COLLABAGALA: A Non-Proft Gargantua of Giving

Innovation comes easy to Ajit George, founder of the nationally regarded and highly successful Meals From the Masters fund raiser for Meals on Wheels Delaware, now in its 15^th year. This event has become a signature of statewide benevolence and consumes an entire week of bountiful benevolence and gastronomic gorging.

His immediate brainstorm is Collabagala; i.e. Collaboration + Gala, to be staged at the Chase Center November 17. One hundred per cent of the net proceeds will benefit 10 Delaware charities. They are Blood Bank of Delmarva, Westside Healthcare, American Lung Association, Best Buddies of Delaware, Catholic Charities, Delaware Center for Justice, Newark Day Nursery and Children's Center, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Read Aloud Delaware and YWCA.

The RDC, the Chase Center and Strongpoint Marketing (George's firm) are the founding sponsors. Founding media sponsor is the News Journal.

The Delaware Community Foundation and DANA (Delaware Association of Non-Profit Agencies) are in the mix as well, although not beneficiaries.

Says Chris Grundner, CEO of DANA, “We chose to get involved in Collabagala as a partner because we believe the event could be a game-changer and it is important for us as the sector leader to help push the envelope a bit in the community. Because the event is brand new and so ground-breaking, we expect it to grow over time and get bigger and bigger each year.”

The founding sponsors are removing all the risks that non-profits confront when staging a fund raiser: management and promotion. The beneficiaries must sell tickets and solicit Silent Auction items from their respective lists of donors.

George expects well over $100,000.00 in auction items. Coming from so many different organizations, they will be copious and diverse.

Exclaims Ginny Marino, CEO of YWCA, 'Collabagala is a game changer and we are thrilled to be a part.”

Mary Hirschbiel, ED of Read Aloud Delaware, echoes the sentiments of all of the charities. “We look forward to sharing our story a wider community.”

The exposure that all will achieve in the “Collaboration” is ten times what they could do on their own. When a charity stages their own in house Silent Auction or other event, everyone knows about them from the starting line. This is reinforced by Michael Waite, Director of Marketing and Communications at Blood Bank of Delmarva. “This is an opportunity for us to collaborate (there's that word again!) with other non-profits. BBD does not do many special events so it is a chance to get involved with a fun event in a different atmosphere.”

The theme is James Bond, appropriate to the premiere of the new Bond movie at the new Penn Cinema at the Riverfront. (They are donating 1000 tickets).

The $125.00 ticket price includes food, open bar and $25 of chips for Casino Royale.

George admits he has no idea the turnout, but is laying the groundwork. The mantra of entrepreneurs will forever be....”with great risks come even greater rewards!”

