Delaware Children's Theatre
The Delaware Children’s Theatre (DCT) is a community theater in Wilmington, Delaware. It operates in the historic New Century Club building at 1014 Delaware Avenue.
The building was built in 1893 in Colonial Revival style by architect Minerva Parker Nichols. It was originally the New Century Club, a progressive women’s group focused on social improvement, charity, and women’s suffrage. The club hosted speakers and events, including Woodrow Wilson, and had notable members such as Emily P. Bissell and Emalea Pusey Warner.
After the New Century Club, the building housed the Delaware Dinner Theatre and the Delaware Ballet Company until 1982, when DCT moved in. The theatre company began in 1973 as the Children’s Repertory Theatre of Wilmington, with its first production, Pinocchio. DCT is run by volunteers for actors and most support roles, and covers expenses through ticket sales and support from the Delaware Division of the Arts.
A notable alum is Tony Award winner John Gallagher, Jr., who appeared here as a child actor in Tom Sawyer before rising to Broadway success. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP reference 83001336), recognizing its historic role in the community and in the women’s rights movement.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:33 (CET).