What better way to spend a gorgeous spring afternoon than by visiting The Freeman Stage at Bayside to hear about the summer 2016 season!? The sunshine and warm weather certainly has us dreaming of summer today, and hearing what’s in store at The Freeman Stage this summer only got us more excited. With headlining acts like Pat Benatar & Melissa Etheridge, Huey Lewis & The News, The Wailers, and The Band Perry, along with dozens of other performances, it’s shaping up to be another fantastic year at The Freeman Stage.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the variety of artists that our ninth season will offer to our guests,” said Patti Grimes, Executive Director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. “We hope the performances in 2016 will expose new patrons to our divers offerings and the importance of arts in the community, while continuing to be an inspiration for generations of families to come together for lifelong memories.” Grimes was joined by several other panel speakers to present the 2016 lineup, including the founder of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, Michelle DiFebo Freeman. “It’s both gratifying and humbling to lead an organization that is fulfilling a need in our community,” said Freeman before announcing (and sometimes singing) this year’s lineup. The Freeman Stage is a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, who present memorable performances and provide inspired arts education for all. “The arts simply do not and will not exist without community support,” said Freeman, thanking all of the countless hours that the volunteers and staff have dedicated to the programs at The Freeman Stage, while also encouraging others to come on board in 2016 as volunteers.
Over 70 performances will take place across Sussex County in 2016 thanks to the Freeman Foundation, with 51 set to take place at The Freeman Stage, including 13 National Recording Artists and three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. Combined, this year’s performers have nearly 40 Grammy Awards and over 60 Grammy nominations; one Academy Award and two Oscar nominations; and three Country Music Association Awards and nine CMA nominations. Some of the bigger names this year are The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Melissa Etheridge & Pat Benatar, Huey Lewis & the News, Cherry Poppin’ Daddy’s, Gladys Knight, The Wailers, and Phillip Phillips & Matt Nathanson. Tickets go on sale April 4 at 10am.
May
Saturday, May 28: Acrobats of Cirque-tacular
June
Friday, June 17: Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra: Starry Night Opera with Opera Delaware ($15)
Saturday, June 18: Cascading Carlos (10 a.m.)
Saturday, June 18: The Hit Men ($25)
Thursday, June 23: Craig Karges
Friday, June 24: Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles ($20)
Saturday, June 25: Mystic Drumz (10 a.m.)
Saturday, June 25: Tiempo Libre
Wednesday, June 29: Phillip Phillips & Matt Nathanson ($40-$90)
Thursday, June 30: BAM Percussion
July
Saturday, July 2: Monkey Monkey Music (10 a.m.)
Saturday, July 2: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes ($25)
Sunday, July 3: The Band Perry (7:30 p.m.; $50-$85)
Thursday, July 7: Justin Moore (7:30 p.m.; $45-$80)
Saturday, July 9: Groovy Nate (10 a.m.)
Saturday, July 9: White Party (fundraising event)
Wednesday, July 13: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo with Melissa Etheridge (7:30 p.m.; $50-$125)
Thursday, July 14: The Beach Boys (7:30 p.m.; $40-$75)
Friday, July 15: Locals Under the Lights
Saturday, July 16: Yosi Meets Eugene (10 a.m.)
Saturday, July 16: Cherry Poppin’ Daddies ($25)
Thursday, July 21: “Shrek the Musical” ($15)
Friday, July 22: Back to the ’80s with Jesse’s Girl ($20)
Saturday, July 23: Diane Macklin (10 a.m.)
Saturday, July 23: Marvin Gaye Experience ($20)
Wednesday, July 27: Huey Lewis & the News (7:30 p.m.; $42-$100)
Thursday, July 28: Kevin MaC
Friday, July 29: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ($20)
Saturday, July 30: Jungle John’s Jurassic Journey (10 a.m.)
August
Thursday, Aug. 4: Delaware Shakespeare Festival
Friday, Aug. 5: A Temptation Revue with Bo Henderson ($20)
Saturday, Aug. 6: John Donato (10 a.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 6: Classic Albums Live: David Bowie ($25)
Wednesday, Aug. 10: Silk Road Ensemble with Yo Yo Ma (7:30 p.m.;$50-$100)
Thursday, Aug. 11: Bumper Jacksons
Friday, Aug 12: ABBA the Concert ($25)
Saturday, Aug. 13: Mike Rose Magic (10 a.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 13: The Company Men ($20)
Thursday, Aug. 18: Terrance Simien ($15)
Friday, Aug. 19: Gladys Knight (7:30 p.m.; $50-$100)
Saturday, Aug. 20: Tamburitzans
Thursday, Aug. 25: Locals Under the Lights
Friday, Aug. 26: Bronx Wanderers ($25)
Saturday, Aug. 27: Kidsinger Jim (10 a.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 27: Wailers ($25)
September
Thursday, Sept. 1: First State Ballet
Friday, Sept. 2: The Drifters ($25)
Saturday, Sept. 3: Season Fireworks Finale with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra with U.S. Army Blues Band
Friday, Sept. 9: Bruce in the USA/ Operation SEAs the Day special guests ($25)
Saturday, Sept. 17: Joshua M. Freeman Foundation Golf Tournament (Fundraising event)
Saturday, Sept. 17: Arts & Jazz Festival with Joe Baione Sextet, Steve Fidyk and Vanessa Rubin.
