Resident Ensemble Players
“Angels in America: Part One” Sept. 25-Oct. 12
“The Millionairess” Jan. 22-Feb. 8
“All in the Timing” April 15-May 10
REP’s season is full of firsts, so you can’t choose only one. The opener, “Angels in America: Part One,” the 1991 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama and winner of two Tony Awards, will be the first professional production of the play in Delaware. The comedic season closer, “All in the Timing,” a collection of six one-act plays, is also a debut production for Delaware. The production closest to our hearts? “The Millionairess,” directed by renowned playwright Theresa Rebeck.
Clear Space Theatre
“On Golden Pond” Sept. 26-Oct. 12
“On Golden Pond” shows the complicated relationship between Ethel and Norman Thayer and their soon-to-be married daughter, Chelsea. Dot Neuman draws on her experience at Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C., to direct this 1979 Ernest Thompson creation. Spring at Clear Space brings productions of “Steel Magnolias” and a musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.”
City Theater Company
“Come Together” Oct. 3
CTC celebrates its 21st birthday with an evening of Beatles music at World Cafe Live at the Queen. Produced and directed by Wilmington’s Joe Trainor, “Come Together” features current and former City Theater musicians and actors, backed by a six-piece rock band, nine-piece horn section and a string quartet. The set will be a retrospective of the Beatles’ extensive career, featuring “She Loves You,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Norwegian Wood,” “The Ballad of John and Yoko” and other hits.
Delaware Art Museum
“From Houdini to Hugo: The Art of Brian Selznick” Oct. 18-Jan. 11
Renowned illustrator Brian Selznick has created representations of Harry Houdini, Walt Whitman, Marian Anderson and the fictional character Hugo Cabret from his novel, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” “From Houdini to Hugo” presents more than 100 paintings and drawings by the Caldecott Medal-winning artist. Corresponding pages from his books accompany the art, providing a read-along experience for all viewers.
Marian Anderson String Quartet
Coastal Concerts Jan. 17
The first African-American ensemble to win a classical music competition, the quartet was given permission by famed contralto Marian Anderson to use her name as its own. Coastal Concerts presents a performance on the weekend before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, featuring a free community outreach program and a formal concert at the Bethel United Methodist Church Hall in Lewes. The program features Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork III’s new composition, “String Quartet #2 Variations on ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot,’” and an audience sing-along.
Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art
Jamie Wyeth Retrospective Jan. 17-April 5
The first retrospective exhibition of Jamie Wyeth’s works is big news. The exhibition will include the local icon’s early childhood works, portraits of John F. Kennedy and Andy Warhol and landscapes of the Brandywine Valley. The exhibition was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
“Love and Death,” featuring OperaDelaware Feb. 13
The Delaware Symphony will present “Love and Death,” a performance conducted by David Amado and featuring guest artists from OperaDelaware. It will include pieces by Bizet, Verdi and Mascagni for both opera and orchestra.
First State Ballet Theatre
“Carmen” and “The Young Lady and the Hooligan” Feb. 28
The First State Ballet is preparing for its biggest Grand Opera House season in the company’s history. The highlight will be the Delaware premiere of an ambitious twin-bill production. The well-known, one-act ballet “Carmen” will be paired with a performance of “The Young Lady and the Hooligan,” a contemporary Russian ballet composed by Shostakovich in 1962. It’s an edgy, modern piece rarely performed in the United States and boasts an exciting plot and choreography. The season also includes “Giselle,” “The Nutcracker” and “Coppelia.”
Biggs Museum of American Art
“William D. White: Vision and Voice” March 6-June 21
The Biggs is unveiling an exhibition showcasing Wilmington’s William D. White, who was influential in bringing social realism to Delaware by choosing subjects outside of the norms of the local Brandywine School. His Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts education was the foundation for a career that included murals, graphic design and representations of the common man in his work.
Hagley Museum
Hooked Rug Exhibition March 20-July 26
There will be one—count it—one object in this exhibition: a stunning 10-by-12 foot hooked rug that depicts detailed moments and icons of the Brandywine Valley’s history. They include the Brandywine battlefield, gunpowder mills, the original DuPont Co. office and Christ Church. The illustrations are presented in a unique textile format: the first hooked rug made of DuPont’s nylon.
Delaware Theatre Company
“Because of Winn Dixie” April 8-May 3
A children’s classic brought to life, DTC’s adaptation of the Kate DeCamillo novel tells the story of a young girl’s irreplaceable bond with her dog. The whole town falls in love with Winn Dixie, and your family will, too. This musical—the first pre-Broadway musical to star a live dog in a leading role—has yet to hit the Big Apple. With music by Duncan Sheik of Tony Award-wining “Spring Awakening” fame, the show is one-of-a-kind.
Schwartz Center for the Arts
“A Tribute to Ray Charles!” May 16
The Schwartz is saving the best for last. Its season finale will feature classic songs, fan favorites and songs from the movie “Ray.” The show stars Pete Peterkin, a well-known Ray Charles tribute artist and impersonator. The season also includes longtime, local fave Crabmeat Thompson and his Blues, Rock & Folk Festival on Oct. 25; “The Wizard of Oz,” Nov. 22-23; and “The Pirates of the Caribbean Ballet,” April 25-26.
