December 26, 2012

After nearly thirty years of entertaining, educating, and enriching the southern NH community with award-winning theatre, the New Thalian Players have decided that it is time to end its chapter in Manchester's community theatre history.

NTP began its journey back in 1983 as a small drama group part of Notre Dame College. Becoming known as one of the top theatre companies in southern NH, the organization continued to grow until Notre Dame closed in 2000. Forced to move on, NTP was incorporated into a Non-Profit Organization and found its temporary home in many venues including the Palace Theatre, the Olde Bedford Towne Hall, the Stockbridge Theatre, Veterans' Park, and most recently the Walker Auditorium at Southern NH University. During its 29 years of continuous operation it worked with two different colleges, delivered several NH premiere performances, received numerous theatrical awards, and produced Theatre in the Park, a five-year run of free outdoor summer theatre.

Due to the lack of a permanent home, the increase in southern NH theatre companies, the ever-growing expenses of producing live theatre, and the challenges associated with keeping a strong membership, NTP finds itself at a point where to continue would mean having to compromise the high standards of performance at which it always held itself. While these challenges have been a struggle for many years, the organization has still managed to artistically succeed and is very proud of its history, the amazing work it has produced, the wonderful and talented friends it has made over the years, and the impact it has left on the NH theatre community.

With those accomplishments fresh in our memories, we, the Board of Directors, officially announce the dissolution of the New Thalian Players as a community theatre. We close this chapter and depart in the words of our beloved founder, who through the years has also taken on the role of Director, Artistic Director, Dramaturge, Spelling & Grammar Guru, Spiritual Leader, Velvet Steamroller, Cheerleader, Company Psychiatrist, and everyone's favorite Jewish Mother, Beth Ann O'Hara:

"They're out there just waiting to love you!"