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Top Flight Entertainment is Close at Hand this February and Beyond

A few weeks ago I started a series of blog posts predicated on the idea that a lot of people feel as if they’re stuck inside because of cold weather doldrums this time of year. I thought it would be a lot of work to go searching for things to do during these “quiet” months.

I was wrong. In fact I’ve only had to search for a very short time to realize that from Wilmington down to the beaches there’s no shortage of entertainment options. In New Castle County I spotlighted historic towns and taverns that beckon visitors for brisk winter walks and comfort food by the fire https://www.activeadultsdelaware.com/blog/posts/2024/02/12/get-some-fun-out-of-february-at-so-many-new-castle-county-attractions/. And last week I had the opportunity to describe why the Dover’s Air Force Museum is a must-see if you have grandkids (like ours) and how can learn about and share appreciation for law enforcement by visiting the Delaware State Police Museum https://www.activeadultsdelaware.com/blog/posts/2024/02/13/spend-time-in-dover-this-week-to-get-rid-of-the-mid-winter-blues/.

This week I’m zeroing in on another way to come in from the cold: watching live theatre at some of our state’s most popular venues. Here are four shows hitting the stage now and over the next few weeks.

The Genesis Show at the Copeland Hall in Wilmington

If you’re a Phil Collins and Genesis fan you probably have all kinds of emotional memories of the 1980s music that topped charts and created icons. You can go straight back on Saturday, February 24th at 8 p.m. with The Genesis Show, featuring the Genesis Tribute Band, which recreates the legendary 1980 performance that took place at the Lyceum Ballroom in London. It was a worldwide smash even though an album of the concert wasn’t officially released, with songs that included Turn it On Again and Behind the Lines along with several Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel tunes. The Grand Ballroom and Copland Hall https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/productions/8030-the-genesis-show/ are located at 818 Market Street in Wilmington. Visit the Web site at https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/ to see all of the great upcoming shows and interactive events to be presented over the next few months at The Grand. 

Also in Wilmington – Relive Civil Rights History through the March on Washington

At 9:30 a.m. on February 27th Copeland Hall will also be the setting for Keep Marching, a one-act play by Mad River Theater Works, with music exploring the triumphant March on Washington, where Martin Luther King, Jr. made his historic speech that drew more than a quarter of a million people together for a peaceful gathering to demand equal rights for all people. It’s written to appeal to people of all ages, including those who remember that powerful day, and children and others who would love to learn more about it. Get the details at https://www.thegrandwilmington.org/productions/7940-keep-marching/

Vibrant Classical Peace with Trio Zimbalist at Bethel Methodist in Lewes

Trio Zimbalist – comprised of Czech violinist Josef Špaek, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin, and pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu – has earned significant praise for its lively classical music both here in the U.S. and as an ensemble in residence at the Gennadius Library in Athens, Greece. In honor of its namesake, the famed violin Virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist from the Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music, the trio recently released its debut album featuring the music of Lera Auerbach, Mieczyslaw Weinberg, and Dvoák. On Saturday, March 2nd at 2 p.m. they’ll perform at Bethel Methodist in historic downtown Lewes as one of the premier Coastal Concerts events this season. Learn more at https://www.coastalconcerts.org/concerts/.

A Raisin in the Sun and More at Clear Space Theatre

I could go on and on about Rehoboth’s amazing Clear Space Theatre https://www.clearspacetheatre.org/our-shows/current-season/, a vibrant performing arts center that stages wonderful plays, musicals and other types of theatre a block from the beach. On February 24th and 25th it’s the place for A Raisin in the Sun, a Readers Theatre Collaboration to benefit The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice. For decades this groundbreaking show has told the tale of a family on Chicago’s South Side, where three generations tapped their dignity and strength face up to the challenges of racial injustice. It’s an inspiring and heartfelt journey into the past, yet still reflects so many dynamics still at play today.

Visit the Clear Space site https://www.clearspacetheatre.org/our-shows/current-season/ to learn more about the diverse offerings for the rest of the season, including a stage version of the hit film The Bodyguard, timeless musicals that include My Fair Lady and Sweeney Todd, performances of The Jersey Boys and Rock of Ages and all kinds of fun shows for your grandkids.