The Projectionist, a nationally acclaimed exhibition, will be on view at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover through June 23. The Projectionist is a documentary, book and multi-media exhibition that explores one man’s lifelong fascination with the golden age of film and, in particular, the grand movie palace. The exhibition features a fully operational 1920s-style movie theater that was created in the basement of Middletown native Gordon Brinckle. A documentary, created by Kendall Messick, provides a penetrating gaze into the life of this self-taught artist. The narrative follows the course of Brinckle’s life, revealing the profound desire, frustration and motivation that propelled him to create such a distinctive outsider art environment. Original works on paper by Brinkle such as blueprints and floor plans and fine art photographs by Messick of Brinkle operating the theater will also be on view. Visit March 10 for a members’ event, Discovering The Projectionist with Messick, whose documentary and photo stills provide a penetrating gaze into the life of a self-taught artist while revealing the influences that drove him to create such a distinctive art environment. Messick has an innate talent for documenting the multi-faceted lives of aging artists to reveal their remarkable artistic ability, passion and complexity. During this lecture, Messick will recount his six-year experience working with Brinckle. 674-2111, biggsmuseum.org
Making Merry
The Chapel Street Players present “The Merry Wives of Windsor” through March 9. See what happens when that old rogue Falstaff takes a shine to a couple of middle-class housewives. Feminine wit and wisdom triumph once again as the amused and annoyed wives teach Sir John a lesson in this bubbling, popular comedy. 368-2248, chapelstreetplayers.org
Hey There, Horton
If you love Dr. Seuss, you’ll love “Seussical,” a musical adaptation of the good doctor’s most beloved characters. See The Midnight Dreary Players of St. Thomas More Academy in Magnolia bring them to life at the Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover March 8-9. You’ll meet Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and a little child with a big imagination, Jojo. The story is priceless. 678-3583, schwartzcenter.com
Radio Reminiscence
If you’ve been following events at the Milton Theatre, get the latest—with dinner and a show—on March 9, when some of the gang from Possum Point Players in Georgetown present “Our Miss Brooks,” a stage adaptation of the radio classic, with a set of comedy skits from the period. A buffet dinner will be held beforehand at the Bay Leaf restaurant in Milton. And attendees will hear breaking news about the theater’s future. Tickets for dinner and the show are $25. That’s a bargain. 684-3400, miltonytheatre.org
Get Your Jig On
Quickly becoming one of the best-known bands in the Irish music scene today, FullSet creates a stunning and unique sound full of energy and innovation while remaining true to its traditional Irish roots. See them at The Baby Grand in Wilmington March 10. 652-5577, thegrandwilmington.org
Congratulations
The Newark Community Band celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special concert on March 10. The program includes marches by John Phillip Sousa and Britain’s Zoe Elliott, works by Malaguena, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, selections from Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” and much more. Let’s party. newarkcommunityband.com
Later in Newark…
Also on March 10, the UD’s quartet-in-residence, the Serafin String Quartet, presents its annual concert. The program includes Haydn’s “Sunrise” Quartet; Beethoven, Op. 132 String Quartet; and Respighi, Il Tramonto. Faculty artist Nol Archambeault, soprano, will join the presentation. (831-2578, music.udel.edu) Also presented by the UD music department, the Newark Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Simeone Tartaglione, will perform Guiseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem on March 12. 369-3466, infor@newarksymphony.org
Meant to Be
This is Delaware’s Year of Shakespeare, and UD’s Resident Ensemble Players are doing their share to celebrate with a production of the great “Hamlet” through March 7. From REP itself: “Murder, melancholy, and madness rock this powerful and engrossing production of Shakespeare’s greatest play. The death of his father and his mother’s hasty remarriage leave the Prince of Denmark in suspicious mourning when his father’s ghost appears to him, demanding revenge. Hamlet uncovers a world of deception and corruption as he grapples with his morality and mortality while putting into motion a plan of vengeance that will have devastating consequences for the entire kingdom.” Every time you see a Shakespeare play, it’s something entirely new. And who can resist a description like that? See it at the Thompson Theatre of the Roselle Center for the Arts in Newark. 831-2206, rep.udel.edu
The Jazz Sage
