Chicago, Leno, Hayes heading to Freeman Stage

The band Chicago, comedian Jay Leno, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker and county star Hunter Hayes are some of the headliners for the 2017 concert series at the Freeman Stage in Selbyville.

This year’s performers include three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, a Caldecott book honoree as well as a two-time Tony winner. In total, acts have 15 Grammy Awards and over 30 nominations, two Country Music Association Awards, three Emmy Awards and 17 nominations.

“This year’s lineup showcases the heart of our mission and is a beautiful mix of performances," said Patti Grimes, executive director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. "We hope our patrons take a chance and experience a different genre — whether its through dance, with hip hop or ballet performances; classical, blues, rock, country or jazz. The diversity is a great way to celebrate our 10th season as we continue to create opportunities to elevate the human spirit and be a vital source of exceptional cultural experiences.”

The venue has attracted more than 322,000 visitors since 2008 with a diverse offering of dance, theatre, live music and children’s performances.

Grimes hosted the luncheon event to celebrate the 10th season of performances at the Freeman Stage on Wednesday, March 15 at The Cove Bar and Grill, adjacent to the Freeman Stage in the Bayside community in Selbyville.

But it was Michelle Freeman, president and CEO of the Freeman Foundations, who unveiled the long-awaited list of top-name acts who would be performing at the Freeman Stage in the 2017 season.

The contents of the list is a closely kept secret every year until the announcement.

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Even members of the Freeman Stage Board of Directors did not know who would be on the list. Board member Drexel Davison said that it's become something of a guessing game each year.

Maureen Griffith, who has been a sponsor for four years and a volunteer for three, said only a handful of staff are aware of the contents of Freeman's "big reveal" before the announcement.

"They keep that under wraps," she said. "I'm very excited about these artists. It's always different, they bring a different mix of acts to the stage every year, and every year it just gets bigger."

In her address, Grimes described the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation's purpose in creating the Freeman Stage to address a lack of cultural and arts venues in Sussex County.

"When the stage opened in 2008, we weren't sure how the community would respond, but we were certain of two things," she said. "One, that the arts were not available in our area, and two that we were committed to leading with an entrepreneurial spirit and creating an organizational excellence that would lead to creating a unique arts experience, an inclusive, welcoming experience that is informal yet special."

Since then, the foundation has grown, and the venue's influence has grown, too.

Visitors from 42 states have experienced performances there. The volunteer staff has grown to 223 individuals, who have donated 34,126 hours to Freeman Stage, saving the foundation $722,619 in wages. Ticket sales have poured over $13 million into the Sussex County economy. Over 80,000 children have benefitted from the foundation's arts in education and cultural outreach programs.

"Our mission is all about children having access to high quality arts experiences," Grimes said. "We've been a little busy the last nine years."

The Freeman Stage has outgrown the original stage, which was officially retired at the end of the 2016 season. A new, configurable moving stage will be unveiled this spring that will allow larger performances. Ultimately, the venue will be replaced by the Freeman Coastal Arts Center, which is still in the planning stages.

READ MORE: Goodbye to the old Freeman Stage, hello to the future

Gov. John Carney recently dedicated March 2017 as March for the Arts Month, dedicated to increasing awareness of educational arts programs. He praised the role of the Freeman Stage in bringing the arts to Sussex County and emphasized the importance of the arts in the future of the state.

"What's important to that is innovation and creativity, and the arts help cultivate that in our young people," he said. "Thank you for what you are doing for our state. It's very important. And it's fun."

Ticket sales will open April 3.

The season will begin at 7 p.m. May 27 with a performance by the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

Regular weekly performances will continue with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra on June 16.

FREEMAN STAGE AT BAYSIDE 2017 SCHEDULE

June 16: Starry Night Opera: Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra & Opera Delaware ($15)

June 17: Tedeschi Trucks Band ($45-95)

June 23: Kashmir: Live Tribute Led Zeppelin Band ($20)

June 24: The Stray Cat Lee Rocker ($20)

June 30: Jay Leno ($55-$100)

July 1: The O’Jays ($50-$75)

July 6: Dustin Lynch and Granger Smith ($45-$75)

July 11: Blues Traveler ($44-$58)

July 12: The Wallflowers/Better than Ezra ($54-$69)

July 14: “Legally Blonde” by Clear Space Theatre ($15)

July 17: Gary Clark Jr. ($40-$65)

July 21: Back to the ’80s with Jesse’s Girl ($23)

July 23: Hollywood Nights: A Bob Seger Experience ($20)

July 28: Hunter Hayes ($35-$65)

July 29: Michael Franti & Spearhead’s Love Out Loud Tour ($50)

July 30: Sutton Foster Brings Broadway to the Beach ($42)

Aug. 1: An evening with Chicago ($50-$100)

Aug. 3: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue ($35-$60)

Aug. 4: 50th Anniversary Summer of Love: Songs from the Woodstock Generation ($25)

Aug. 8: Mary Chapin Carpenter ($35-$55)

Aug. 11: ABBA the Concert: A Tribute to ABBA ($28)

Aug. 12: Joey Alexander Trio ($25)

Aug. 17: “The Little Mermaid” by Clear Space Theatre ($15)

Aug. 18: The Weight Band: Playing Songs of The Band ($20)

Aug. 19: Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson ($25)

Aug. 25: Classic Albums Live’s Creedence Clearwater Revival 20 Greatest Hits ($25)

Aug. 26: Shades of Bublé: A three-man tribute to Michael Bublé ($20)

Sept. 1: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute ($25)

Sept. 8: Bruce in the USA/ Operation SEAs the Day as special guests ($25)

FREE 2017 FREEMAN STAGE SHOWS

May 27: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus

June 17: Two of A Kind Kids Music

June 22: Illusions & Magic: The Jason Bishop Show

June 24: Cascading Carlos, juggler

June 29: Illstyle & Peace Productions Hip Hop Dance

July 1: M&M Friends 

July 8: Books in Motion

July 13: Church Sisters

July 15: Jungle John’s Jurassic Journey

July 20: Kevin MaC

July 22: Great Big Faces with Paul Merklein

July 27: Locals Under the Lights

July 29: Monkey Monkey Music

Aug. 5: Creating Whimsical Masterpieces with John Donato

Aug. 10: Locals Under the Lights

Aug. 12: Milkshake Rock Band for Kids

Aug. 19: “Toad’s Escape” by Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre

Aug. 24: First State Ballet Theatre

Aug. 26: Once Upon A Dragon with Storyteller Gary Lloyd

Aug. 31: Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” by Brown Box Theatre Project

Sept. 2: Uncle Pete Rocks

Sept. 2: Labor Day celebration with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and fireworks

Sept. 16: Arts & Jazz Festival with Joe Baione Sextet and Melissa Aldana