The summer season at Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach begins in a few weeks. This year’s main stage musicals include “Hairspray,” “Beautiful: Carol King Musical,” and “Rent.”
“Hairspray” will run from June 24th to August. 30th, “Beautiful” from June 27th to August. “Rent” from 28th and July 2nd to August. 26. Clear Space is a repertoire theater. This means that a cast of spinning artists will appear in all these musicals. Tickets are available for purchase at ClearSpaceTheatre.org.
Founded in 2004, Clear Space is Delaware’s second largest professional nonprofit theatre and is considered the producer of the state’s most prolific professional theatre. The name “clear space” refers to “focusing on the process, knowledge and humanity of artistic performance: the idea of finding oneself in what appears on stage.” Website.
Clear Space Managing Director Joe Gfaller said the theater has a responsibility to produce work for everyone in the area, providing a creative space for doing one or more.
“That makes everything in the clear space so fun and original,” Gaforer told the Washington Blade. “This community we are involved in includes all kinds of people, all backgrounds, all experiences, and it’s important to present the different tasks that drive each of them.”
In addition to three main stage musicals, Clear Space will offer Saturday morning children’s theatre production and Sunday cabaret. This will feature this year’s “Rupaul’s Drag Race” star and other popular entertainers, Tony and Emmy nominated artists.
“When we create a full season, including summer, what we always want to do is create a production that will please, excite and engage our audiences here in Rehoboth Beach and Coastal Delaware,” Gfaller said. “There’s always a mix of old and new theatres and musicals. Every year, there’s really something for everyone who runs through our entire season.”
Summer Flex Pass is also available for purchase. This allows patrons to see more than three productions during the summer repertoire season, saving 15% on single ticket prices. Passes can be used for three main stage musicals and cabaret shows.
Gfaller says that the musical “Rent” is “talking about what musical theatres can do,” and is a work that is “deeply grounded” in the experiences of the LGBTQ community.
“We know that the work we do has a lot of people in the communities we serve here that are meaningful connections to the queer community, so there’s always a part of the work we do,” he said.
Another aspect of the company, the Clear Space Arts Institute, offers voice, dance and acting classes over the summer. Many people are showing their capabilities this year and weight lists are being provided.
The Rebecca Luker Theatrical Partnership was developed within the last few years to honor the life and career of Broadway star Luker after his death in 2020.
“Through the Rebecca Luker Theatrical Partnership, CSTC is on its path to creating a more inclusive space for future arts leaders, celebrating the company’s mission and Rooker’s commitment to racial justice,” a press release from Clearspace said.
According to Gfaller, clear spaces are expanding. In the last 21 productions, 17 have sold out all their performances. There were only 170 people in the theatre, but there were over 24,000 participants in the year. Gfaller is excited that the enthusiasm is growing so high and they are hoping that customers will feel delighted and connected to each other after seeing the show.
“We want people to fall in love with a great live theater… in an intimate space. You can see great things on Broadway. You might need to have your opera glasses and see what’s going on,” says Gfaller. “What’s great about clear space is that it’s anywhere in the theater, no more than 3-6 rows from the stage, and it’s more magnetic, dynamic and inspirational about watching the theater in that context, because you feel like you’re in the room with the artist while the artist makes it happen.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
