Page 18 - Visit Wilmington Visitors Guide 2015/16

www.visitwilmingtonde.com/theaters
Two Gentlemen from Verona
at Rockwood Museum & Park
PERFORMING ARTS
When the stage lights go up, Wilmington really comes alive.
The theaters of Wilmington are the stuff of legends — the legends of the past and legends still being created today.
A historic trio of theaters in the heart of downtown Wilmington — the Grand Opera House, The Playhouse on Rodney Square and World Cafe Live at the Queen — have
drawn the brightest names in comedy, music and Broadway since before talkies came to the movies: Fred Astaire. Wilco. Norah Jones. Lewis Black. Helen Hayes. Elvis Costello. Itzhak Perlman. John Barrymore. Louis CK. Willie Nelson. The Pixies. The White Stripes. And many more.
The vibrant theater scene doesn’t just invite legends to Wilmington — it helps shape them. Bruce Willis got his start singing tunes and bussing tables during dinner theater productions at The Candlelight Theater. John Gallagher, Jr. (The Newsroom, Spring Awakening), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) and Keith Powell (30 Rock) all appeared on stage at Wilmington Drama League.
The stage lights are bright throughout northern Delaware. Broadway-bound musicals premiere at the Delaware Theatre Company before moving to New York. Shakespeare shines under the stars in Rockwood Park. Indie rock and folk acts blow the doors off the Arden Gild Hall.
The Grand Opera House
THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE
“I’m not saying this because Wilmington, Delaware is where I was born. I’ve been all over the world and played everywhere, but that is one of the top three best-sounding rooms. The sound is unreal.”
—George Thorogood, singer/musician
DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT ROCKWOOD PARK
“When the sun goes down, it feels like nature — the extra character in the play — really comes into focus. Performing under the stars, with the beautiful foliage of Rockwood for the backdrop, it feels that all involved are ‘kings of infinite space.’”
—Griffin Stanton-Ameisen, actor
WORLD CAFE
LIVE AT THE QUEEN
“
I love the way they restored that theater and kept it as original as they
possibly could. Beautiful old venues like that are really hard to come
by. A lot of them are torn down or dilapidated and ignored.”
—Raul Malo, singer of The Mavericks
Queen Theatre
16 | Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley |
@VisitWilmington | GreaterWilmingtonCVB
Courtesy Joe del Tufo
Courtesy Leslie Kipp
Courtesy Joe del Tufo