Del Shakes gets creative with a virtual game show

Delawareans may be increasingly vaccinated, but the uncertainty isn’t gone, especially when it comes to sectors of the arts like live theater.

Delaware Shakespeare, aka Del Shakes, which holds its annual Summer Festival outdoors at Rockwood Park in Wilmington, has postponed its 2020 “The Tempest” festival until 2022. In the meantime, the group will be holding socially distanced events, including “Shakespeare in Song,” outdoor performances being held in the parking lot of OperaDelaware from May 20 to 24.

If you still prefer to support the performing arts virtually for now, note that DelShakes is planning an online fundraising event called Play On!, a Shakespeare-themed (of course) game show where “Del-ebrities” are coached by Del Shakes artists Newton Buchanan, J Hernandez, Danielle Leneé and Emily Schuman (think “The Voice“). On Friday, May 7, they’ll perform scenes competitively, and the performers whose scenes bring in the most donations earn the title of Play On! Champion.

For a sneak peek, here’s artist Hugh Atkins and Michelle Schiavoni of Delaware Prosperity Partnership rehearsing with coach Buchanan — who was also the featured actor in the “Options in Delaware” video by Short Order Production House that was originally produced as part of Delaware’s Amazon HQ2 pitch package.

For more previews, check out Del Shakes’ YouTube channel.

The full roster of competitors:

• Hugh Atkins and Michele Schiavoni
• Arreon Harley-Emerson and Thomas Emerson
• Cleo and Todd Townsend
• Jin and Josh Twilley

Tickets for this fundraiser start at $90.