For tickets and donations to the Silent Auction www.Collabagala.com

To become a sponsor, connect with Strongpoint Marketing 302.295.5060

An Irish comedy and

Delawareans are enriched by the DuPont Company and Family

I had reported several months ago on a Living History drama with music that I am writing entitled The DuPont Story A Family A Company.
The mission is to take the live multimedia presentation into schools throughout the state. I chose watershed events of the family/company over the past 200 + years and have completed research at Hagley.
Last month I met with 5 Associates of the Dept of Education (DOE) to certify that the show subscribed to not only Social Studies/History Standards but also Visual & Performing Arts and English Language Arts. It was thrilling to see the enthusiasm of these educational professionals. While I initially envisioned the hour production only, collectively they suggested creating a specific “Unit of Instruction” for the project and that my troupe would present as a culmination of the study.
A Delaware contingent – including some of the Associates – had recently returned from a trip to our Sister City, Nemours France. Next spring the trip is reciprocated and my troupe would be invited to stage the show for them.
The more I read about the family and company, the greater my passion grows. There is no state in the Union that has been impacted by a family or a company as have we in Delaware. Students have no understanding of how all our lives have been enriched. Had EI du Pont not chosen Delaware over other locations to found the company and had not AI, PS and Coleman du Pont (The Triumphant Triumvirate) not bought the company from the elders in 1902, we would be demonstrably poorer in so many disciplines.
Here are some facts:
1802 - EI bought 95 acres on the Brandywine for $6700.00 from Jacob Broom (as in street)
He constructed several mills with massive stone walls on 3 sides. The side facing the Brandywine was wood. If an explosion occurred, the force of the blast was carried across the creek. “A trip across the creek” was black humor for being in an explosion; a one way excursion. (In my research I discovered that I am a product of a trip 'across the creek'. The widow of a creek traveler married another mill worker. They are my great great grandparents.)
1902 - the 3 cousins bought the company with NO money down. The trio gave the elders stock in the new company they would create. The purchase price was $12 million. The only cash outlay was $2100 for attorney fees. AI and PS soon went over the books and discovered the true value of the company was $24 million. Now, that's a bargain!
A few years later a bitter rift occurred amongst them. AI paid local kids to bring glass bottles to Nemours. They were broken and implanted on the top of the wall to...”keep everyone out whose last name is du Pont!”
1909 - Coleman trumpeted, “I'm going to build a monument to myself 100 miles long and lay it flat!”. That was Rt 13 and cost $4 million, all his own money. This opened commerce statewide. Later PS paved Kennett Pike to travel unrutted to Longwood.
1919 - PS built the middle school on PA Ave. That was just the start. Soon, 17,000 DE children were given classrooms. He also built 86 schools for Negro children, their first formal education, spending $5 million personally. That was when $5 million meant something!
1927 - then President Lammot du Pont exclaimed, “the future of the company depends upon research. It is more important than profits.” 'Fundamental' research was funded. Gifted scientists were brought to the X Station and given major resources with no particular end product in mind. Wallace Carothers was one of them.
Braunstein's on Market Street was the first retail store in America to sell nylon stockings. 4000 pair were sold in one hour for $1.15 per.
1941 - nylon parachutes were needed and stockings were discontinued production. 2200 pairs of stocking yarn went into 1 parachute.
DuPont gunpowder has been the US arsenal of democracy in every war from 1812 to WWII
For more info, join my FaceBook group – The DuPont Story

Shakespeare times two in July

The Brandywiners mount their 79th season with “Kiss Me Kate'”, Cole Porter's greatest. A show within a show with the interior play being a musical based on The Bard's second greatest comedy, 'Taming of The Shrew”.
Written in 1948, it was Porter's response to the monumental shift in musical productions created by Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Oklahoma”, defined as the first 'integrated' musical, wherein songs and dances are immersed in a well conceived story with dramatic goals and able to evoke emotions other than laughter.
Unlike Gershwin and Berlin, poor Jewish boys from Hell's Kitchen who plied their wares for $.25 a day on Tin Pan Alley, Porter's grandfather owned a uranium mine and sent the scion to Yale. A remarkable bit of trivia about “KMK” is that Porter wrote the piece in excruciating pain from a horse riding accident that crushed his legs. Eventually, both would be lost.
Many of the same faces are back in major roles from last year's “Guys and Dolls”. Director Henry Porreca and Music Director Clint Williams helm the same stations. Debbie Hollingsworth Arnold, who starred in every show during her tenure at DE Children's Theatre, diverts from meek Salvation Army Sarah of last year to the shrewish Kate. Bob Miller, who originally purchased Candlelight Dinner Theatre from the O'Tooles, is the egomaniac Fred. Jeff Santoro, last year's lead, plays industrialist General Howell and sings a song that has nothing whatsoever to do with the plot. I've always felt Porter was obsessed in finding a play for “From This Moment On” and stuck it in “KMK” while the playwright wasn't looking.
Art Bookout as Bill and Erin Cates as Lois round out the supporting cast along with Ted Harting and Jim Conte as the malaprop twins who sing and dance a show stopper, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” Porter is my favorite lyricist wit.
From July 28. Admission includes Longwood Gardens. Thank you P.S. du Pont for building Rt 52, your philanthropy and stewardship of the land! Brandywiners.org 478.3355

DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Having been in business only 1/10th of The Brandywiners fabled tradition, this group mounts for the first time one of The Bard's 'problem' plays. The sobriquet came from the ambivalence of its mission: the first 3 acts are ripe with psychological sturm und drang and the last two are comedic. The lead character suffers insane paranoia to begin the show but apparently can laugh about it in conclusion. (I guess that's why they are called psychotics.)
The most pastoral setting is provided care of the Shipleys and the Bringhursts, former squires of Rockwood Mansion. Picnic baskets are available through Greenery Caterers online.
From July 15. Delshakes.org

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

I had reported last week on a management change at DuPont Theatre regarding DE All State Theatre. Founder/producer Jeff Santoro told me that there is a good chance they will not be returning. I suggested taking the big bucks delivered to DuPont Company and use it to air condition DE Children's Theatre.

Aisle Say - Much Theatre coming in the fall

Aisle Say recently commented on the upcoming seasons of The REP Ensemble of the UD and The Media Theatre. Local houses have some entertaining surprises too.

Wilmington Drama League

The Wilmington Drama League opens Sept. 17 with a Lillian Hellman's classic “The Children's Hour.” The drama is set at an all-girls boarding school. An angry student runs away and to prevent being returned fabricates a lie about the two headmistresses and a lesbian affair; destroying the womens’ careers, their relationship and their lives.

Following in October is one of the great dance musicals of all time, “Chicago.” Original Broadway Director/Choreographer Bob Fosse created the most celebrated and imitated (next to Russian ballet legend Petipa) dance movements of all time. New Candlelight Theatre co-founder Jody Anderson, an extremely talented choreo, is on board. One can expect a multitudinous thrusting of pelvises.

For tickets, call (302) 764-1172 or visit WilmingtonDramaLeague.org

New Candlelight Dinner Theatre

New Candlelight commences the fall with “Little Shop of Horrors,” certainly one of the quirkiest plots of any successful Broadway show in history. It's a rock musical, but the rock is from the '60's with Motown and doo wop. A nebbish florist shop employee, Seymour, raises a man-eating plant. Aisle Say suggested to the stage Director that his first wife could play the plant. Little Shop opens Sept. 11. The show has some great tunes. 'Suddenly Seymour' is a classic.

Dr. Suess's immortal characters are front and center beginning Nov. 6 with “Suessical The Musical”. The plot follows the adventures of Horton the elephant. Playing until Dec. 22, this would be great family holiday entertainment.

For tickets, call (302) 475-2313 or visit NewCandlelightTheatre.org

Delaware Theatre Company

Delaware Theatre Company starts a bit late this season with the opening of “Sylvia” on Oct. 20. Last season DTC staged at least one show if not two with actors playing multiple parts. This fiscally prudent plan is revisited with their second production, “Around The World In Eighty Days,” wherein 5 actors portray 39 characters. The pressure is on to have a boffo season.

For tickets, call (302) 594.1100 or visit DelawareTheatre.org

Grand Opera House

In this relatively small environment, Aisle Say consistently preaches performing arts collaboration. The 2010 Annual Grand Gala on Saturday, Dec. 4 will feature a sizzling performance by legendary progressive rock band Procol Harum and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra.

From the first time I heard the ethereal “Whiter Shade of Pale” in 1967, I considered it simply otherworldly. It transcended the hard rock of that era brought to us by Led Zepplin, The Who or The Stones. It provoked me, as a 20 year old, to find out just what a 'vestal virgin' was.

The tune has been judged the most played recording in UK history.

On November 18, 1971, Procol Harum created a seminal moment in pop-rock history by performing with The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Da Camera Singers at Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. Widely credited as the first band to bridge the gap between modern pop-rock and the classical music world, the recording of that concert went on to sell millions of albums and opened the door for the marriage of pop music to symphony programs all over the world.

“Both The Grand and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra have been seeking to present a joint event of this magnitude for the past few years,” said The Grand’s Executive Director Steve Bailey. “When you have the region’s best and biggest house band, you naturally want to show them off, and there could be no better vehicle than the re-creation of the music from that legendary concert by Procol Harum and The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.”

