Independent Thinking
As we celebrate the 241st anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, perhaps it’s also time to try a bit of independent thinking. Of course it’s always nice to be surrounded by like-minded friends enjoying time together, but why not expand your experience? Break away from the herd and do something different, or, better yet, lead the herd and start your own revolution! I’ve done the research for you, and your skin and liver could use a break. All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.
PERFORMING ARTS
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270) has their summer repertory season in full swing with A Chorus Line, Legally Blonde, and The Little Mermaid. See all three and imagine them as one gigantic show—A Chorus Line of Legally Blonde Little Mermaids. Saturday nights you can catch the Delaware Comedy Theatre’s Late-R Night Show. Check their website for show schedule, children’s theatre, and summer camps.
Kent County Theatre Guild (140 E. Roosevelt Ave in Dover; 800-838-3006) has a creative evening on July 7 entitled Patchwork Whoopee. Ten 10-minute plays, performed by actors who have never seen the material before. Sounds like fun to me!
Ovation Dinner Theater (302-500-1528) presents interactive comedy and Murder Mystery Dinner Theaters all over the area. July 8: Brick Hotel (Georgetown), July 13: Dover Downs, July 20: Rehoboth Beach Country Club.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560) has You’ve Got a Friend—a fundraiser scheduled July 7-9 to defray the cost of much-needed roof repairs. Check their website for summer camps!
Premier Centre for the Arts at Milton Theater (110 Union St in Milton; 302-684-3038) has something for everyone on their calendar! July 1: Counter-tenor Terry Barber and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, July 2: Forlorn Strangers, July 6: Micro Wrestling Foundation, July 7-9: Carla Delvillaggio is Simply Streisand, July 7: Local legend Roo Brown, July 14: A Buddy Holly tribute—Not Fade Away, July 15: Sean Reilly and the Sinatra Centennial Orchestra, July 21-22: Randy Rainbow. Check their website for information on their multiple Summer Camps.
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand (Rehoboth Avenue and The Boardwalk) has provided free entertainment since 1963, and the tradition continues: July 2: The Funsters, July 3: 287th Army Band, July 4: 78th Army Band, July 7: The Joseph Sisters, July 8: Tim Laushay Orchestra, July 9: The 1974, July 14: U.S. Navy Country Current, July 15: Elvis impersonator Jesse Garron. All concerts begin at 8 p.m.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095), 302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) screens new Independent films at their Cinema Art Theatre—June 30: The Hero, July 21: Maudie. Special Screening: July 3: True Conviction. National Theatre Live Screenings: Peter Pan, July 10-11; Salome, August 14-15.
Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre (302-227-6766) continues their commitment to quality theatre experiences and training for children with summer camps from July 10-August 25. Their summer season includes Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Toad’s Escape.
Second Street Players (2 South Walnut Street in Milford; 302-422-0220) offers America’s favorite musical, Grease, July 28-August 6.
Intermission
Hello, my name is Doug and I’m a wordaholic. Did you know the word independence comes from the Latin word pendere meaning “to weigh, or hang down”? There are tons of words which come from the same root. A pendant hangs down from a chain, and a pendulum is a weight which hangs in your clock. A dependent child literally hangs on to their parents, and frequently weighs them down. The word also means “to consider” as in a pending deal or matter which may be weighing on your mind or hanging in the air. Books and our intestinal tracts have an appendix—as they “hang” on at the end. I’m using an appendage or two to write this column. A penthouse used to mean an “attached building” and only came to connote a luxury apartment in the 20th century. Impending means to “hang over”—like impending doom. And we hold up our pants with suspenders which is closely related to suspense—because we’re left hanging. Then there’s all of the financial terms—expense, expensive, compensate, dispense, pension, and even spending. Okay, back to the show.
VISUAL ARTS
Back Porch Café (59 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-3674) features new work by Rodney Cook, July 19-August 15. Artist reception is Sunday, July 23 from 4-6 p.m.
Biggs Museum of American Art (406 Federal Street, Dover; 302-674-2111) houses one of the areas’ most fascinating permanent collections of Americana, and currently features a retrospective of photographer Ansel Adams work—through July 30.
CAMP Rehoboth Gallery (37 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-5620) features Creatures by Susan Frey for the month of July. Meet the artist reception is Saturday, July 8 from 4:30-7 p.m.
The Galleries at 20 Baltimore (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-258-4203) hosts a fantastic collection of artists: Amandeline Gallery features original paintings by local and nationally-recognized artists, Romanian, and Czech glass art, and hand-made ceramics as well as unique home furnishings. Paintiques transforms vintage reclaimed furniture into unique treasured heirlooms. They can customize anything and do beautiful work. WibergArt and Studio 3 displays the work of renowned marine artist, Jack Wiberg, as well as the work of many fine local artists. If you’re seeing a show at Clear Space, enjoy the galleries pre-show or at intermission.
*Gallery 50 Contemporary Art and Frame Shop (50 A-B Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050) features the work of at least three dozen talented artists, as well as special events: July 14: Marion Osher’s Time Out for the Beach. Their master framer, Ed McGann, is onsite and ready to assist you with your framing needs.\
Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203) has their annual Earrings Galore, featuring earrings by more than 40 artists from around the country and continues throughout the summer. Also currently showing: Alliance—featuring Kate Furman and Kate Mess Bauman. Heidi always has beautiful and unique hand-made pieces for purchase.
Painting With a Twist (17723 Coastal Highway; 302-313-5769) offers painting classes and “pARTies” for all occasions—days, evenings, weekdays, and weekends (age 7+). Visit their website for details.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Road in Lewes; 302-645-0551) Opening July 1: 12 x 12 x 12— Twelve artists present 12 x 12 art! Don’t we all have at least one square foot of wall space that could use some new art?
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408) has the perennially popular Cottage Tour of Art—their 68th! July 11-12.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (511 Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal, 302-227-7310) Their newest exhibit, Angry Waters, opened June 8, and tells the story of a seaside village (Rehoboth Beach) and its volatile relationship with the ocean. Little hands are welcome, they are handicap accessible, and the gift shop has some great stuff. Admission is by donation, and well worth supporting. Their 12th Annual Beach Ball will be held on August 5 at the Kings Creek Country Club. The museum is open daily.
Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710) has reopened in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard. The gallery features art in different mediums by Ward Ellinger and Sondra N. Arkin.