6 ABC Loves The Playhouse

The good people at Channel 6 ABC have some great things to say about The Playhouse on Rodney Square:

The Playhouse was built more than 100 years ago by The du Pont Company to provide world-class entertainment for the company's workers, "to provide the kind of cultural experiences that they were used to in other larger cities that they may have relocated from," says Executive Director Mark Fields, "it was part of an ongoing commitment that the du Pont family and the du Pont company have had to Wilmington."

Fields says the theatre's intimate setting is one of its biggest charms. There are just 1200 seats, "you're really in the same room with the performers and you can see the expressions on their face," says Fields, "you can feel the energy coming off the stage as an audience member, and the artist can feel it coming from the audience."

Mamma Mia is at the Playhouse March 4-6. Blue Man Group takes the stage March 18-20. For tickets and show times, go to www.DupontTheatre.com.

You can see the full report by clicking here.

Incredible Broadway entertainment can be found right here in Downtown Wilmington.

Here's a look at two of the upcoming shows:

Marty

Let's do the Time Warp Again!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic that has been entertaining audiences since its release in 1975.

For those not familiar with the phenomenon, the film starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Richard O'Brien, is normally shown in theaters while a cast of local performers recreate the action on screen and audience members talk back to the screen and even join in on some of the dance sequences.

Here's a look at one of the more popular dance scenes in the film:

The Rocky Horror experience is coming to Theatre N in Wilmington!

The first viewing is scheduled for Saturday, February 20 at 11:00 PM - with more to come.

The group "Frankie's Midnight Runners" will be providing the live entertainment during the film.

Click Here to learn more.

Come on, Wilmington, let's do the Time Warp again!

Marty

Thousands are discovering great entertainment Downtown!

I was talking with our friends at The Grand Opera House and The Playhouse on Rodney Square the other day. They tell me that in less than a week, they hosted close to 10,000 people who came to see shows at the two venues.

I'm hearing similar encouraging news from World Cafe Live at the Queen, City Theater Company, and Delaware Theatre Company. I don't think there's much of a question as to why. Each of these organizations are offering exceptional entertainment. In the coming weeks, you can enjoy musicals, dances, comedies, and more.

Here's a look (and listen) at Wilmo Wednesdays

Earlier this year, our friends at Gable Music Ventures and World Cafe Live at the Queen put together Wilmo Wednesdays - a weekly showcase of truly impressive talent from all over the region.

Hosted by the inspiring and very funny Melissa Bernard, Wilmo Wednesdays feature everything from R&B to electronica to spoken word to folk to rock to everything in between.

Here's a sample of just some of the musicians who have performed in recent weeks:

Did I mention that there's no cover charge for Wilmo Wednesday and that these are all-ages shows? 

Click here for more information about Wilmo Wednesdays at World Cafe Live at the Queen.

I hope you will join me at this and all of the other great things happening in Downtown Wilmington!

Marty

Delaware Today Magazine Calls Wilmington Cool

Delaware Today Magazine just published a great story on Downtown Wilmington:

The Birth of Cool: Wilmington Grows in Popularity

Here's a couple of excerpts:

singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke played at the groundbreaking of the World Cafe Live at the Queen—in the middle of Market Street, in the middle of a workday, with hundreds of very excited people gathered ’round. It seemed to me that Wilmington had crossed some threshold of cool.

...

Downtown Wilmington now has the coffee shops and music, and plenty of people—urbane locals and newcomers have caught on—in numbers sufficient to support even more new housing. By the end of the year, BPG will have created well over 1,000 units, with more on the way soon, and it aims to attract five new restaurants downtown over the next 12 months.

You can read the entire piece here.

I am thrilled with the public recognition we're getting in Downtown Wilmington - a cool place for dining, entertainment and living.

Marty