Arts and Entertainment - March 2010

Kent County has been recognized by the Maryland State Arts Council as one of the significant arts communities in the state. With this in mind, we have designed the Arts & Entertainment site to provide you with information on what the county has to offer in relation to its arts, entertainment, and cultural heritage. Hopefully, this will help you plan a fun-filled stay, enabling you to take full advantage of places to go and people to see. For more information, call the Kent County Tourism Development Office at 410-778-0416 or email tourism@kentcounty.com.

For other events throughout the county, please click here.
Click here to add, modify or delete an event.

  • David Orvis–Shakespeare's Queer Marriages
  • Wednesday, March 3   |  4:30pm
  • Location: Sophie Kerr Room, Washington College
  • Contact: Kathryn Bursick
  • Phone: 410-778-7899
  • Email: kbursick2@washcoll.edu
  • URL: http://english.washcoll.edu/sophiekerrlegacy/
  • David L. Orvis, a 2002 graduate of Washington College, earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Arizona. He is currently an Assistant Professor of English and Faculty Affiliate in Women's Studies at Appalachian State University. He is working on his first book, tentatively titled Performing Queer Marriage on the Early Modern St age, as well as a collection of essays on Psalms in the Early Modern World, co-edited with Linda Phyllis Austern and Kari Boyd McBride. He has articles forthcoming in The Journal of Homosexuality, In Search of the Normal: Developments in the Histories of Sexualities, 1200-1900, Selected Papers from the Sexual Identities in Shakespeare Conference, The Explicator, and Performing Pedagogy: Gender and Instruction in Early Modern England.
    Sponsored by: The Sophie Kerr Committee. Sophie Kerr Room, Miller Library, Washington College.
  • Chestertown's 1st Fridays
  • Friday, March 5   |  5–8pm
  • Location: Downtown Chestertown
  • Contact:
  • Phone:
  • Email:
  • URL: www.kentcounty.com/artsentertainment
  • Meander the red-brick, tree-lined sidewalks of Historic Chestertown, while enjoying extended shop hours and arts and entertainment throughout Downtown. For a list of activities, please check this calendar for specific listings.
  • “I’m Not Rappaport” by Herb Gardner
  • Friday, March 5   |  Friday and Saturday 8pm; Sunday 2pm
  • This event runs March 5–7 and 12–14
  • Location: Church Hill Theatre
  • Contact:
  • Phone: 410-758-1331
  • Email: info@churchhilltheatre.org
  • URL: www.churchhilltheatre.org
  • In the shadow of a bridge in Central Park, two octogenarians, one white and one black, meet regularly, determined to fight off all attempts to put them out to pasture. Lifetime radical and world-class kibitzer Nat Moyer's daughter is urging him into an old folk's home. He spends his afternoons spinning outrageous yarns that both intrigue and infuriate fellow octogenarian Midge Carter, a half-blind building superintendent who spends his days in the park hiding both from his past and from his disgruntled tenants. They share a Central Park bench, and with sly verbal sparring and indomitable spirits, these irritable heroes square off against drug dealers, enlightened children, posh tenants and, ultimately, time itself. It is a refreshing comedy that is hilarious, poignant and always enjoyable.
    March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. Fridays and Saturdays 8pm; Sundays 2pm
    $18.00 for adults, $10.00 for students. Subscriptions, membership and group rate discounts are available.
    Church Hill Theatre, 103 Walnut Street, Church Hill
  • Light and Shadow
  • Friday, March 5   |  First Friday 5-8pm
  • This event runs March 5–31
  • Location: Chestertown Arts League
  • Contact: Rich Hall
  • Phone: 410-928-5012
  • Email: rwhall@pitt.edu
  • URL:
  • Art in all media which emphasizes the values of light and the drama and mood of shadow. Color may be an element in this show but maintains a certain modesty. Open to all artists. Thursday and Friday 11am–4pm; Saturday 10am–4pm; Sunday hours in the summer and event weekends. Special show openings with receptions on most first Fridays of each month 5–8pm. FREE.
    Chestertown Arts League, 312 Cannon Street, Chestertown
  • Historic Chestertown Exhibit
  • Friday, March 5   |  Wed–Fri 12 noon–3pm, Sat 9am–3pm
  • This event runs March 5–28
  • Location: Artworks Gallery
  • Contact:
  • Phone: 410-778-6300
  • Email: artworkschestertown@gmail.com
  • URL: www.artworkschestertown.org
  • Artworks hosts a month-long show featuring images of historic Chestertown, the scenic Chester River, and the unique characteristics and events that make them special. The show is open to all local artists and photographers, and selected images from the exhibition will be featured on banners displayed along High Street. The colorful banners will brighten up downtown and promote the many annual events that draw visitors and revenue to the region. The exhibition is sponsored by Main Street Historic Chestertown (MSHC), dedicated to promoting and preserving the unique historic character of downtown Chestertown. MSHC was formed in 2008, when The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the state of Maryland designated Chestertown as an official "Main Street America" site.
    Artworks Gallery, 306 Park Row, Chestertown
  • Holly Hofmann and Mike Wofford
  • Friday, March 5   |  8pm
