Small Town News

LeAnn Rimes, B-52s highlight Freeman season

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More than 50 acts to perform between Memorial Day, Labor Day

The Freeman Stage at Bayside upped its game for the 2011 performing arts season. The outdoor venue on Route 54 east of Sel-byville signed country music star LeAnn Rimes and the rock band B-52s - of "Love Shack" fame - to join 50 other live acts between Memorial Day and Labor Day. They will be among a diverse group of performers including Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Clear Space Theatre Co., Grammy Award nominee Gerald Clayton, the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, the DePue Brothers Band and Sussex County native Beth Cayhall.

This year's season of live per-formances also brings back the popular Tribute Week with bands performing Elvis, Rod Stewart, Tony Bennett and the Beatles. LeAnn Rimes will perform June 25 and the B-52s will be in town Aug. 9. Tickets for the Rimes concert will go on sale to the general public on April 22. For the B-52s, tickets will be available starting May 27.

Sponsored by the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, the Freeman Stage at Bayside aims to present memorable performances and provide inspired arts education for all. The majority, of the performances - 70 percent of them - are free to the public while the entry fee for Friday and Saturday night performances is $10. Seating is first-come, first-served on the grass in front of the stage or in seats brought by the audience. There will be a higher admission fee for the Rimes and B-52s concerts.

The Freeman Foundation honors the life of former Carl M. Freeman Foundation Chairman Josh Freeman, who died following a helicopter crash in December 2006. "The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation," according to foundation materials, "focuses on honoring Josh's legacy and spirit by creating opportunities to lift the human spirit."

Michelle Freeman, Josh's widow and president of the foundation, said she was happy to see the stage bringing everything from ballet to rock and roll to the Freeman venue. "And this year, it's something new, something significant for us to include national acts among our performers. Whether it's the east side or the west side of Sussex County, we're about a community coming together to bring the arts. Last year there were 4,000 children exposed to the arts through the Freeman Stage. This year we're looking to increase that to 6,500. Arts are an important part of public life and all of our concerts are totally open to the public."

Freeman said the foundation has invested $2.2 million in its arts initiative, including outreach performances in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, as the Freeman Stage moves into its fourth season, Freeman said the foundation is actively cultivating corporate and individual sponsors. "To be viable, we have to have partners," said Freeman. "We're calling on local leaders - business and political leaders - to join us in supporting the arts. We're upping the ante here."

Last year's performances drew 24,000 people. Over the first three years, 50,000 have attended.

This year's season at the Free man Stage opens May 28 with the StARTS and Stripes Memorial Day event featuring the Zany Umbrella Circus from noon to 3 p.m. Regular weekly performances will commence June 17 with a performance by the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and continue through Labor Day.





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