Too Darn Hot!
That phrase seems to capture the recent weather and the exciting events west of the boardwalk. Catch Christopher Peterson’s last season at the beach with Hooray for Hollywood; visit any or all of the marvelous Mosaic art galleries; see Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera” in Annie Get Your Gun; enjoy the wonderful weekend shows at the bandstand; support fundraisers for CAMP Rehoboth (with the DC Cowboys!), AIDS Delaware (at Gallery 50), or Possum Point… So many ways to enjoy and support the arts here in the best little beach resort in the world.
THEATRE
Clear Space Theatre Company (302-644-3810; ClearSpaceProductions.org) Sussex County’s only year-round professional theatre company presents Annie Get Your Gun through Sunday, August 1 at the Cape Henlopen High Theatre; 1150 Kings’ Highway in Lewes. Irving Berlin’s classic features the songs “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” and “Anything You Can Do” and stars former Miss Delaware, Erin Williams, as Annie Oakley and Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera,” Ted Keegan, as Frank Butler. Tickets: $5-$25
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) still has Summer Camps—Grades 6-12—August 2-6 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), and Broadway Duets—featuring some of the area’s finest talent in a fundraiser for the Possums—August 13-15. Tickets: $20.
Rehoboth Theatre of the Arts (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-7303; rehoboththeatreofthearts.com) Christopher Peterson’s last season in Rehoboth Beach with Hooray for Hollywood, weekends through Labor Day. Cash bar: 8 p.m./ Show: 9 p.m. Tickets: $35 (302-227-9310). Chris has no show on Saturday, July 31 as the theatre has a benefit for CAMP Rehoboth (9 p.m.) starring the fabulous DC Cowboys! Tickets: call CAMP (302-227-5620). The Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre performs Thursdays at 7 p.m. through August. Tickets: Online (.rehobothchildrenstheatre.org). The “Rat Pack” is back—with Frank, Dean and Sammy—Tuesdays through August at 8 p.m. Tickets $25/30 call 302-227-9310. Wednesday, August 18th at 8 p.m.—The Eddie Sherman Show. Tickets: $20/25 (302-227-7303).
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, August 14 from 6-9 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue and 70 Rehoboth Avenue in First St. Station; 302-227.5376/302-227-5376; rehoboth.com/aerieart) features Joyous Moments—original oils and watercolors by local award-winning artist Lesley McCaskill at the Lake Avenue gallery. A new show of Victor Letonoff’s still life and figurative oils opens August 14. Both galleries have original art from the 19th and 20th Centuries, plus current Delaware art.
*Amandeline Galleries (403 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-226-0330; amandelinegallery.com) displays new seascapes by Bruce Fox and locally-inspired watercolors by Bethany artist David Down.
BASE (Baltimore Avenue Studios En Masse; 20 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-7303; BASEartists.com) a collection of working artist studios featuring some of the region’s top visual artists.
CAMP Rehoboth (37 Baltimore Avenue, 302-227-5620; features paintings by Matty Adler, July 29-August 21. Artist reception is Saturday, August 7 from 5-8 p.m.
Coastal Frameshop and Gallery (36983 Rehoboth Avenue Extension; 302-227-8704; (coastalframeshopandgallery.com) features Something Different—original Japanese woodblock prints from the early 19th and 20th centuries. Over 70 works by Kunisada, Hiroshige, Yoshitora and others. Show runs through August 15.
*Gallery 50 (50-A Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; 50contemporaryart.com) presents Candyponyfish —new works on aluminum by Rick Bach and pedestal mobiles by Santo Mirabile through August 12. Saturday, August 14 (6-9 p.m.) Second Annual Silent Fine Art Auction benefitting AIDS Delaware. Over $10,000 of art donated by Gallery 50 artists, and others, in the silent auction.
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203; heidilowegallery@gmail.com) presents two new collections of jewelry— Addition/Subtraction—by Sarah Loertscher and Gayle Friedman. Through August 13. Also on display: Earrings Galore featuring over 200 pairs of earrings made from gold, silver, gemstones, paper, steel, and wood by 43 artists. Through September.
*Juleez (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-3792; juleez.com) featuring works by Julie Borden—hand-painted full-size cellos and violins, paintings, prints and designer home decor.
Packard Reath Gallery (in The Hotel Rodney, 142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513; packardreathgallery.com) Specializing in Fine Art Photography. Saturday, July 31 from 5-7 p.m. is the opening reception for artist Gunnar Plake, with piano music by Aimee Wiest. Runs through September 5.
*Panache Gallery (129-B Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9229; panachegalleryde.com) offers original and high quality works in glass, ceramics, metal, fiber and wood produced by professional artists from the United States and Canada.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551; peninsula-gallery.com) feature exhibit is The Biomorphic Art of Ray Petersen with an opening reception on Saturday, July 31 from 5-7 p.m. Through August 29.
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Avenue; 302-727-0905; philipmortongallery.com) the gallery between the Blue Moon and Aqua. Wine and cheese every Saturday from 7-10 p.m. and lots of beautiful art.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org) has their 3rd Biennial Regional Juried Show through August 23 with artwork from 47 artists, in the Corkran and Tubbs Galleries. The 37th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Show: Saturday and Sunday, August 7-8 and 14-15 rain or shine. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Expanded artists booth areas, more entertainment, outdoor seating, delicious food, pottery studio demonstrations, and more than 100 participating artists and artisans. Tickets: $5. Free parking and shuttle service available at the Little League field on Holland Glade Road.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; M-F 10-4/ Weekends 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) Artist Stephen Harlan returns for his 4th show Twilight Hour. Artist Reception: Friday, July 30/Saturday, July 31 (6-10 p.m.)
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard - 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; wardellinger.com) presents Double Vision—new work by DC artist Sondra N. Arkin, July 29-August 19. Opening reception: Saturday, August 7, 5-8 p.m.
MUSIC and FILM
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) has just announced their exciting 2011 season! For details and season ticket information, please visit their website.
Music Man to Madame Butterfly: August 7th (7:30 p.m.) at Epworth United Methodist Church. Featuring tenor Brian Cheney, soprano Teresa Eickel, and pianist Catherine Venable, the event is sponsored by the Lewes chapter of P.E.O. International in support of women’s education with scholarships, loans and grants. Tickets: $20/ $10 Call: 302-381-8444.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) needs film critics! Help select the films for the 13th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. Screenings: Tuesdays, August 3-10 (6 p.m.) South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach; Free. Wednesdays, August 4-11 (7 p.m.) Midway Movies, 2nd Floor. $2. Fun with Film Making; August 9, 11, and 13, (1-3 p.m.) Milton Library (children 6-9) Call: 302-684-8856. Admission Free.