The Other Pyle
We’re all intimately familiar with the life and work of illustrator Howard Pyle, but probably not as well acquainted with the oeuvre of his younger sister. Learn more in “Tales of Folk and Fairies: The Life and Work of Katharine Pyle,” on view at Delaware Art Museum until Sept. 9. Katharine Pyle became one of the most prolific woman writers and illustrators of her day, even if she did spend a good portion of her career working in the shadow of her famous brother. Her poems were published in the Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s Bazaar while she was still a girl, before she went on to study art at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and the Drexel Institute as a prelude to working as an illustrator. Her output includes 50 books, most famously Anna Sewell’s “Black Beauty,” which she illustrated in her own, inimitable style. See more now. You’ll be charmed. 571-9590, delart.org
A Great Escape
In celebration of Black History Month, Theatre N is screening “The Defiant Ones” on Feb. 22, a 1958 film about two convicts, one white, one black, who, chained together, have to overcome their racial hatred to escape from a work gang. This one is full of twists and turns. Don’t miss Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier in one of the most memorable and surprising film climaxes ever. 571-4699, theatren.org
More For Film Fans
Head to DiFebo’s Bistro at Bear Trap Dunes on Feb. 23 or Movies at Midway on Feb. 24 to see the five Oscar nominees for best live action short film, courtesy of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. Longtime local film critic Rob Rector will lead a discussion about each of the pictures, then you’ll be able to vote for the one you think will win the Oscar. You may recall that best short is the category won by Delaware’s own Luke Matheny last year. Find out which will succeed his “God of Love.” The nominees are: “Pentecost” and “The Shore” from Ireland, “Raju” from Germany and India, “Tuba Atlantica” from Norway and “Time Freak” from the United States. All the best with your voting. The society will announce the results next week. DiFebo’s Bistro is at 7 Clubhouse Drive, Ocean View. 645-9095, rehobothfilm.com
The Play’s the Thing
Delaware native David Robeson has enjoyed a very happy association with City Theatre Company, so he’s helping it celebrate its 18th birthday with a series of short plays, “Cruel, Calm & Collected,” Feb. 24-March 3 at OperaDelaware Black Box on The Riverfront. Robson is a winner of the Hotel Obligado Audience Choice Award for New Work and is a finalist for the Julie Harris Playwriting Award. See why during this special presentation. 220-8285, delawaretheatre.org
We love Possum Point Players for this: “New Faces of Shakespeare.” Those of us who can’t get enough of The Bard can visit Possom Hall in Georgetown on Feb. 26 for a series of scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Your players: Roger Ault of Rehoboth Beach, Stephanie Allman of Lewes, John and Nancy Gardner of Dover, Richard Hoffman of Milford and Sharron Karrow of Milton. Your director: Maureen Downing of Lewes. Your objective: only an afternoon performance of the world’s best literature. 856-4560, possumpointplayers.org
The drama “Miss Saigon” at the New Candlelight Theatre tells the story of U.S. soldier Chris and his love for native Kim in Vietnam during the war, as based on “Madame Butterfly.” The play continues through March 11. Don’t forget: dinner comes with the show. 475-2313, nctstage.org
A Great Week for Music Lovers
First, guest conductor Eckart Preu joins Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s David Amado for the latest in DSO’s classical series, “Sax and Romance” at The Grand Opera House Feb. 24-25. The title comes from Pulitzer winner Jennifer Higdon’s re-working of her Oboe Concerto for saxophonist Steve Temme. The program also includes Golijov’s Last Round and Schumann’s Fourth Symphony. We promise a highly seductive evening. 652-5577, delawaresymphony.org
On Feb. 25, our friends at Coastal Concerts present the Carpe Diem String Quartet Concert at Bethel United Methodist Church Hall in Lewes. The group considers itself “a classical quartet that rocks” for its easy and interesting transitions from genre to genre. You’ll hear beautiful classical music, as well as tango, folk, pop and more. Rocking, indeed. Check them out. 888-212-6458, coastalconcerts.org
Also on Feb. 25, jazz pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton and her Champian Fulton Quartet play live @ the baby grand. Fulton was a star at the DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in 2010 and a smash for her performances at the Grand Gala in 2010 and 2011. Fulton names Count Basie, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn among her major influences, and she’s played with such esteemed musicians as Louis Hayes, Jimmy Cobb, and Lou Donaldson. Find out why she has been described as “the most gifted pure jazz singer of her generation” by the Detroit Free Press and “the best new singer I’ve heard this year—make that several years” by The Village Voice. 652-5577, thegrandwilmington.org
Bangin’ Brahams
This is just the beginning: Brahms and Friends, Part 1, on Feb. 23. Presented by University of Delaware Music Department, the three-part series presents music for violin-piano and cello-piano performed by violinist Kate Ransom and cellist Lawrence Stomberg of Serafin String Quartet with faculty pianist Julie Nishimura and guest pianists Neal Kurz and William Ransom. Part 2 happens at UD April 3 and at First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington April 10. Part 3 happens at UD April 22. In addition to Johannes Brahms, you’ll hear works by contemporaries such as Robert Schumann as only the heavenly Serafin can play them. music.udel.edu
Photos Finished
The 79th Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography, presented by the Delaware Photographic Society, goes on display at display at Arsht Hall on the University of Delaware’s Wilmington Campus Feb. 26. See 300 prints chosen from 3,500 images submitted by photographers from over 36 countries, See it during business hours through March 4. 573-4419, 610-358-5191, wiep-photo.org
A Different View
Possibly one of the most important local photography exhibitions in recent memory, “Not as I Pictured,” Pulitzer Prize-winner John Kaplan’s photo essay documents his discovery, treatment and recovery from lymphoma, is closing soon. A native of Wilmington, Kaplan presents “Not as I Pictured” at Gallery 919 Market in Wilmington through Feb. 24 as the debut exhibition of a national tour. Kaplan’s project about the diverse lifestyles of American 21-year-olds won the Pulitzer for Feature Photography in 1992, and his work has been exhibited around the world. He has twice been named a photography juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. As with all shows at Gallery 919 on Market Street in Wilmington, admission to “Not as I Pictured” is free. 229-3266
