What's happening in the Delaware Arts and Entertainment World

Nov 9, 2009

09:48 AM

Crooners, Stompers and Nutcrackers

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Welcome to Delaware Today’s arts blog, the spot to dish on the many cultural opportunities available to Delaware audiences. We’ll cover as many genres as possible, and note cool events offered by organizations large and small, in all three counties.

Ode to Buddy...and Marie

"An Evening With The Chirping Crickets" plays November 13-15 at The Delaware Children's Theatre. This authentic 1959 rock concert recalls the hits of Buddy Holly, including "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy."  Wilmington's own Bennett Dunn, who plays Holly, starred in the 2000 North American tour of "The Buddy Holly Story." The Delaware Children’s Theatre vets George Murphy and Kenn Koubek round out the Crickets on upright bass and drums.

Proceeds benefit the great Delaware Children’s Theatre, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. (Thank indefatigable founder and director Marie Swajeski for that.) “We decided to keep our ticket prices as low as possible,” says Dunn, “to allow for a little bit of recreation and escape for just about anyone wishing to travel back in time. We hoped that by doing this, we would appeal to an even larger audience.”  (Tickets are $20.)

The show will be nostalgic for parents and grandparents, and eye opening for kids. “I sometimes forget how the younger generation has been brought up on Top 40 (music), and rarely ever breaks the binding of a music history book.” The goal of the show, in other words, is to remember when rock was young.
 
The theater will be converted to a concert stage, complete with professional lighting and sound. Dunn promises a few surprises. Audience participation will be encouraged. Wear dancing shoes.

“We also hope that we'll bring more awareness about The Delaware Children's Theatre to our concert-goers, and that it'll be a successful turnout to allow for the theater to make much-needed renovations,” says Dunn.

Here, here. The theater needs some sprucing up. Efforts are needed to preserve this icon.

Grace Note: Dunn just got a callback for a new Broadway show called "Million Dollar Quartet," set to open in April 2010. He’s up for the role of Jerry Lee Lewis. Break a leg, Bennett.

Contact info: 655-1014 or dechildrenstheatre.org

Page 2: Lollipop, Anyone?

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