Since Memorial Day is the official “start” of the summer season, let’s look at how it started. Originating just after the Civil War, it was called “Decoration Day” and people decorated the tombs of fallen soldiers every May 30th. The name “Memorial Day”—first used in 1882—became more common after WWII, and changed officially in 1967. In 1968 the “Uniform Holidays Bill” moved Memorial Day to the last Monday of May, giving us a three-day weekend. Take a moment to acknowledge the origins of this holiday. I think it’s important.
MUSIC
CAMP Chorus presents an encore of their winter concert Room For All with some additional selections at the Milton Theatre on Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $15.
Epworth United Methodist Church (Holland Glade Rd, 302-227-7743; Epworth-rehoboth.org) presents Public televisions’ favorite acoustic folk group, The Woods Tea Co. and their fiery Celtic tunes, rousing sea shanties, or lively French Canadian and Appalachian folk songs on Friday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 (includes a spaghetti dinner at 6 p.m.)
Rainbow Chorale (888-512-5093; therainbowchorale.org) presents Freedom Is Coming—a program of uplifting and inspirational music from Africa featuring the Sankofa African Dance and Drum Company on Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church on Holland Glade Road. Tickets: $20 available at the door.
FILM
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) presents Amreeka—the adventures of a single mother and her teenage son, as they leave their Palestinian homeland for small-town Illinois. Friday, May 28 at 7 p.m.; Midway Movies, 2nd Floor. Admission: $2 (RBFS members); $4 (non-members). Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam—in collaboration with the Milton Historical Society. The Historical Society is hosting Vietnam Mailbag through June, which contains nearly 1,000 letters and hundreds of pictures from Delaware soldiers on the front lines. Sunday, May 30 at 7 p.m. at Milton Theater. Admission: Free. RBFS is looking for film critics for film selection process for this fall’s Film Festival. Screening begins June 23 at Midway Movies and June 24 at the library in Bethany. See their web site for details.
THEATRE
Clear Space Productions (302-644-3810; ClearSpaceProductions.org) Sussex County’s only year-round professional theatre company has a great summer camp for your children and grandchildren. Register now for the Clear Space Musical Theatre Summer Intensive (Monday, June 21-Thursday, July 1) for grades 1-12, or their Acting Intensive (July 6-9) for grades 2-8. Coming in July: Ted Keegan (Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera) in concert as well as starring in Clear Space’s Annie Get Your Gun.
Delaware Comedy Theatre (delawarecomedytheatre.com)
Milton Theatre (110 Union Street in Milton; 302-684-3400; miltontheatre.org) Saturday, May 29—Del Rays Doo Wop/Rock and Roll Concert; 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. Love Letters starring our own local Dick and Liz—Dick Pack and Liz Roe. Saturday June 5 (8 p.m.) and Sunday, June 6 (2 p.m.). Tickets: $18 (adults) $15 (seniors/students).
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Rd, Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) brings The Rainmaker to their stage June 4-6 and 11-13. Directed by Susann Studz, but not starring Burt Lancaster. Tickets: $18; $17 students/seniors. Call to make reservations for their $55 “Dinner and Show Package” with The Brick Hotel on The Circle in Georgetown.
Second Street Players (2 South Walnut Street in Milford; 302-422-0220; secondstreetplayers.com)
Rehoboth Theatre of the Arts (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-7303; rehoboththeatreofthearts.com) presents the Delaware debut of The Philadelphia Blues Messengers featuring tenor sax giant Odean Pope and the vibrant vocals of Lisa Chavous; Saturday June 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25; $20 (65+)
ART GALLERIES/ MUSEUMS
Galleries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of The Rehoboth Gallery Collective, MOSAIC (mosaicrehoboth.com).
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue and 70 Rehoboth Avenue in First St. Station; 302-227-5376; rehoboth.com/aerieart) currently featuring: Rehoboth Redux, original oil paintings, pastels and watercolors by one of the nation’s finest landscape impressionists, New York artist Larry Horowitz. Larry returns to the beach for the 4th consecutive year to paint, teach and display his work. The public is invited to meet and greet Larry at a free reception at the Lake Avenue gallery: Saturday, May 22 4-7 p.m.
*Amandeline Galleries (403 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-226-0330; amandelinegallery.com) displays new original oils by plein air artist Elaine Hahn. Elaine paints her land and seascapes in a traditional style while capturing vivid color and texture.
BASE (Baltimore Avenue Studios En Masse; 20 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-7303; BASEartists.com)
CAMP Rehoboth Community Center (37 Baltimore Avenue, 302-227-5620, camprehoboth.com) presents Pride 2010—a month long art exhibit celebrating, honoring, and supporting the talent and diversity of the Delaware LGBT community. The exhibit runs from May 26-June 23 with a mid-run reception on June 12 from 5-8 p.m.
Coastal Frameshop and Gallery (4284-B Highway One; 302-227-8704; coastalframeshopand gallery.com)
*Gallery 50 (50-A Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; 50contemporaryart.com) presents new works by Brian Petro, Susan Finsen, Maureen O’Brien, and Gloria Cesal through June 10.
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203; heidilowegallery@gmail.com)
*Juleez (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-3792; juleez.com) is located at the Celebration Mall on Baltimore Avenue and features the work of Julie Borden—hand painted full-sized cellos and violins, musically-themed paintings, prints, peacock paintings and 3D sculpture paintings. They also represent the dichroic glass jewelry of Mad Creations and new outdoor garden mosaic benches and bird baths by Celeste Kelly.
Packard Reath Gallery (In The Hotel Rodney, 142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513; packardreathgallery.com) specializes in Fine Art Photography. Opening Saturday, May 29 from 5-7 p.m. Nearly Empty Photographs by David Henderson and Lewes in Miniature paintings by Robin Braun.
*Panache Gallery (129 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9229; panachegalleryde.com) offering the highest quality of art glass.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551; peninsula-gallery.com) Colorful Vistas—featuring the landscapes of local artist, Michelle Marshall through May 30. Opening June 5: The Masters of Delaware by Hand.
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Ave. between Blue Moon and Aqua; 302-727-0905; philipmortongallery.com) invites you to stop by for wine and cheese over Memorial Day weekend! The gallery offers an eclectic collection of fine, modern art and some large scale works are up to 70% off. Representing Aina Nergaard, Gary Fisher, Anita Peghini-Raber, Mariah Fee, John Whitney, Craig Alan, William Dunlop, and many more.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org) through May 30 in the Corkran and Tubbs Galleries: the 37th Annual Members’ Craft Exhibit, and in the Homestead Gallery: People and Places— Fiber Art by John Flournoy and Roslyn Logsdon. Members’ Annual Fine Art Exhibit June 4-July 18 with an opening reception Friday, June 4, 5-7 p.m. Ongoing: Paint Out—works and member work on sale in the Homestead. Cottage Tour, July 6 and 7, tickets on sale now on their web site.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; M-F 10-4 and 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) featuring the work of Artist David Perl with “Serendipitous Moments” on paper, canvas metal and wood. Stop by and take a look at this multi-media artist’s work.
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; wardellinger.comwardellinger.com) featuring works of Abstract Expressionism in different mediums by local artist Ward Ellinger. Also, works by Lynn Finaldi, Maria Napoli, Ann Crain, Sondra N. Arkin, and Murray Archibald. Opening June 5: Works by Tonja Bos
Please contact Doug Yetter with your upcoming events. Email dyetter@ClearSpaceProductions.org.