Spring Fever!
You can feel the summer energy rising daily around here. Everyone is gearing up for Memorial Day and beyond. If you’re a fantastic planner, you can make it to everything listed below. If you’re not, then pick three “must do’s” and put them on your calendar in ink! All locations are Rehoboth Beach, unless otherwise noted.
PERFORMING ARTS
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270; presents the pop-rock musical Little Shop of Horrors from May 11-27. Who doesn’t love a musical with a man-eating plant and a sadistic dentist? Starting June 28 Clear Space presents Annie, Broadway at the Beach (pop-rock revue), and Cabaret in two-day rotations, six nights a week (Tuesday-Sunday) at 7:30 p.m. Join them for the Opening Night Celebration and enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres (provided by Mixx), and a live auction. All tickets on sale now. If you have little ones in need of summer entertainment, check the website for their Musical Theatre Summer Intensives—Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly! and Thoroughly Modern Millie, as well as a new camp for young actors. Clear Space Acting Company members Michael Matthias and Lorraine Steinhoff (accompanied by yours truly at the keyboard) are collaborating with their neighbor Mixx on the “Food and the Arts” theme for Rehoboth’s Restaurant Week! June 8 and 9.
Possum Point Players (441 Old Laurel Road in Georgetown; 302-856-4560; presents the classic I Remember Mama; June 8-17, $18 (adult); $17 senior and student; and $5 for 12 and under. A Midsummer Night’s Dream; June 2, July 7, August 4; Outdoor Shakespeare in the Garden at the Rehoboth Art League; 12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres.
Second Street Players (2 South Walnut Street in Milford; 302-422-0220;
VISUAL ARTS
Galleries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of The Rehoboth Gallery Collective, MOSAIC. Join participating galleries for Second Saturdays: Destination Art Walk, June 9 from 6-9 p.m.
*AerieArt Gallery (45½ Lake Avenue; 302-227-5376; 302-584-6402; features a selection of recent acquisitions of investment quality original fine paintings, many from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, on display 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) beginning in June.
Amandeline Gallery (1 North First Street; 302-226-0330; representing nationally and internationally acclaimed artists Anne Packard and Sergey Cherep, original Romanian glass, canvas floor cloths, unique ceramics, and Rosanna tableware. They feature original oil paintings on board by award-winning artist Elaine Hahn and new original acrylics by Amanda Ponko. Please note their new location.
*Anita Peghini-Räber Gallery (49 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2888; Local and regional art; Thursday-Sunday, 1 p.m.- 10 p.m. and Monday 10 a.m. to noon, with additional hours available by appointment.
*Gallery 50/G-50 Fine Art Photography (50 A-B Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; New Infrared Photography works by Brandywine, Pennsylvania-based artist Mickey Freed, and Lewes-based Constance Costigan New Works on Canvas; Mixed Media works by Brian Petro. All on view from May 25- June 14 with an Artist’s Reception for the above events on Saturday, May 26 (6-8 p.m.)
The Happyrock Pottery (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 410-375-7120) features the work of potter Susan Gladstone through an assortment of handmade Raku and functional pottery as well as beach decorated ikebanas (flower arrangers).
*Heidi Lowe Gallery (328 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-9203; hosts the annual Earrings Galore Exhibition with earrings in all their forms, shapes, sizes and colors through the summer. The gallery always features handmade, contemporary jewelry by studio artists from around the world.
*Juleez (1 North First Street; 302-227-3792; features the unique and vibrant works of Julie Borden including hand-painted cellos, violins, miniature pianos, giclee prints, dichroic glass sculptures of MAD Creations, and the art work of Amandeline Gallery. Please note new address.
Midge Smith Fine Art Gallery (135 Second Street, second floor, in Lewes; 302-245-4528; Art for a Purpose assists tax-exempt organizations by turning donated art into cash for their use. Gallery hours are 2-6 p.m., Friday-Sunday.
Packard Reath Gallery (Located in The Hotel Rodney, 142 Second Street; Lewes; 302-644-7513; 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. Thursday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Rd in Lewes; 302-645-0551; reopened May 15 under the new ownership of BJ Clark and celebrates their grand reopening Saturday, May 26 (5:30-8 p.m.). The gallery specializes in presenting regional and national artists working in several media including pastel, watercolor, acrylic, and oil in addition to ceramics and glass. The first show highlights the work of over twenty resident artists of the gallery. Fine art framing is available under the direction of Ms. Cathin Bishop.
*Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Avenue; 302-727-0905; New Works by Aina Nergaard through May, 24.
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;
Rehoboth Beach Film Society (107 Truitt Avenue, 302-645-9095; Monthly Screenings: A Separation Thursday, May 24 (7 p.m.) at DiFebo’s in Bear Trap Dunes and Friday, May 25 (7 p.m.) in the upstairs screening room at Movies at Midway. Admission: $4 (RBFS members); $6 (future members). Cinema by the Canal Outdoor Screening: The Great Outdoors Wednesday June 27. Free films at Lewes Canalfront Park. Screenings begin at dusk. Bring your own chair and bug spray. Festival Film Reviews: Film Critics wanted to screen film submissions for upcoming Festival. Mondays June 18 and 25 and July 2 at South Coastal Library, Bethany (7 p.m.) Free. Tuesdays: June 19 and 26 and July 3 in the upstairs screening room at Movies at Midway (7 p.m.). Admission $2.
Rehoboth Beach Museum (302-227-7310; 511 Rehoboth Avenue at the Canal,) announces its Second Annual Needlework Exhibit. In conjunction with the exhibit are presentations on barn quilts, a lecture on an exhibit of 18th Century wedding gowns, and demonstrations on needlework techniques for children and adults.
Surrattsart (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-227-3522; ) invites you to check out paintings—both abstract and realistic—in acrylic, mixed media and oils. Also some new photographs of beautiful Rehoboth Beach sunrises!
*Thunderbird Gallery (200 Rehoboth Avenue; 302-227-1900; presents original oils by John Powell), an artist who lives in the hills of southern California and Maine.
*Ward Ellinger Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, 39 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2710; features the work of Ward Ellinger and Sondra N. Arkin. Come in and see the ever-popular Spiritiles (molten glass on copper) by Houston Llew, beautiful contemporary blown glass menorahs by Shardz Glass, recycled farm equipment transformed into contemporary side tables, hand blown glass, pottery, and metal works by various American artists.
*WibergArt (20 Baltimore Avenue at the Celebration Mall; 302-226-0206 or 302-245-3615; features renowned marine artist, Jack Wiberg, and his original oils of sailing vessels and ships.