(DOVER, Del.—Aug. 7, 2019)—On Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., The Old State House, located at 25 The Green in Dover, Del., will present “The Scorched Pamphlet: Sherlock Holmes Returns to Delaware,” a theatrical performance in which the celebrated British detective, on his second trip to the First State, is called upon to solve a grisly case at Delaware College. Holmes and Watson are now in a race against time, a reluctant administration and impossible odds to solve one of Delaware’s unsolved mysteries. Admission to the play is free but visitors are encouraged to arrive early to ensure seating. For additional information, call 302-744-5054.

“The Scorched Pamphlet: Sherlock Holmes Returns to Delaware” was created by historic-site interpreters from The Old State House in celebration of the Dover Comic Con comic-book festival that will be held at a variety of Dover locations on Aug. 17, 2019. The play is based on an actual New Castle, Del. court case and features Sherlock Holmes, the fictional private detective who appeared in four novels and 56 short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published between 1887 and 1927.

Completed in 1791, The Old State House is one of the earliest state-capitol buildings in the United States, serving as the home of Delaware’s legislature until 1933 when the General Assembly moved to larger quarters in Legislative Hall. The venerable structure now appears as it would have in the late 1700s during the United States’ critical early years as a nation. It features a courtroom, governor’s and county offices and chambers for the state’s Senate and House of Representatives. The building is situated on Dover’s historic Green, a public area designated by William Penn in 1683. The Green is a partner site of the First State National Historical Park.

The Old State House is administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

-End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-739-7787
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

DOVER – Three of DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation’s state parks will be transformed into the Forest of Arden as the Brown Box Theatre Project performs its eighth annual free, outdoor Shakespeare tour of “As You Like It” during September.

The performances will be held at Holts Landing State Park, Holts Landing Road, Dagsboro, DE 19939, on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Wilmington State Park’s Rockford Tower on Thursday, Sept. 13, and at The Green at First State Heritage Park at Dover on Friday, Sept. 14. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

“As You Like It” transports audiences into the heart of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. It features a motley cast of characters who, when they’re banished from the court, find that misdirection, desire, and serendipity unite to form a tangled web of identity and love that could only be possible in a pastoral haven where expectations are turned upside-down.

These programs are supported in part by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division of the Arts promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 227

(DOVER, Del.—Nov. 10, 2014)—American history will be brought to life during “Two Civil War Soldiers,” a play that will be staged during the month of November 2014 at the Arsenal, located at 30 Market St., in New Castle, Del. Sponsored by the New Castle Court House Museum, performances will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public but reservations are required by calling 302-323-4453.

Written by Delaware history buffs George McDowell and David Price of Newark, and Jack Witzman of Wilmington, “Two Civil War Soldiers,” is based on factual information about two Confederate soldiers and their experiences after being captured at the Battle of Gettysburg and their subsequent imprisonment at Fort Delaware, a coastal-defense fortress on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River that housed thousands of Confederate prisoners of war during the American Civil War.

Part of the New Castle National Historic Landmark District, the Arsenal was originally constructed in 1809 as a one-story windowless building used by the United States government as a storage place for weapons and ammunition. Transferred to the Trustees of the New Castle Common in the mid-1800s, the building was enlarged to two stories in 1855 for use as a school. It served as the New Castle High School until 1930 and was later used for offices and a restaurant. The Arsenal is owned by the state of Delaware and administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs which leases it to the New Castle Historical Society for use as that organization’s headquarters.

-End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts announces the awarding of $2.9 million in grants for Fiscal Year 2015, to support 110 arts initiatives throughout the state. Twenty-five communities across Delaware, from Arden to Seaford, will receive grants to support arts programming and services, arts education, and related arts marketing and promotion.

“A vibrant arts environment stimulates the economy and provides a richer quality of life,” said Governor Jack Markell. “In Delaware, where the arts are among our top 10 employers, we see how the arts contribute to the revitalization of downtown areas, enhance our educational system, and attract new businesses and residents to the state.”

Division grants support a variety of projects and programs, from storytelling for preschool reading readiness, to professional performances in dance, theater, and music. Delaware museums and art leagues in large and small communities alike receive support for internationally recognized collections as well as local artists and artisans.

“With a wide array of very strong applications this year, funding decisions were particularly challenging,” reported Division Director Paul Weagraff. “Panelists from across the state deliberated thoroughly and thoughtfully to assist in reviewing and ranking applicants in all grant categories. This input from our constituents helps to ensure that we are supporting arts programming that is of high quality and serves all Delawareans.”

Funding for the Division of the Arts to support arts programming in Delaware comes from the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

A complete listing of Fiscal Year 2015 grants can be found at: www.artsdel.org/grants/grantawards2015.pdf.

Delawareans can now easily find arts and culture events happening today, soon, and nearby with the new “What’s On” smartphone app.

“What’s On” shows an interactive map of Delaware with pins for arts events. Tapping a pin on the map shows an event’s details, contact information, driving directions, and links to the event’s website. Users can also scroll through lists of upcoming events.

The “What’s On” app was developed by Delaware’s Division of the Arts in association with the Delaware Government Information Center (GIC), a state agency charged with helping to connect citizens to government via the internet. Behind the scenes, the app is powered by data from DelawareScene.com, which has been providing arts event information to the public since 2008.

“We are thrilled with this app as it makes the arts even more accessible in Delaware,” said Paul Weagraff, Director of the Division of the Arts. “‘What’s On’ lets you see what’s happening in the arts from your smartphone. People can easily make plans to attend a performance, museum, film, concert or other arts event on the spur of the moment.”

“Many people are last-minute planners,” said Mike Mahaffie, Acting Director of the Delaware Government Information Center. “People launch apps on their phones to see which movies are playing, find places to eat, and figure out what they’re going to do. As part of the State’s eGovernment initiatives, we’re happy ‘What’s On’ makes local arts events a new option for these people.”

“What’s On” can be downloaded at no cost from the App Store and Google Play (search for Delaware What’s On) or by visiting www.delaware.gov/topics/apps.