Fast Away the Old Year Passes!
Another one bites the dust as 2010 all too rapidly comes to a close. What a year it’s been for the arts scene! As I look back over the 14 columns I wrote this year, I’m amazed at the amount of shows produced in our area, the quality and variety of our art galleries, the range and depth of films screened by the Film Society, and the plethora of musical offerings. What a privilege to live in this beautiful resort town and see the arts community blossom and grow every year. Take a moment out of the busy holiday season and do something for yourself—visit a gallery and buy a new piece of art, take in a concert or see a show. Remember that most businesses listed below also offer gift certificates! (All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.)
THEATRE
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270; ClearSpaceTheatre.org) Sussex County’s only year-round professional troupe presents the holiday tradition: Scrooge! 12 shows from December 2-12. Tickets: $5-$25. Showstoppers—New Years’ Eve—Show at 9 p.m., live swing group and dancing starts at 10 p.m. Champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres included; cash bar available. Tickets: $25. An American Songbook—with Clear Space director’s Ken Skrzesz and Doug Yetter in an all-new version of their annual concert. January 21-30. Tickets: $5-$25. Dirty Blonde—a play with music exploring the life and career of Mae West. February 3-13. Tickets: $5-$25.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) presents: A Christmas Story based on the film of the same name. December 3-12. Tickets: $19 (students/seniors); $20 (general admission). See if Ralphie gets his Red Ryder BB gun. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee—dinner theatre: January 29-February 6. Tickets: $40 (Dinner/Show), $20 (Show only). Six misfits sing their way through some tough words.
MUSIC
CAMP Rehoboth Chorus concert is Sunday, January 23 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.); at the Rehoboth Beach Theatre of the Arts (20 Baltimore Avenue) celebrating the music of the 1940s and World War II. Hear this 40-member chorus, under the direction of William McManus. Ticket information: 302-227-5620.
Coastal Concerts (in residence at Bethel UMC Hall; Fourth and Market Streets in Lewes; 888-212-6458; coastalconcerts.org; P.O. Box 685; Lewes, DE 19958) The Harlem Quartet: performs music by Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsallis, Billy Strayhorn and others. Saturday, January 29, 8 p.m. Tickets: $25; online, Lewes Chamber of Commerce, Lewes Gourmet/Puzzles.
Rainbow Chorale of Delaware performs their holiday concert—Comfort and Joy at Epworth United Methodist Church (19285 Holland Glade Road) on Saturday, December 4 at 4 p.m.) The CAMP Rehoboth Chorus will join them for a few numbers, too. Tickets: $20; therainbowchorale.org or at the door.
Southern Delaware Choral Society (PO Box 444; Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971; 302-226-5231; southerndelawarechoralsociety.org) presents An English Christmas—Saturday, December 11 (7 p.m. at Cape Henlopen High School) and Sunday, December 12 (3 p.m. at Del Tech). Tickets: 302-226-5231, online, at Lewes Gourmet, and Browseabout Books and Puzzles.
FILM
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) presents Only When I Dance, Wednesday, December 1 (7 p.m.) Free! The Secret in Their Eyes, Friday, December 30 (7 p.m.) Tickets: $2 (RBFS members); $4 (non-members)—both upstairs at Movies at Midway. What Makes Us Tick? Three films exploring the theme of competition. Vitus, Friday, January 14 (7 p.m.); The Dammed United, Saturday January 15 (2 p.m.); Quiz Show, Sunday, January 16 (2 p.m.). Screenings at Atlantic Sands Hotel. Each film discussed by an expert. Info: call the Film Society. Check their website for upcoming film titles and times.
ART GALLERIES and MUSEUMS
Galleries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of The Rehoboth Gallery Collective, MOSAIC (mosaicrehoboth.com). Join participating galleries for Second Saturdays: Destination Art Walk, December 11 and January 8.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue/70 Rehoboth Avenue in First St. Station; 302-227-5376/302-227-5376; rehoboth.com/aerieart) Teachable Moments—fine art with stories to tell from the 19th Century to the present (Lake Avenue gallery); First Street Station gallery has quality artwork priced for clearance until December 31.
Galleries at Celebration Mall (20 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-245-3615) Paintiques (302-258-4203; slbl531@aol.com) offers Sherry Biele’s artfully-painted vintage furniture and accessories, glass art by Connie Ballato, silver jewelry by Sue Bartley and handbags by Linanz. Wiberg Art Gallery (302-226-0206; wibergart@aol.com) features marine artist, Jack Wiberg, and his original oils. Also featured are works by local artists Aina Nergaard-Nammack, John Major, Sherry Surratt (302-227-3522; www.surrattsart.com), Connie Boland and Rose Doster.
*Gallery 50 (50-A Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; 50contemporaryart.com) displays a selection of 30 represented artists. The gallery will also be hosting their Fall and Winter Film series and a trip to the Baltimore Museum of Art on December 9 for their exhibit Andy Warhol: The Last Decade. Check their website for more information.
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203; heidilowegallery@gmail.com)
*Juleez (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-3792; juleez.com) features the unique and vibrant works of Julie Borden including hand painted cellos, violins and miniature pianos and new original sculptures created by Mary Ann Borden.
Packard Reath Gallery (in The Hotel Rodney,142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513; packardreathgallery.com) Specializing in Fine Art Photography.
*Panache Gallery (129-B Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9229; panachegalleryde.com)
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551; peninsula-gallery.com) through November 23: Chesapeake— two views of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by Howard Eberle (transparent watercolor) and Steve Rogers (acrylic). November 27-December 31: Small Jewels 7 —a multiple artist exhibit with a size and price limitation designed for the gift-giving season.
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Avenue; 302-727-0905; philipmortongallery.com)
Proud Bookstore (Baltimore Avenue in Village By the Sea; 302-227-6969) featuring the artwork of Geri Dibiase, Jeffrey Todd Moore, David Kraft, Lynn Finaldi, Michael Gardner, Patrick Keating and John Gress, plus books, cards and calendars.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org) Members Holiday Flair Gift Gallery; Open House, Saturday, December 4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Christmas. Give the gift of creativity and originality while supporting local artists. Painting and drawing classes for beginners at Lewes Presbyterian Church; Thursday evenings, 7-8:30 p.m. beginning January 16 through February 17, 2011. Enroll early, maximum of 12 students. Check their website for their January-April classes.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; M-F 10-4 and Weekends from 11-3; Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal) presents Captain John and Sarah Avery: A 17th-Century Family on Delaware’s Frontier. Utilizing artifacts discovered at the site as a point of reference, the exhibit explores the shifting economic and cultural traditions of the English and Dutch colonists, and their interaction with local American Indian communities, illuminating the joys and hardships of daily life in Sussex County in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Through April 2011.
*Thunderbird Gallery (200 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-1900; thunderbirdshop.com)
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; wardellinger.com) featuring works of abstact expressionism in different mediums by local artist Ward Ellinger; also featuring new works by Murray Archibald, and Sondra N. Arkin.
You can contact Doug with comments or suggestions for other arts-related events at doug@ClearSpaceTheatre.org.