The 213-page CREATE Plan includes an interactive map, policy recommendations, and more to show the importance of the creative economy and how to strengthen it.

Creative economy makes $3.7B; group plans to raise that

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Culture

The Delaware Arts Alliance released a long-awaited, 213-page plan Tuesday that highlights the benefits of the creative economy and its effects on attracting tourism that ultimately generate $3.7 billion. “This will be the first plan of its type in the nation,” said Neil Kirschling, executive director of the alliance in a press conference last week. “No other state has attempted …

The five winners will put on a rendition of their plays March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Delaware Theatre Company.

5 named young playwrights by Delaware Theatre Co.

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Culture

Five Delaware high schoolers have been honored by the Delaware Theatre Company as 2023-2024 Delaware Young Playwrights winners. This year’s winners are: Amara Harrison (Charter School of Wilmington): “You Remind Me” Emily Howard (Charter School of Wilmington): “Splinter” Valentine Logan (William Penn High School): “Hatshepsuts Djed” Darby Ann Tisdel (MOT Charter High School): “Best Friends” Mia Trotter (Appoquinimink High School): …

Children's Theatre

Children’s Theatre seeks its tribe to help mark 50 years

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

If you ever performed with Delaware Children’s Theatre, helped get shows on to the boards or brought grandkids to enjoy a performance in the historic Victorian building, your tribe is hunting for you. On Jan. 27, the theater will celebrate its 50th season, the stewardship of John and Marie Swajeski and decades of bringing theater to families with the 50th …

Conductor

DSO guest conductor chose a life of the baton in high school

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

The guest conductor who will lead the Delaware Symphony Orchestra Friday plunged into music after a grammar school test showed he had an aptitude for it. A native of Durham, North Carolina, André Raphel said the schools then gave students a test to determine if they had a musical aptitude and an aptitude for playing a musical instrument. “It was …

Pretty Woman

‘Pretty Woman’ actress says characters ‘pop’ more on stage

Betsy PriceCulture

Rae Davenport’s favorite scene in “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” playing this weekend at The Playhouse on Rodney Square, involves her walking into a scene that shocks her into exclaiming “Oh, my God.” She won’t give away which scene, but hints that the audience really enjoys the moment. In a musical based on a 1990 movie about the romance between a …

Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts Barry Schlecker

Brandywine Festival of Arts adds holiday sale on Riverfront

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

Delaware event impressario Barry Schlecker, who organizes September’s popular Brandywine Festival of the Arts, has always wanted to do an indoor arts show. Urged by painter friends who won’t do outdoor shows and inspired by their studio tours, Schlecker decided this year to approach the Chase Center on the Riverfront about a holiday event. Artists had told him they’d participate …

David Stradley Delaware Shakespeare

DelShakes director David Stradley to leave at end of 2023

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

David Stradley, who helped Delaware Shakespeare evolve from a one-trick pony to a multifaceted year-round organization with multiple programs, will leave at the end of 2023. The 21-year-old arts organization will start a search for two new leaders — a managing director and an artistic director — to replace Stradley, who led Delaware’s only professional Shakespeare organization as producing artistic …

Hagley paint

Plein air artists descend on Hagley for a day of painting

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

On Thursday morning, plein air artist Denise McDaniel was scoping out just the right setting for her work at Hagley Museum and Library. Location is key, said McDaniel, a Columbus, New Jersey, resident who was part of 50 artists with the American Impressionist Society visiting Hagley and Winterthur Museum, Gardens and Library this week as part of their 24th Annual …

Arts

Arts leaders to gather Wednesday to talk about growing sector

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

Arts, business and political leaders will gather Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the Milford Public Library Amphitheater to talk about the creative economy. The meeting at 10 a.m. will focus on the “Creative Economy and Cultural Tourism Recovery and Growth Plan” that’s been put together by the Delaware Arts Alliance and is expected to include government agencies at local, state and …

Delaware Symphony Orchestra season

DSO’s 23-24 season: guest conductors, John Williams salute

Betsy PriceCulture, Headlines

The Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-24 season will feature traditional classical programs interspersed with Hispanic and Latin-inspired works, a celebration of the music of John Williams and a chamber concert devoted to African music. Along the way, three guest conductors will handle baton duties when Music Director Laureate David Amado isn’t on the podium to open and close the season. “It’s …