The after party at The Gold Ball Room will return local favorite Club Phred, an eight-member '60s-'70s cover band whose great show last year made the feature act, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, appear robotic in comparison. Setzer dialed that one in. Club Phred takes no prisoners.

Contact Ivy Lane for tickets at (302) 658-7897 or ilane@grandopera.org. More info: TheGrandWilmington.org/Grand_Gala

Aisle Say has the Dog Day August Doublewide Blues

Aisle Say has the August Dog Day blues...the doublewide blues. No theatre to report on the one hand and on the other some wins and losses for Delawareans. But, as Lady Macbeth urged, I will 'screw my courage to the sticking place' and have at it.

WHYY

At least three-dozen Delawareans woke up and took notice several months ago when their televised nightly sleeping pill, Channel 12's “Delaware Tonight” ceased operation. Scintillating reportage it was not. But it was OUR bland reporting! Yes, they were the quintessential talking heads. But they were OUR talking heads. But, in June of 2009, after obtaining millions in grants from the state for the refurbishing of their Wilmington studio and construction of their Dover studio, WHYY slinked off in the night as stealthily as Mr. Irsay's Baltimore Colts to Indiana many moons ago.

After protestations from Sen. Ted Kaufman and Mayor Baker, Delaware's “coverage” was replaced by an alleged news magazine “First” for an hour each Friday night.

“WHYY is not adequately serving the community needs of its city of license, which is Wilmington,” bellowed Mr. Mayor.

Your intrepid Aisle Say investigative reporter tuned in last Friday to determine how “First” was serving taxpayers. (Even with this indecent behavior they still received $100,000.00 from the Joint Finance Committee this fiscal year.) Last Friday's “news” story featured Balinese dancing.

“The sport carries you where you want”, chanted the Balinese dance guru.

The aged man covered the dance floor slowly, very slowly.

“We would dance if nobody showed up to see us”, he exclaimed.

Yup, that says it all.

The second segment was even more compelling: 15 minutes on dehydrating vegetables.

“But wait,” exclaimed the dehydrator, “we also do macaroons. Wednesday is macaroon day!”

The FCC denied Wilmington's challenge to WHYY for license renewal. They win. We lose.

DELAWARE DIVISION OF ARTS 2011 GRANTS

Eighty-six organizations throughout the state received grants ranging from $1000 to $110,000 totaling $1.4 million. (Last year it was $1.47 million to 84 groups). The funding comes from both the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment For The Arts.

Last year Aisle Say took to task some of the perceived imbalance of the grants. It appears more reasonable in FY 2011. The way I define this imbalance is, one, the number of people employed in the organization, two, the number of guests they serve, and three, the positive economic ripple effect it has on the community (e.g. overnight hotel stays, restaurant traffic and visits to other venues).

New Candlelight Theatre justifiably was awarded $25,000. Their quality and their integrity is high and they are the ONLY surviving dinner theatre in the state. And they are the best theatrical value. On the down side their profit margin has all the profile of a flounder laying on the bottom of the bay.

The Grand received $101,000; Delaware Art Museum, $110,000; Opera Delaware, $62,000; DE Symphony, $101,000. That's all good. The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts – arguably a pioneer on the Riverfront – attracts nowhere near the traffic of The Grand or even New Candlelight, and they received $93,000.

In relation to guests served and economic ripple, it is, however, very difficult to swallow the $43,000 given to the Yorklyn-based Center for The Creative Arts. At least that is down from an outrageous $68,000 in last year's grants!

But for the second year running, the Aisle Say Golden Fleece Award goes to Delaware Dance Company on Elkton Rd. These pre-teens are impossibly cute in their tutus I am sure, but $32,000 (down from $40,000) for a group that is only witnessed by their doting parents and grandparents? We've got to get their lobbyist and send him to D.C. That dude has the suave to bring millions in earmarks to Delaware!