Music has often inspired painting. In the case of artist Ellen Priest of Wilmington, that music is jazz. You can see a solo show of her work at the Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery in Wilmington through March 29. A division Individual Artist Fellow in Painting, Priest’s Jazz Series works, begun in 1990, layer interesting papers—vellum, watercolor stock—with drawing and painting to capture the joy and energy of the music. Influenced by abstract expressionists such as Paul Cezanne, Priest says, “One sees a painting through a painting.” See for yourself what she means. 577-8278, artsdel.org
High Adventure—In a Hurry
In our time of extreme feats, we can still count Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days” as a classic adventure tale. See it performed by Phillly’s at Walnut Street Theatre at The Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover March 3. Watch Phineas Fogg defy death, storms, physics and other obstacles in his high-speed race around the globe while mistakenly being chased by police. What could be more fun? Since you asked, “Peter Pan” plays March 23-24. 678-5152, schwartzcenter.com
For Film Fans
We love The Rehoboth Beach Film Society, and this is why: films like “Protecktor.” March’s film for the Around the World series, “Protecktor” tells the story of Emil, a radio reporter in Prague who is married to the Hana, an actress whose new film has catapulted her into fame. As the Nazis come to power, Hana’s Jewish heritage precipitates her fall from stardom to the bottom of the social ladder. To protect her, Emil compromises himself by collaborating with the new Nazi-controlled state radio station. But as he starts enjoying some new attention and respect, his fidelity and loyalty to Hana falter. The assassination of the Third Reich deputy protector and a chance encounter on a bicycle bring their marriage to a crisis. See the award-winning film on March 6 at Movies at Midway. Admission to this film series is free and open to the public. 645-9095, rehobothfilm.com
Imagine This
Straight from the Delaware College of Art and Design to the Delaware Art Museum, professor Alexi Natchev has his work exhibited in “Imagined Places: The Art of Alexi Natchev.” The illustrator was born and educated in Sofia, Bulgaria. Since moving to the United States in 1990, he has illustrated 17 children’s books, collaborating with major authors and publishers. His work has been shown in many international exhibitions and he has received several national awards. His illustrations conjure up an imaginary world of playful creatures, fairy-tale places, folktales and more. “Imagined Places” features over 60 works by Natchev, including paintings and prints representing the range of his career as an artist and illustrator. See how he researches the art and literature of a region for his illustrations in order to create a sensitive balance between fantasy and believability. “Alexi Natchev is deservedly celebrated for his colorful and imaginative children’s books and is an accomplished printmaker with impressive fluency in various techniques,” says Mary F. Holahan, curator of illustration. “We are thrilled to be able to display the whimsical and sometimes enigmatic illustrations of such a distinguished artist of our region.” 571-9590, delart.org
Rhymin’ Reason
NPR listeners and poetry aficionados, this is for you. Liane Hansen, Emmy Award-winning radio personality of National Public Radio’s “Weekend Edition Sunday,” will be the mistress of ceremonies for this year’s Delaware State Poetry Out Loud finals. Upon retiring from NPR, Hansen moved to Bethany Beach from Washington, D.C. She joined Delaware First Media as an adviser in 2011, supporting the creation of WDDE 91.1 FM, the first Delaware-based NPR news station. Listeners of her “Weekend Edition Sunday” program know Hansen for her personal warmth, her signature voice, and her ability to engage her guests in lively, meaningful conversations. She will be a wonderful addition to an evening featuring some of Delaware’s best student poetry recitations. The competition happens at the Smyrna Opera House on March 6. Admission is free. smyrnaoperahouse.org
Beautiful Music
The excellent Music on the Brandywine series resumes at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford March 7 and May 9. On March 7 hear Grammy-nominated pianist Andrius Zlabys. Zlabys began his instruction in his native Lithuania before studying at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. He has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. Zlabys will play works by Grieg, Franck and Brahms. On May 9, pianist Michael Djupstrom and violist Ayane Kozasa will present a program of works by Enescu, Porter and Schubert, as well as an original composition by Djupstrom himself, titled “Walimai.” Composer-pianist Djupstrom has won awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Composers Forum. He has performed in the United States, United Kingdom, France, China and Japan. Ayane Kozasa’s performances have been broadcast on Philadelphia’s WHYY. She currently studies at the Curtis Institute of Music. “It is a joy to experience the stellar talent of these exciting new performers in such a beautiful setting and acoustically live space,” says Brandywine Conservancy director Virginia Logan. We couldn’t agree more. The museum galleries will be opening, making for a winning combination of visual art and music. 610-388-2700, brandywinemuseum.org
