April Showers
At this time of year I’m always reminded of the old joke, “If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?” Answer: “Pilgrims.” Not such a bizarre analogy if you look around town! It appears that the pilgrimage has already started and it’s time for the town to follow the lead of the tree buds and open. All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.
THEATRE and FILM
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270; ClearSpaceTheatre.org) Sussex County’s only year-round professional troupe offers The Secret Garden through April 17. The timeless family classic is combined with one of the most beautiful scores in the history of Broadway. Broadway legend Ted Keegan (THE Phantom of the Opera) returns to the Clear Space stage with a new concert from April 29-May 1. Join the gang for Follies (starring Bernadette Peters) at the Kennedy Center. Clear Space hosts a bus trip on Saturday, May 7. Call the box office for details. Opening May 12: Words and Music: By Gershwin.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) presents As You Like It; April 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. and May 1 at 2 p.m. as part of their New Faces of Shakespeare program. Directed by John Marino.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) Advance tickets for all events (except Monthly Screening and Around the World) available. Monthly Screening: Oscar® Nominated Shorts; Friday, April 22 (7 p.m.) upstairs Movies at Midway. RBFS members: $2; Non-members: $4. Monthly Screening: DiFebo’s Restaurant at Bear Trap Dunes in Oceanview. Oscar® Nominated Shorts; Thursday, April 28 (7 p.m.); RBFS members: $2; Non-members: $4. Around the World: Bad Day to Go Fishing; Wednesday, May 4 (7 p.m.) upstairs Movies at Midway. Free. Cinema Cabaret: Dinner and a Film at Fish On! Friday, May 13 (6:30 p.m.) Screening Eat Drink Man Woman. Delicious 3-course meal to correspond with the film’s theme. Tickets: $34. Reservations required.
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, April 9 from 2-5 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue; 302-227-5376 / 302-585-6402; rehoboth.com/aerieart)—Almost Alive—an exhibition of the bronze, stone and wood sculpture of Charles Allmond and paintings from the 19th Century to the present. Meet Mr. Allmond during the Mosaic Second Saturday Art Walk Gallery Reception, 2-5 p.m. on April 9.
Artworx19971 (20 Baltimore Avenue at The Celebration Mall; 302-727-1517) features quality, original art by Rehoboth Beach area artists at affordable prices. The collective is owned, operated and staffed by eight local artists—Joyce Blakeslee, Jane Knaus, Ken Kusterer, Cecilia Ludwig, LaVerne McIntyre, Melissa McLean, Linda Minkowski and Ron Tate. Stop by the studios and visit with an artist and view the constantly changing displays or works in progress. Join them for their Grand Opening on Saturday, April 9 from 2-5 p.m.
*Gallery 50 (50-A Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; 50contemporaryart.com) hosts a reception and screening for In a Dream—a film by Jeremiah Zagar on Saturday, April 9. Reception: 6:30 p.m.; Screening: 7 p.m. Admission is free. Donations suggested. This film documents the life of Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar, whose mosaics cover over 50,000 square feet of South Philadelphia. Revolving group exhibitions will continue until May.
*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, miniature pianos, beautiful acrylic on canvas originals and giclee prints. They also carry the dichroic glass sculptures of Mary Ann Borden.
Packard Reath Gallery (Located in The Hotel Rodney; 142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513; packardreathgallery.com) Specializing in Fine Art Photography.
*Paintiques (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-258-4203) offers Sherry Biele’s unique and artfully-painted vintage furniture and accessories as well as glass art by Connie Ballato; Silver jewelry by Sue Bartley and handbags by Linanz.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551; peninsula-gallery.com) opens a welcome to spring show with Spring Flowers from April 2-27 in support of the 2nd Annual Tulip Festival in Lewes, April 15 and 16. A Peoples’ Choice Award will be given to the artist whose painting garners the most public votes over that weekend. Local favorite Julie Molyneux presents a show of her coastal landscapes titled Naturesways (there’s a deliberate play on words!) with an opening reception April 30 from 5-7 p.m.
*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, as well as having great books, cards, and calendars.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org) Open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Adult and children’s classes are offered throughout the year. In the Corkran Gallery: Shapes of Possibility—collage and assemblage by Lee Wayne Mills. In the Tubbs Gallery: Following the Light—oil paintings by Victor Letonoff. In the Homestead Gallery: Members Showcase—Fiber Art. Opening Reception for all exhibits is Friday, April 29 from 5-7 p.m. Through May 30.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal, rehobothbeachmuseum.org) announces its first annual needlework exhibit. The exhibit will be on display April 15-May 8. Beautiful examples of cross stitch, quilting, needlepoint and crewel. Subjects range from eagles and flowers to Geishas and Gibson girls.
Surrattsart (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-227-3522; www.surrattsart.com) featuring the work of artist Sherry Surratt. Specializing in oils, acrylics, and gouache.
*Thunderbird Gallery (200 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-1900; thunderbirdshop.com) Artist Steven Harlan started as a graphic designer for Disney. His art now reflects his love of early morning sunrise and the evening’s last minutes of sun. Deep shadows, arches and water are always seen in Stevens work. His love of boats and peaceful scenes is his trademark.
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard - 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; wardellinger.com) presents Intrinsic Balance—new works by Ward Ellinger, May 6-25. An opening reception will be held May 7 from 5-9 p.m.
*WibergArt (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-226-0206 or 302-245-3615; wibergart@ aol.com) features renowned marine artist, Jack Wiberg, and his original oils of sailing vessels and ships.