Desperation Down Under
Australia, 1789. In these early days of the settlement by British prisoners, supplies are short and hope is scarce. A British lieutenant who believes art can revitalize the human spirit tries to raise morale by staging a comedy by the prisoners. “Our Country’s Good” is a testament to the redemptive force of human creativity. See it by UD’s REP through March 23. 831-2204, rep.udel.edu
Fair Play
When professor Henry Higgins tries to transform cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a proper lady, the relationship evolves into something more. Find out what as Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach stages the classic American musical “My Fair Lady” through April 1. Erin Williams plays Eliza opposite Delaware Comedy Theatre founder David Warick in the CSP production, which scales the original Broadway cast of 48 down to 11, under the direction of David Button and Doug Yetter. Fear not—the small size diminishes the charm and energy not a whit. 227-2270, ClearSpaceTheatre.org
Great Minds
What if Picasso and Einstein met before they fractured space and time and changed our understanding of the world? This unpredictable comedy by Steve Martin imagines such a meeting, with a big twist. See it through March 31 at the Wilmington Drama League. 764-3396, wilmingtondramaleague.org
Majore Fun
Meet Majore Trio, “three friends who have finally had the opportunity to play chamber music together,” says violinist Johannes Deitrich. “It’s like kids getting Christmas Day over and over.” The Majore Trio—Rebecca Butler, piano, Marie-Aline Cadieux, cello, and Dietrich—performs during The Arts at Trinity on March 24 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1108 N. Adams St. in Wilmington. The concert is free. theartsattrinity.org
Dream On
Pieces of a Dream, a local contemporary dance company dedicated to the development of original and challenging works, offers its annual dance concert, “Higher Plateaus,” on March 23 at The Grand Opera House’s baby grand theater in Wilmington. The show is a world premiere choreographed by Delaware’s own Benjamin Sterling Cannon. We promise some of the most interesting and delightful dance you’ll see in Delaware. 1-800-37GRAND, ticketsatthegrand.org
Dance On
Can’t get enough terpsichorean thrill? Philadelphia’s renowned Koresh Dance Company performs at The Grand Opera House on March 25. Famed for its unique blend of ballet, modern and jazz dance, the company’s choreography is eloquent and explosive, every bit worthy of the Inquirer’s apt description: “sheer physical joy.” See Koresh’s powerful, energetic style in action on March 25. 652-5577 thegrandwilmington.org
More Dance
Passion flares when the Lord of Darkness challenges the Lord of Light. Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” is a classic tale of good versus evil based on Irish folklore. You’ll hear stirring music, witness stunning pyrotechnics and be thrilled by precision dancing—both traditional and modern—when the show steps into DuPont Theatre in Wilmington March 20-25. For more than a decade, this one has thrilled people and sparked interest in Celtic dancing around the world. Now it’s Wilmington’s turn. 656-4401, duponttheatre.com
Playing for Peace
The Delaware/Lahore/Delhi Partnership for Peace is dedicated to the creation of goodwill and mutual understanding among the peoples of the United States, India and Pakistan. In that spirit, it presents a unique evening of Indian and Pakistani dancers at Pearson Hall of the University of Delaware in Newark on March 24. Pakistani-American performer Jeffery Iqbal will be joined by a band, singer Darshana Menon and the Jankhar Bollywood Dance Troupe, which will perform traditional Indian dances. It promises to be a must-see performance. 764-6654, tarbiyyah.org/partnership/
From Ravel to Beethoven
The Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Series continues March 23-24 with guest artists Christina and Michelle Naughton joining on piano in Struggles & Glories. The program begins with Ravel’s “Ma Mre Oye” (Mother Goose). The Naughtons—identical twins who graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia—join for Mozart’s Concerto for 2 Pianos. Then, after intermission Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5—always a crowd pleaser. 652-5577, delawaresymphony.org
Arias Up Close
If opera is more your style, visit OperaDelaware in Wilmington for the latest in its Studio Series March 23-25. You’ll hear the best regional talents sing classic arias while you enjoy the Cabaret-style setting. 652-5577, operade.org
Catch it at Cab
Few Broadway musicals have have been as popular as “The Producers.” See the uproarious comedy in Wilmington at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, performed by some of the best student actors in the state, March 23-April 1. There will be more than enough laughs to go around. cabcallowayschool.org
Bigger and Bigger
Ongoing at The Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, “Jewels of the Generations: The Legacy of Loockerman and Bradford Family of Dover,” displays early American clothing, Victorian jewelry, European and Asian ceramics, American and European silver, American and European portraits, and Delaware- and Philadelphia-made furniture that was collected by Vincent Loockerman and his descendants, the Bradfords. When Loockerman died in 1785 he was probably Dover’s largest collector of Delaware and Philadelphia-made furniture. On March 21, curator Ryan Grover, and Margaret Dunham of Delaware Public Archives will discuss the Loockerman family and its influence through objects in the exhibition. 674-2111, biggsmusuem.org
Sale Away
The 63rd annual Chadds Ford Art Sale & Show at Chadds Ford Elementary happens March 23-24. You’ll see more than 70 regional artists, and you’ll have an opportunity to hear Catherine Quillman, author of “100 Artists of the Brandywine Valley,” lecture about the Brandywine Tradition. The featured artist of this year’s show is Paul Scarborough, whose work is featured in private and public collections throughout the country including a commission by NASA currently hanging in the National Air and Space Museum. Betsy Wyeth, wife of the late Andrew Wyeth, started the event in 1949 and continued her involvement in the show while her son, Jamie Wyeth, was a student at Chadds Ford Elementary. The sale remains the school’s largest fundraiser. (610) 388-1112, cfes.ucfsd.org/artshow
Flower Power
We just can’t stop feeling like spring sprung three weeks ago, so as we enjoy the daffodils and crocuses, our thoughts turn to the “A Secret Book of Designs: The Burne-Jones Flower Book” at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington through April 22. Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones made a series of circular images, each inspired by the name of a flower, between 1882-1898. In 1905 the images were published as individual in a beautifully printed volume. Only 300 editions were printed. “A Secret Book of Designs” features all 38 images. Rare, indeed. 571-9590, delart.org
Naughty, Naughty
Bridget sees a great opportunity to spend a summer in New York by living with her Nana, yet she has no idea that her sweet Nana is running an illegal boutique, selling hand-made lingerie. See the craziness that follows when Possum Point Players in stages “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” as a dinner theater at Possum Hall in Georgetown on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays March 23-April 1. The cast is an ensemble group of the best actors in Sussex. 856-3460, possumpointplayers.org
More Cultural Exchange
Coastal Concerts presents Spanish Brass, straight from Spain, on March 24. See the chamber group perform traditional fugues and toccatas at Bethel United Methodist Church in Lewes. 888-212-6458, coastalconcerts.org
