Under new director Sydney Arzt, almost famous as founder of the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, the Schwartz Center for the Arts has stepped up its programming, with luminaries such as the Rebirth Jazz Band leading a parade to kick off a celebration of the theater’s improvements. The new Schwartz offers more ballet, more kids concerts, more celebrations of important events such as MLK Day and more plain ol’ great entertainment, like May’s tribute to Ray Charles. (226 S. State St., Dover, 678-5152, www.schwartzcenter.com)