The Lusty Month of May
Yes, fellow residents of Camelot Rehoboth Beach and surrounding communities, it’s that time of year when the season really kicks things into high gear. It’s your own fault if you can’t find something to do with your abundant free time. Find a way to spend that tax refund and support the arts! 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—from a cruise ship to a tenement flat to the Broadway stage. May 12-22. Time to register your child/grand-child for the Clear Space Musical Theatre Summer Stock Intensive for grades 1-12. Each week from July 11-August 12 students explore an entire musical with a performance on Friday of each week. Check the website for details. Monday, May 16 at 10 a.m. join the Clear Space creative team for How To Build a Production—an interactive lecture revealing the skills and know-how necessary to get a show on its feet. Bagel and coffee are including in the ticket price.Coming June 7-8—Delaware’s only professional opera company OperaDelaware comes to the beach. Music Director Jeffrey Miller accompanies four singers as they bring to life the greatest moments in opera—from such well-known shows as Carmen, La Boheme, The Merry Widow and more in an entertaining series of arias, duets and ensemble numbers.
Delaware Comedy Theatre (delawarecomedytheatre.com)
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; possumpointplayers.org) coming June 10-19—Move Over, Mrs. Markham—a British comedy by Ray Cooney and John Chapman and directed by Jeff Haslow.
Rainbow Chorale of Delaware (therainbowchorale.org) wraps up its 12th season with We Belong—a celebration of belonging and renewal in four parts. The concert features collaborative pianist André Vermuelen and guest Artistic Director Elinor Armsby. One performance only at the Music School of Delaware, 4101 Washington Street in Wilmington on May 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 at the door are available from RCD members or online at therainbowchorale.org.
Second Street Players (2 South Walnut Street in Milford; 302-422-0220; secondstreetplayers.com) present one of the funniest comedies ever written—Greater Tuna—through May 8. See two men portray all the residents of the third smallest town in Texas.
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, May 14 from 6-9 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue; 302-227-5376; 302-585-6402; rehoboth.com/aerieart) AerieArt Gallery—Almost Alive—an exhibition of the original fine art bronze, stone and wood sculpture of Charles Allmond, continues through May. A new exhibition through June features the original art of Carole Sue Lebbin, who will be present to greet visitors at an opening reception on Saturday, May 28 from 6-9 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 work by Delaware by Hand Master artists Michael Krausz and Lee Wayne Mills. Opening Reception is Saturday May 14 from 6-9 p.m. The exhibition runs through June 9. Also on display are new works by Brian Petro and Betsy Damos.
*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. 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) is featuring works by Lewes artist Julie Molyneux. Her new show, Naturesway, runs through May 25.
*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 great books and cards.
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-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. Through May 30. Coming June 3—the 38th Annual Members Fine Craft Exhibit with an opening reception Friday, June 3 from 5-7 p.m. Mark your calendars for the fifth Plein Air competition! More than 50 artists competing to win prizes as you watch the artists at work or perhaps purchase the completed art! Co-sponsored by Rehoboth Beach Main Street, and CAMP Rehoboth. Friday, May 21 through Sunday, May 22. It’s 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) Special Screening of Wood Shavings to Hot Sparks; Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. co-sponsored with the Milford Museum/Milford Parks. Recreation Meeting Room, 207 Franklin St., Milford; Admission: $4. Cinema Cabaret: Dinner and a Film at Fish On! Friday, May 13, 6:30 p.m.—Eat Drink Man Woman. Delicious 3-course meal to correspond with the film’s theme. Tickets: $34. Cinema and Art: Séraphine; co-sponsored with the Rehoboth Art League at the Rehoboth Art League’s Corkran Gallery, Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m. Monthly Screening: Made in Dagenham, Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m., DiFebo’s Restaurant at Bear Trap Dunes in Oceanview, and Friday, May 27 at 7 p.m. upstairs Movies at Midway. Admission is $2 for card-carrying RBFS members and $4 for non-members at the door. Advance tickets for all events (except Monthly Screening and Around the World) available online or by phone.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal, rehobothbeachmuseum.org) hosts its first annual needlework exhibit. Beautiful examples of cross stitch, quilting, needlepoint, and crewel. Subjects range from eagles and flowers to Geishas and Gibson girls. Through May 8.
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. 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) features Intrinsic Balance—new works by Ward Ellinger; May 6-25 with an opening reception on Saturday, 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.