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Fun Takes Center Stage

Whether your idea of fun is a theater production or a hike through the park, you can find something to do in Newark any day of the week.

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Live theater fans can get their fix at the University of Delaware, home to the Professional Theatre Training Program
(udel.edu/theatre), a three-year curriculum. In the third year of their studies, students join the professional troupe, the Resident Ensemble Players. Next year, when the university accepts new student applications, the professional actors will continue offering productions. “We don’t ever go dark,” says Joann Browning, associate dean for the arts in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Undergraduate student theater groups include E-52, the Harrington Theatre Arts Company and the Khulamani Theater Group.

The drama continues off campus. The all-volunteer Chapel Street Players (27 N. Chapel St., Newark, 368-2248, chapelstreetplayers.org), now in its 76th season, puts on four main stage productions each season, along with a one-act showcase, special events and an annual June FUNdraiser, this year scheduled for June 10-25. The “House of Frankenstein” will feature Renee O’Leary, who’s appeared in every FUNdraiser—all 48 of them.

In Newark, music-lovers, no matter their preference, are also in luck. At the university, Xian Gao leads the Master Players
(music.udel.edu), which continue to reach new audiences. The Master Players for Halloween offered a family-friendly performance, and at Christmas, they performed the “Messiah.” The Handel piece also featured the University of Delaware Chorale, which in 2010 won three second-place awards and a third-place award at the 42nd International Tolosa Choral Contest in the Basque region of Spain.

UD is also home to the Serafin String Quartet, the department of music’s ensemble-in-residence. Meanwhile, the Newark Symphony Orchestra (369-3466, newarksymphony.org), founded in 1966, features about 80 musicians and at least eight concerts per season. There is typically a symphony series and a chamber series.

For cutting-edge music, fans head to Mojo Main (270 E. Main St., 369-MOJO, mojomain.com), which took over where the old East End Café left off. It’s a sister location to Mojo 13, a popular music venue in Holly Oak.

The fine arts are equally well represented. University of Delaware museums (udel.edu/museums) include Mechanical Hall, which in 2004 reopened as the home of the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art; the Mineralogical Museum; and Old College Gallery, which has changing exhibits.

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