Lots of Great Theater

Life is a Cabaret

Clear Space Theatre Company’s Summer Repertory Season begins on June 28 with the opening of “Cabaret,” followed by the opening of “Annie” on June 30 and “Broadway at the Beach” on July 5. The three shows play in two-day rotations, Tuesday-Sunday through Sept. 2. In “Cabaret,” Katharine Ariyan, a seven-year veteran of Clear Space, will take on the iconic role of Sally Bowles. Ariyan began performing at the age of 8 when she attended a summer theater camp at the Delaware Theatre Company. She joined Clear Space at age 12. “Since my first year of ‘Scrooge!’ I’ve been taught by the Clear Space staff in their Broadway Bound program, my high school theater classes, and in numerous productions as an actor, crew member, and even as an administrative intern.” Ariyan moved on to study theater at Towson University, where she just completed her freshman year. Though Bowles is usually played by an older actor, the character is actually a mature 19-year-old nightclub chanteuse. “I’m intrigued at how brash Sally is; there is always a fire burning under her,” says Ariyan. “I also admire her strength. She fights through her tough times with everything she’s got.” See what Ariyan brings to the role, as well as parts in “Annie” and in the musical revue “Broadway at the Beach.” We’re keeping an eye on her. 227-2270, clearspacetheatre.org

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Discovering Japan

The Savoy Company will present Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado” at Longwood Gardens June 29-30. This fully staged production features the musical and artistic talents of The Savoy Company, the oldest amateur theater company in the world dedicated to Gilbert & Sullivan operas, which has been a Philadelphia tradition for 112 seasons. The comedic story, one of the most popular shows ever produced, tells of a Japanese minstrel who falls for the wrong girl (of course). A full, professional orchestra, including musicians from a variety of Philadelphia-area music ensembles, accompanies The Savoy. Rain dates are July 1-2. (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org

Shakespeare All Over

This one is still a ways off, but we’re happy to tell you now about one of the best events of summer, the annual Delaware Shakespeare Festival. To celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, the players will stage the hilarious “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” July 13-28 at Rockwood Mansion Park in Wilmington. During one enchanting forest night, a fairy king and queen duel for supremacy, young lovers fall wildly out of and into love, and the world’s worst acting troupe puts on a remarkable show. It’s a magical way to celebrate the season—and one very important event. Stay tuned for more. 415-3373, delshakes.org

The Shows Go On

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Who can resist this? In “The Skin of Our Teeth,” the inventor of the wheel, his family and his saucy maid face calamity after calamity—war, flood, famine, climate change and economic collapse—yet somehow manage to pull through. Yes, there is hope. This uproarious Pulitzer winner even offers wooly mammoth. Need we say more? Catch the UD’s Resident Ensemble Players production at Roselle Center for the Arts through July 5. 831-2204, rep.udel.edu

Disappearing Like Magic

Here’s one to see before it ends June 29: “Magical Visions: Ten Contemporary African American Artists” at the Mechanical Hall Gallery of UD. “Magical Visions: unites the work of artists who pioneered significant changes in mediums such as assemblage, fiber, painting, photography, printmaking, quilt making and sculpture to video with performance. Through their own vision, the artists give birth to works that challenge traditions and open new vistas. Artists included in the exhibition are Terry Adkins, Sonya Clark, Melvin Edwards, Sam Gilliam, Barkley L. Hendricks, Kalup Linzy, Odili Odita, Karyn Olivier, Faith Ringgold and William T. Williams. Get there soon. 831-8088, udel.edu/museums/

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The Art Goes On…

First “Once Upon a Time in Delaware/In Quest of the Perfect Book” explores decorative book covers through the eyes of artist Nina Katchadourian and local collector Mary G. Sawyer. Katchadourian used volumes from Sawyer’s collection of 2,000 rare books to makes photographs of books grouped so their titles can be read as a sequence. The results are both humorous and insightful. Meet Katchadourian at 1:30 p.m. for discussion and dessert reception. Reservations are requested. In commemoration of the museum’s centennial, “100 Works for 100 Years” displays a fraction of the 12,000 objects in its collection, each selected for its aesthetic merit, popularity or provenance. Each tells a unique tale. 571-9590, delart.org

You love to visit the beach and mountains during summer. So did some of the country’s most famous artists, and they created some unforgettable images while there. The Brandywine River Museum presents them, along with scenes from Europe, Asia and the Mideast, in “Summer Sojourns: Art on Holiday.” See nearly 100 paintings, drawings and prints from its collection, including work from N.C. Wyeth’s visits to Port Clyde, Maine, including “Herring Gut” and Untitled (View of Eight Bells), and works that show how the ocean and dunes in Rehoboth Beach inspired some of Howard Pyle’s paintings of pirate lore. There’s more, of course. See it through Sept. 3. (610) 388-2700,

If ever you were even slightly disturbed by your own body, you may be interested in “Entropy” by Carson Zullingier at the DCCA through Sept. 9. The artist explores the inner self through a photographic examination of the body’s decline from birth till death. “We see metaphors for youth and age, dark and light, good and evil, and the spiritual and the physical,” says curator J. Susan Isaacs. “The gallery space represents a tomb and a laboratory,” reflecting Zullinger’s interest in both Egyptian funerary architecture and physics. How do our inner and outer selves relate to the universe? This is one way to look at it. 656-6466, thedcca.org

The Station Gallery features a show of new paintings by Lynne Lockhart and Kirk McBride. Both paint in oil, gathering inspiration from their travels and from their home on the Eastern Shore. The exhibition runs through June 30. 654-8638, stationgallery.net

Cheers to Winterthur for “Uncorked! Wine, Objects & Tradition,” a celebration of 300 objects and imagery created in response to our love of wine. “Uncorked!” shows how wine was marketed and consumed in America and Britain from the 1600s through the 1800s. See unique wine bottles, decanters and cellarettes, lead figures of Bacchus, “Champagne Charlie” song sheets, advertisements and more. The exhibition will be on view through Jan. 6. winterthur.org/uncorked

Our Best of Delaware Elimination Ballot is open through February 22!

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