LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Profile |
by Stephani Deoul |
Rehoboth Beach Theatre of the ArtsIt's Music to Our Ears
Spend some time with Hugo A. Immediato, Jr. and you will discover a man who is perfectly suited to the task in front of him. Hugo is the newly appointed Executive Director for the nearly ready and raring to go Rehoboth Beach Theatre of the Arts. His enthusiasm and passion for theatre and the arts is stimulating, captivating and highly infectiousand if Hugo and the investors who made Rehoboth Beach a promise are successfultheatre and the arts will be our joy to share as well. On July 5th the Rehoboth Beach Theatre of The Arts will turn up the house lights and a new phase of local entertainment will take center stage. It will be a night of both old and new as we stroll our way through Celebration Mall for a night of theatre. Where is Celebration Mall? For those who may not know, Celebration Mall is one terrific Rehoboth Beach success story. When Epworth United Methodist Church relocated, the local investors who purchased the building made a promise to keep the historical building's original exterior. And they kept their word. But step inside the old door frame to peek at precisely where old meets newpart shops, part restaurant and part theatreand discover a transformation in progress which might best be described as a race to be ready for "curtain up." And when that curtain rises, Hugo is determined that everyone should come out for a night of entertainment and go home having had a great time. And he knows very well what that entails. Hugo was not only the Director of Entertainment and the Director of Tourism for the legendary Three Little Bakers Theatre, he was part of the family business that both owned and operated this successful Wilmington venue for thirty-two years. And now Hugo is a man with fresh plans and vibrant long-term visions. To be successful, the first rule is grab some talented friends to help you get going. Old friends and world-renowned designers Weber-Prianti Productions have come aboard to both design the Ovations Restaurant and build a brand new stage. They will also produce Broadway Fever as it taps its way through July and August, guaranteeing us their new stage will stand tall. But that's getting one "shave and a haircut" ahead of the opening. Opening night is the 5th of July and stars Beatlemania Now. More than just a few album cuts, Beatlemania Now takes the audience from the beginning of an era to its lofty heights and back down to the unraveling of four lads from Liverpool. And when that show leaves, the curtain will rise again on July 10th with the bright lights of Broadway for the first of several long running revues. Broadway Fever taps its way through July and Augustand a wide range of musical historyhonoring the composers and choreographers of such shows as 42nd Street, No No Nanette, Jeckyll & Hyde, Footloose, Chicago and Wicked. Interspersed throughout the long running revues including Broadway Fever, Smokey Joe's Caf and The Sound of Christmas will be a group of "event" programming designed to spark memories and bring back the fun with Almost Queen (August 16th), Abbamania and Staying Alive (September 5th and 6th) and Vicious Cycle, Lynard Skynyrd Tribute (September 19th). There are plans for Autumn Jazz to coincide with Rehoboth's Jazz Festival and a live sixteen-piece band will put us In The Mood as we capture the essence of Glenn Miller to celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11th. So, if that's not quite enough planning ahead, there's more. Hugo believes that some music is best shared by friends in smaller spaces, so he's leaving a spot by the Ovations bar for friends like Stephen Durkin to come to town to entertain us. On the drawing board there's a Motown Night and maybe even a Open Mic Jam Night. As Hugo's plan unfolds, we can glimpse his vision. But each fold adds new details and what Hugo truly wants us to know is this is only a beginning. On his wish listall forms of art will find dates and space on his new stage. Dance Troupes, Chamber Orchestras, Musicals, Dramas, Comedies and Who-Done-Its are all book-marked pages in his plan. But for us, his most important dog-eared fold reminds him that a successful community venture needs the communityso tucked inside that fold are also pages for fundraisers and spaces left for decidedly local events. As Hugo says, "This is Rehoboth Beach's theatre." While he looks forward to our more distant neighbors visiting to stroll and shop, followed by dinner and a night at the theatre, he's really looking forward to sharing his love of the arts and his passion for theatre with new friends "on the street where he lives."For more information visit rehobothbeachtheatre.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No.06 May 30, 2008 |