DELAWARE THEATRE COMPANY

Still no news about changes to their fall schedule. Aisle Say was told by their Marketing Manager that the revised schedule was to be out in one week. That was six weeks ago. An e-mail and a call to Mary Ann Ehlshager, the Managing Director, was not returned.

POSTSCRIPT

Aisle Say commented a few months back that Tim Geithner, US Secretary of the Treasury reminded him of Robert Stack when he played Eliot Ness on “The Untouchables.” Well, dear reader, we have another one. I was watching the evening news with my dear sister Liz. Thad Allen, the Coast Guard Commandant in charge of the oil spill was before the podium. Tell me he is not Oliver Hardy reincarnated!

Isolationism at DTC

Question: What do the World Cup refs, the US in the '20's and the Delaware Theatre Company have in common? Give up? Isolationism.
The refs indubitably feel isolated due to their horrific calls; the US kept to herself during that decade. We took little part in international relations. We isolated ourselves in terms of trade. Tariffs were put on foreign goods to protect American industry. Because they could not sell their goods to America, European countries could not afford to buy agricultural goods from the USA, one of the main causes of The Great Depression.
And DTC? Instead of embracing their public they have instituted a bunker mentality. During their "artistic crisis" there has been virtually no effort - short
of an announcement on their website - to inform the public about a fall
season that is just three short months away. That information is old news
and was posted before the former Artistic Director was let go. In speaking
with a representative there, at least one production - "Three Days of
Rain" - has been shelved and "Sylvia", which was to be the third
production, will now begin the season. An announcement of the full list my
be out in the next two weeks, Aisle Say was told.
All business owners appreciate the value of networking. This requires no explanation. That's why the DE State Chamber, the NCC Chamber and the Wilmington CVB have countless functions.
Point # 1. I own a micro business, distinct from my passion with live theatre. I personally attend at minimum one mixer a week. Over the past five years, I feel safe in reporting I have never seen the marketing director of DTC at any function. Should not someone be out promoting their vision? That individual can't be that busy. One must think DTC are members of all three groups, most especially Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Point # 2. We know that performing arts groups generate approximately 40% of revenue on ticket sales. With the spate of shows in the past few years, that percentage may be less at DTC. At this veritable crisis point (my words) in their almost four decade history, would this not be the time to embrace the public and ask what THEY want? Why not ask season ticker holders to an event at the theatre, fully explain the circumstances and then ask them for their opinions as to the type of shows they would support? Taking it further, why not ask everyone in Delaware what they think and what they want. That outreach will create empathy which will translate into ticket sales.
Point # 3. Reach out to the DE Division of Arts and every other performing arts group in the state. Collaborate. Create ways to help one another. All have similar issues. OperaDelaware collaborates with Delaware Symphony. First State Ballet collaborates with the Symphony as well. Synergism is the key. DTC has always stood 'isolated'.
Point # 4. Call Sandy Robbins, Artistic Director of the U of D's REP Ensemble. As I have mentioned in this column ad nauseam, the REP is the grandest theatre in the state. To understate, it is heavily subsidized by the University. But Robbins is an Elmer Gantry of live theatre, a zealot. He would not turn down the opportunity to advise.
Point # 5. Full disclosure. I sent to the Mary Ann Ehlshager, the person in charge now, personal suggestions of shows for this upcoming season. Two were productions I wrote revolving around Judy Garland and George Gershwin which premiered here in Wilmington and consequently sold to regional theatres around the US. A third idea was my writing an original show using scripts from “I Love Lucy”. The fourth idea was a family oriented “Sound of Music” Sing A Long fund raiser.
Trust me, I have received multitudinous more no's than yes's over the years. However, in the submission to DTC, I received no response at all. I am a Delawarean. I write an ARTS column, hello! It would have been nice for them to say, “thanks, Monsieur Aisle Say, but your ideas suck”.
DTC, don't isolate yourself. Embrace the community and we will hug you back. Even Aisle Say, who has experienced a lifetime of rejection – I'm 0-2 in marriages - on every level imaginable! Create a diverse season of laughter and tears. Make us feel and we will be there for you.