make-good ticket offer include:

• The National Weather Service (NWS) must have issued a Winter Storm Warning or Winter Weather Advisory that is in effect at show time for your ticketed performance for the geographical region that encompasses New Hanover County.
• Our apologies that we cannot accommodate additional make-good requests for weather or travel conditions outside of those described above.
• Restrictions will apply on the shows we are able to offer as a make-good, but we’ll do our best to ensure you have at least two choices. Seat locations offered will be best available based on what seats are open at the time of the make-good offer.
• Please note, this make-good offer applies only to those ticket buyers who purchased directly from Ticket Central or through Spektrix. If you received your tickets through a third party ticket reseller or are not the original purchaser, please contact the source you obtained your tickets from to determine what options they might be offering.

A limited number of wheelchairs are available for transport only through Guest Services.  To arrange these services in advance, please email us at accessibility@wilsoncentertickets.com prior to the event.

If you have been told your tickets are at “will-call”, this means that your tickets will be waiting for you at Center’s Will Call kiosk, located near Ticket Central in the lobby at 703 N 3rd Street. Ticket Central and Will Call open one hour prior to the start of the event and remain open until intermission, or at least 30 minutes into the performance. Please make sure you bring a photo I.D.