It’s Not Where You Start
Everyone knows that we’ve grown big Joan Crawford-sized “shoulder” seasons at the beach, but it’s really those precious 100 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day that constitute the season. Ladies and Gentlemen, cram the quarters in your pockets, buy the new swimsuit, but please, get your butts off the beach in time for an incredible dinner and an evening on the town. It’s not my fault if you can’t find something to do in the events listed below. All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.
PERFORMING ARTS
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270; ClearSpaceTheatre.org) Sussex County’s only year-round professional troupe presents Words & Music: By Gershwin—a series of six themed vignettes bring the music of George Gershwin to life through May 22. Time to register your child/grand-child for the Clear Space Musical Theatre Summer Stock Intensive for grades 1-12. Check the website for details. June 7/8—Delaware’s only professional opera company OperaDelaware comes to the beach to perform arias, duets and ensemble numbers from Carmen, La Boheme, The Merry Widow, and more. The Opus 9 Ensemble recreates a German music salon, complete with vocal duets, clarinet, viola and piano—June 18-19.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) presents Move Over, Mrs. Markham, a British comedy directed by Jeff Haslow. June 10-19. Sneak Peak Variety Show to benefit the Summer Theater Academies and the Possum Junior Show; directed by Mary Boucher. June 25/26. The Possum Juniors presents Robin Hood, co-directed by James Davis and Hannah Powers. July 21-24. Sign up now for the PPP Summer Drama Academy for grades 2-5 (July 25-29) and the PPP Summer Theater Academy for grades 5-10 (August 8-12). Both camps include age appropriate instruction with a final show at the end of the week.
VISUAL ARTS
Galleries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of The Rehoboth Gallery Collective, MOSAIC (mosaicrehoboth.com). Join participating galleries for Second Saturdays: Destination Art Walk, June 11 from 6-9 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue; 302-227-5376/302-585-6402; rehoboth.com/aerieart) opening Saturday, May 28 an exhibition of paintings by Carole Sue Lebbin (carolesue.com). Ms. Lebbin will be present for the opening public reception 4-7 p.m. Also always on display are paintings from the 19th Century to the present.
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.
*Gallery 50 (50-A Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; 50contemporaryart.com) presents their yearly photography exhibition from June 11-July 7. On display will be works by ten professional photographers, including Barb Kinney, former White House photographer for the Clinton administration. Opening Reception is Saturday, June 11 (6-9 p.m.)
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203; heidilowegallery@gmail.com)
*Juleez (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 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 and 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) presents Naturesways a selection of coastal and inner coastal landscapes in oil by local artist Julie Molyneux. Through May 25. Opening May 28—Along the Coast a series of plein air oil paintings by Philadelphia artist, Joe Sweeney, covering the Delaware and Maryland beaches and the New Jersey shore. Opening reception Saturday, May 28; 5-7 p.m.
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Avenue; 302-727-0905; philipmortongallery.com) currently displays works by Alden Leonard, Gary Fisher, Vadim Palamarchuk, Dane Tilghman, Aina Nergaard, Anita Peghini-Raber, Deborah Rolig, Andres Tremols, Chisolm, Deborah Brisker Burk, John Whitney, Lulu Zheng and many more. Kiln-formed glass sculptures by Andres Tremols and kiln-fired porcelain sculptures by Marti Marino. Fantastic bronze collection from world-famous artists are also on display, along with new glass works from Prague! Memorial Day Weekend Open House, Friday, May 27 from 5-8 p.m.
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 great books, cards, and calendars.
Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org) 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. Through May 30. Coming June 3—38th Annual Members Fine Craft Exhibit with an opening reception Friday, June 3 from 5-7 p.m. 5th Plein Air Competition. More than 50 artists competing to win prizes as you watch them work or perhaps purchase the completed art! Co-sponsored by Rehoboth Beach Main Street. Friday, May 21-Sunday, May 22. Also time to make reservations for the 22nd annual Best of the Beach Beebe Medical Foundation Art Auction on June 11. Fine art, great food, live and silent auctions to benefit the Foundation and the League. Call 302-644-2900 for tickets and information.
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095; rehobothfilm.com) Séraphine; co-sponsored with the Rehoboth Art League and screened at the Rehoboth Art League’s Corkran Gallery Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m.; Made in Dagenham, Thursday, May 26 (7 p.m.) at DiFebo’s Restaurant at Bear Trap Dunes in Oceanview and Friday, May 27 (7 p.m.) upstairs Movies at Midway. $2 (RBFS members); $4 (non-members). Festival film reviews begin Monday, June 13, 20, and 27, in the upstairs screening room, at Movies at Midway (7 p.m.); $2. Tuesday, June 14 at South Coastal Library, Bethany (7 p.m.). Cinema by the Canal Outdoor Screening: Despicable Me; Canalfront Park, Lewes at dusk. Free.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal, rehobothbeachmuseum.org) invites you to stop and see their new exhibit: Skimming the Surface: Surfing, Skimboarding, and Floating off the Delaware Coast.
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) features the colorful, whimsical acrylics of Naples, Florida artist Thom Milsap (milsapfineart.com). Thom’s love of vibrant color is always present in his buildings, flowers and at the beach.
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard; 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; wardellinger.com) presents Nature’s Dialogue; works by Tanja Bos with a reception on May 28 (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.
You can contact Doug Yetter with your upcoming events. Email Doug Yetter