Fee Fi Fo Fum
The Kennett Symphony of Chester County will present “Jack and the Beanstalk…and other Orchestra Favorites” during its annual Children’s Concerts on March 3 at the International Cultural Center on the campus of Lincoln University and on March 10 at Emilie K. Asplundh Hall at West Chester University. The Kennett Symphony’s annual Children’s Concert has been a family tradition for many years. The hourlong program opens with Handel’s majestic “Entrance of the Queen of Sheba,” followed by Copland’s “Hoedown” from Rodeo. Short demonstrations of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion follow, then flute soloist Nicole Ozdowsky, second place winner in the 2012 Instrumental Competition, will perform. “Jack and the Beanstalk,” the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus closes the concert. 610-444-6363, kennettsymphony.org
Blue Screen, Blank Canvas
What digital information floats in cyber space, and what of it is worth your time? Find out as The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts in Wilmington presents “This Space Is Intentionally Left Blank” by Texas artist Kerry Adams, on view through April 21. Adams’ installation integrates traditional installation art and technology through the use of tablets that display live Twitter feeds. The installation encourages the viewer to engage with the exhibition by posting comments to Twitter with the hashtag #leftblank while within the installation. The exercise creates a literal dialogue with visitors about the ubiquitous nature of technology and the role of individuality and community in daily life. Introducing text, electrical cords, and tablet computers as aesthetic, sculptural elements, the exhibit hinges upon social media and physical engagement. According to the artist, being able to tweet to her exhibition “will allow you to add to the dialogue about attempts to communicate, failed communication, and the moments we miss right in front of us as we search for what is out of reach.” Ironically, as viewers approach the tablets to read the messages, a motion sensor forces the Twitter streams to turn off, metaphorically enabling us to unplug from the screen-based chatter and to re-engage with our present surroundings. According to Pear Analytics, most tweeting includes spam, self-promotion and babble. Only 3.6 percent of tweets are considered newsworthy and 8.7 percent of pass-along value. In “This Space,” Adams’ work would seemingly suggest the gallery as a test site for face-to-face conversation. 656-6466, thedcca.org
The Father of Illustration
“Before Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth rose to the height of their profession as illustrators, there was Felix Octavius Carr Darley, whose skill in book and magazine illustration made him one of the most popular artists of his time and earned him a reputation as the Father of American Illustration,” says Audrey Lewis, an associate curator at the Brandywine River Museum in nearby Chadds Ford. Go there to see his work in “The Magic Pencil of the Amazing F.O.C. Darley.” The self-taught Darley, active till his death in 1888, drew for works by such literary giants as James Fenimore Cooper and Nathanial Hawthorne. He settled in Claymont at a time when his work was so popular, books were advertised as “illustrated by Darley.” Take a look through March 10. 610-338-2700, brandywinemuseum.org
A Picture of Today
The year 2012 might have been Delaware Art Museum’s 100th anniversary year, but the celebration continues with “State of the Art: Illustration 100 Years After Howard Pyle” through June 1. The exhibition features more than 60 works from eight of the most important contemporary illustrators. In 2011, the museum launched its centennial celebration with a major retrospective dedicated to illustrator Howard Pyle. “State of the Art” marks the celebration’s end and reflects on Pyle’s legacy. In the century since his death in 1911, American illustration has diversified into a wide range of art forms, including animated films, computer-generated images to graphic novels and conceptual art. “No single exhibition could possibly do justice to the noisy, rambunctious history of illustration over the past century,” says curator David Apatoff. “I’ve chosen instead to feature eight individuals whose diverse talents demonstrate that illustration is no longer the singular profession it was in Pyle’s day. It pervades our culture, reaching out to us from billboards, television, store windows, and computer screens.” This is one cool exhibition, with something for everyone in the family. 571-9590, delart.org
