The Resident Ensemble Players at UD will present Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” October 15-November 1. See it. You’ll be emotionally spent by the third act—and grateful for the experience. “This is an exciting, funny, moving and sexy play, in which the theme of greed is both timely and pertinent,” says artistic director Sandy Robbins. “Cat” depicts the ultimate dysfunctional family, an avaricious group intent on clawing the family fortune rather than honoring their dying patriarch. The pivotal character is Maggie, “the cat,” whose rejections from an apathetic husband make her ache with loneliness. Maggie is played by Elizabeth Heflin, who joins REP after a celebrated tenure at Houston’s Alley Theatre. Director Adrian Hall has directed premieres of several Tennessee Williams plays, working alongside the iconic Southern playwright. That’s key, says Robbins. “Adrian has a deep and personal understanding of the play.” For more, contact REP at udel.edu/theatre or 831-2204.
—Maria Hess
Page 2: Feel the Fringe
Feel the Fringe
Move over, Philly. Now’s there’s Fringe Wilmington. The four-day alternative arts festival October 1-4, like the big city fests, will turn the streets into a citywide stage for local and national performers, visual artists and filmmakers. Performances and film screenings will occur concurrently at each of the festival’s 11 venues, including Theatre N, the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, OperaDelaware studios and The Grand Opera House, and there will be an after party at Fringe Headquarters on Market Street every night of the fest. “Fringe festivals have become known throughout the world for introducing audiences to innovative, thought-provoking art,” says Mayor Jim Baker. “The time is right to bring the excitement of the international Fringe movement to Wilmington.” For more, visit fringewilmingtonDE.com or call 576-2100.
Page 3: Southern Comforts
Southern Comforts
Check out a fall festival in Fenwick Island, or fall for country music in Dover. About 800 people are expected to visit The Freeman Stage at Bayside in Fenwick for its annual Fall Festival on October 17. Celtic music band Mythica headlines an event that includes arts and crafts, hayrides, burgers and dogs, and plenty of apple cider. On October 24 The Schwartz Center for the Arts hosts Nashville Backstage Pass, featuring megastar songwriters Georgia Middleman and Tony Haselden. The couple has written for Faith Hill, Shania Twain and Toby Keith. The performance of blockbusters will be a little bit country—and a lot of juicy stories. Contact the Schwartz at 678-5152 or Schwartzcenter.com. Contact Freeman at 678-5152 or freemanstage.org.
Page 4: High Five
High Five
Five by Design, a singing group with a sense of humor, joins the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for Radio Days at The Grand October 7-8. “Radio Days,” the group’s homage to the big band era, features segments from quiz shows, children’s programming and music—all the stuff that made listening to radio great. “Five By Design has appeared with more than 200 symphony orchestras, but this is its first Delaware appearance,” says rep Alton Accola. “We’re looking forward to seeing the historic Grand Opera House and performing with the DSO.” Contact the DSO at desymphony.org or 652-5577.
Page 5: Start Wine-ing
Start Wine-ing
Vendemmia on October 11 is the day wine lovers from the tri-state region and New York descend upon Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park for four solid hours of sipping, live music from groups like Al Santoro and the Hi-liters, and cuisine from Wilmington’s finest restaurants, including Harry’s Savoy Grill, C.W. Harborside and La Casa Pasta. Two delegations from Italy will display fine olive oils and crafts. The Societa da Vinci, which for six years has partnered with the city of Wilmington to produce Vendemmia, expects about 3,000 attendees—and more entrants than ever for the homemade gravy and wine contests. All proceeds go to local community groups, schools and families in need. For more, visit societadavinci.com, or call (866) 771-3014. Rain date is October 18.
—Maria Hess
Page 6: And Liberties for All
And Liberties for All
A national legend will honor two local ones during The 24th Gerald E. Kandler Memorial Award Dinner at the Hotel du Pont on October 7. Sponsored by the Delaware Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Foundation, the event brings home native Ron Suskind, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of several best-selling books, including “The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism.” Suskind will help salute attorneys Lawrence A. Hamermesh and Thomas J. Allingham II. “There are so many touchstones for me in Delaware,” Suskind says. “You’re reminded of the days when you’re both being and becoming.” For more, visit aclu-de.org or call 654-5326.
