Within days of publication, I received an email from one of the designers of the show pointing out my error. To set the record (ahem… pardon me) "straight"—Beauty and the Beast (aka Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) opened April 18, 1994 and closed July 29, 2007 for a run 5,461 performances spanning two theatres—the Palace Theatre (opening night through September 5, 1999) and the Lunt-Fontanne (November 11, 1999 through closing night) meaning the production ran slightly over 13 years, allowing the break in performances for the change of venue.

Though I never met the original lyricist, Howard Ashman, I am a personal friend of his mother, Shirley Gershman, and would never have attempted to slight Howard’s legacy or Disney Theatricals. If Uncle Walt’s accountants check their records they will discover that I have been, on several occasions, a contract employee and wouldn’t purposefully have threatened my relationship with "the big cheese" by publishing inaccuracies.

Now, onto local and more relevant matters!

Detail—a gallery for the home—located at 117 Church St. and Rehoboth Avenue (the corner across from the Double L that no longer floods) has just added artist Ed Bisese’s work to their gallery. Mr. Bisese is a graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art (Hoffberger School of Painting) and holds a MFA from the University of Maryland, College Park. Mike Muller of Detail describes the new works as "acrylic paintings on canvas shaped as profiles with paper collage backgrounds." Once you see his unique and fascinating work you’ll understand immediately. Other works by Mr. Bisese may be viewed at www.edbisese.com. Detail is open year-round and will be adding more new artists throughout the fall.

Coastal Frameshop and Gallery (on Rt. 1 next to Leather Central) opens the Dale Sheldon exhibition FANTASIES: NEAR AND FAR on Saturday, September 8th from 3 to 6 p.m. featuring her watercolors and mixed-media collages derived from recent travels—it runs through October 14, 2007. Stop in and see Don and Lee and tell them Doug sent you.

Artist Betsey Heuisler shows at Philip Morton Gallery (between the Blue Moon and Aqua at 47 Baltimore Avenue) from August 17-September 7. A Baltimore-area and Rehoboth Beach artist, painting professionally for four decades, Ms. Heuisler presents a collection of paintings "from the abstracted micro views of the human body to those of vegetables and fruits." She describes her work as "highly enlarged portions of small areas of subjects. I usually begin a piece by making thumbnail sketches in graphite to clarify composition. I then rework it in pastel to explore color. These studies help me build a repository of images and the idea of narrative which grounds them. I often make a dozen or more of these doodles before I begin painting." Heuisler’s work at the gallery can be viewed at www.philipmortongallery.com

Currently on display through September 14th at Gallery 50 (50 Wilmington Avenue) is the show Boardwalk: the abstracts of Susan Finsen. Finsen is known for her ‘circling’ technique. Her bold colors and cheerful, musical, and textural abstracts take us to the inspiration for the work—the Rehoboth boardwalk in August. On Friday August 31st at 7 p.m., a poetry reading by Guillermo Silveira will introduce five new "timeless poems." A reception for local celebrity (and dear old friend) Fay Jacobs will occur on Sunday September 2nd, at 6 p.m. Fay will be reading from her recently released book Fried and True, Tales From Rehoboth Beach and signing copies. It will be a sure way to catch a laugh between all of the events of the Sundance weekend.

Speaking of Sundance… more art than you’d be able to hang on your walls in this lifetime will be up for auction! Get out there and support my favorite event of the season. Repeating details of the auction and dance here are completely unnecessary as they are plastered all over this magazine!

Did you know that singing has multiple health benefits? It’s true! If this darned issue wasn’t so crowded I could spout off for pages about how good it is for you, but suffice it to say that you need to sing more.

In an effort to make all of you healthier, this is the time of year when you join a group. Local Sussex county residents have two terrific choices—the Southern Delaware Choral Society will present Handel’s Messiah in collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony on Saturday, December 8th. Pull that dusty copy of the Messiah off the shelf and visit their website for further information at www.sdchoralsociety.org. The Clear Space Community Chorus begins rehearsals for their winter concert on September 10th. The chorus rehearses every Monday night in Lewes and presents a Festival of Winter on November 28th. For more information, www.Clear SpaceProductions.org. I’ve known the director for his entire life and guarantee that you’d have a great time. Since the two choruses rehearse on separate nights and have separate concerts, make yourself twice as healthy and join them both!

Get involved with the Arts! And I don’t mean Linkletter and Carney… (boy, that dates me…)