REAL STORIES: Mouths of Babes hosts Open House preview of new documentary works

Zach Peschl
2 days ago
2 min read

In the cacophony that is the small company theatre scene here in Wilmington, one company stands out, to me at least, as unique. Mouths of Babes Theatre Company is a very much story first troupe, they work to highlight voices and tell stories that hit home. Many of their productions are works in progress/research to tell real stories from our community, showcased annually during their Scotopia Festival, in conjunction with Cucalorus, and Thalian Hall.

I recently sat down (virtually) with Trey Morehead (Artistic Director), Amber Moore (Associate AD), Chloe Mason (Company Manager), and Jordan Scott Hardesty (resident Dramaturg), to talk about the company’s upcoming Open House and Showcase on Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m. at Wilmington’s Hope Recovery Community Center.

Founded in Raleigh in 2014 before moving to Wilmington in 2017, Mouths of Babes (MoB) Theatre develops original works rooted in local history, lived experiences and oral storytelling. The open house offers audiences an informal look at pieces in development for MoB’s 2026 Scotopia Festival. “It’s the first time we’ve done something like this,” Artistic Director Trey Morehouse said, “it’ll be a casual, fun way for people to learn more about the company and the projects we’re working on.”

The lineup includes selections from the company's ongoing projects “Out NC” and “Wilmington Reconstructed,” along with some new offshoots and companions to those projects.

“Out NC” features a growing collection of interviews with queer Southerners about coming-out experiences. Its new companion piece, “A Remarkable Fraternity,” explores the stories and lives behind the construction of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

“Wilmington Reconstructed,” a broad project investigating the consequences of black erasure in Wilmington after the Coup of 1898, ties in with two other projects: “Oak Grove Cemetery Project,” which works to uncover the history lost to Wilmington's growth, and the company’s first commissioned piece, “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” that is based on the writings of Wilmington legend Larry Reni Thomas and tells the story of the Wilmington Ten.

Also available for preview on Sunday, “The Recovery Project,” a new storytelling project in partnership with local addiction recovery groups, and a one-woman show-in-progress tentatively entitled “Cornelia,” which explores the world through the eyes of a young girl and her guinea pig.

Some might venture to describe the company as a documentary theatre group, with a heavy focus on local topics—and while some of those topics may be heavy in and of themselves, MoB’s crew sees themselves as “a company for all,” with plans to adapt much of their work for use in school performances.

Mouths of Babes is a small company serving up big, real, stories like nobody in town. Make plans to visit on Sunday and get a taste.