Delaware Theatre Company's 'Take 2!' summer series arrives outdoors

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Tony-nominated Rob McClure returns to the DTC stage this season. (Photo courtesy of DTC.)
Tony-nominated Rob McClure returns to the DTC stage this season. (Photo courtesy of DTC.)

Building on the success of its exploratory Fall 2020 “parking lot” performances, Delaware Theatre Company is launching an expansive outdoor summer season. The Wilmington theatre has emptied its Riverfront parking lot, painted 58 “boxes” on the asphalt, and is ready to welcome outdoor audiences to Take 2!

A summer of outdoor performance

The shows feature performers from around the country and the region, beginning this week with Broadway’s Tony-nominated Rob McClure (who wowed audiences in DTC’s outdoor series last fall). A Philadelphian who’s commuted regularly to Broadway for many seasons (and hopes to again), McClure is the charming singer/actor known for his star turns in Chaplin, Beetlejuice, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Here, he’s performing Smile, a cabaret filled with favorite numbers that also features singer Maggie Lakis, with the NYC musician and master arranger James Sempliner on keyboards.

DTC’s busy summer schedule will present 11 different shows through early August, some week-long and others with more limited engagements. McClure’s cabaret is followed by A Tribute to the King (May 11-15) with Taylor Rodriguez, winner of the 2019 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest and star of Million Dollar Quartet. Next, veteran Los Angeles actor Harry Hamlin (who previously appeared at DTC in their 2019 production of One November Yankee) will debut his new show Icarus, The Sun and The Limelight.

Writer, actor, and stand-up comic Robert Dubac will perform three of his one-man shows (June 1 through 13), including the very popular The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? And June 15 to 19, NYC dancer and choreographer John Manzari, who brought down the house in both Philadelphia and at DTC in Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Thru Life, will kick up his terpsichorean heels.

The chock-full DTC schedule is also showcasing regional standouts, including jazz percussionist Jonathan Whitney (July 13-17); a one-man show from Philadelphian and three-time Barrymore winner Tony Braithwaite (July 27-31); and prolific composer/jazz saxophonist Fostina Dixon’s musical revue 5 Women to close out the season (August 6-7).

Bud Martin, DTC’s executive and artistic director, says that “this series will bring our longtime and brand-new patrons together—right in front of our theatre!” The atmosphere is casual, there’s free parking, and the general admission seating “boxes” will accommodate groups of two to four for each hour-long show. It’s a BYO event: bring your chair and refreshments. Managing director Matt Silva assures audiences that “of course we’ll continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines.” Seating areas will open an hour before showtime, allowing audiences to settle in for these lively—and yes! live—shows.

What, When, Where, and Accessibility

The 2020-21 Season: Take 2! presented by Delaware Theatre Company will feature 11 weeks of outdoor performances beginning May 4 through August 7. Find out more online. The theater is a short walk from the SEPTA/Amtrak station for those traveling by public transportation.

Image Description: Rob McClure poses in a portrait wearing a black suit, tipping a top hat as he looks at the camera.

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