  • Location: The Mainstay
  • Contact: The Mainstay
  • Phone: 410-639-9133
  • Email:
  • URL:
  • Holly Hofmann's secure sense of swing and broad emotional range have earned her recognition amongst jazz lovers around the world as, "The first lady of the flute" Her husband, renowned pianist Mike Wofford, was pianist and music director for Ella Fitzgerald. He has had a long career as a soloist, as an arranger for Sergio Mendes, as staff pianist working with Quincy Jones on "The Cosby Show" and as a sideman on more than 200 recordings. This is an irresistible pairing of two incomparable musicians. Call for reservations. Tickets are $15.
    The Mainstay, 5753 Main Street, Rock Hall
  • The Alison Brown Quartet
  • Friday, March 12   |  8pm
  • Location: The Mainstay
  • Contact: The Mainstay
  • Phone: 410-639-9133
  • Email:
  • URL: www.mainstayrockhall.org
  • Alison Brown is a brilliant genre-bending player who takes the banjo and guitar far beyond their Appalachian roots with a rich, exquisite blend of bluegrass, jazz, Celtic and Latin influences that has been described as simply jaw-dropping. She has won and been nominated for several Grammy awards including a nomination this year for Best Country Instrumental Performance and is often compared to another banjo prodigy, Béla Fleck for her unique style of playing. The Quartet also includes Garry West on bass, John R. Burr on piano and Larry Atamanuik on drums. Call for reservations. Tickets are $20. The Mainstay, 5753 Main Street, Rock Hall
  • Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble–Band Concert
  • Sunday, March 14   |  4pm
  • Location: Christ United Methodist Church
  • Contact:
  • Phone: 410-778-2829
  • Email:
  • URL:
  • This is the third in the series of four free concerts in the Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble's 2009–2010 season. Directed by Keith Wharton since the band's founding in 2001, the community concert band offers area wind and percussion musicians the opportunity to continue or resume playing high-quality music in a large ensemble. The band, based in Chestertown, welcomes new members at any time, without fee or audition. For information about joining call 410-778-2829 or 410-810-1834
    Christ United Methodist Church, 401 High St. (at Mill St.), Chestertown
  • Toby Walker
  • Saturday, March 20   |  8pm
  • Location: The Mainstay
  • Contact: The Mainstay
  • Phone: 410-639-9133
  • Email:
  • URL: www.mainstayrockhall.org
  • Toby Walker is an accomplished fingerstyle guitar virtuoso adept at blues, rags, country picking, a skilled singer, a songwriter and a master storyteller. His passion for the blues and other traditional American music led him to the Mississippi Delta, Virginia and the Carolinas where he tracked down some of the more obscure – but immensely talented – music makers of an earlier era. Whether it is telling the humorous and heartwarming tales of these and other masters, talking about his inspirations and his travels, or astounding listeners with his work on the National steel guitar, his performances are a rich banquet of the blues. Call for reservations. Tickets are $15. The Mainstay, 5753 Main Street, Rock Hall
  • Kent County Friends of Chamber Music - Eclatante
  • Saturday, March 20   |  7pm
  • Location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chestertown
  • Contact:
  • Phone: 410-369-7810
  • Email:
  • URL: www.kentchambermusic.com
  • Tickets at the door - $15
    Six-concert series - $60
  • 62nd Annual Open Juried Art Show
  • Sunday, March 21   |  9am–5pm
  • This event runs March 21–April 11
  • Location: Galleries of Heron Point
  • Contact: Chestertown Arts League
  • Phone: 410-778-5789
  • Email: artsleague@verizon.net
  • URL: www.chestertownartsleague.net
  • This popular art exhibit includes works in all fine arts media submitted by artists from throughout the region. The show is open to the public daily, 9am–5pm.
    Opening reception is Sunday, March 21, 2–4pm; awards presentation at 3pm.
    Heron Point, 501 E Campus Ave, Chestertown
  • Frank Vignola's Hot Club
  • Thursday, March 25   |  7:30pm
  • Location: The Mainstay
  • Contact: The Mainstay
  • Phone: 410-639-9133
  • Email:
  • URL: www.mainstayrockhall.org
  • Guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola is a leading proponent of Django Reinhardt's gypsy jazz style of playing. In celebration of Reinhardt's 100th birthday, Vignola has assembled a topnotch quintet for a searing tribute to one of his earliest musical influences. Vignola is a stunning guitarist who has performed in tributes to Django at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and with the Boston Pops to name just a few. Call for reservations. Tickets are $20.
    The Mainstay, 5753 Main Street, Rock Hall
  • Daniel Handler a.k.a. Lemony Snicket–Sophie Kerr Weekend Speaker
  • Friday, March 26   |  4pm
  • Location: Decker Theatre, Washington College
  • Contact: Kathryn Bursick
  • Phone: 410-778-7899
  • Email: kbursick2@washcoll.edu
  • URL: http://lithouse.washcoll.edu
  • Daniel Handler is the author of the literary novels The Basic Eight, Watch Your Mouth, and, most recently, Adverbs.
    Under the name Lemony Snicket he has also written a sequence of books for children, known collectively as A Series of Unfortunate Events, which have sold more than 53 million copies and were the basis of a film starring Jim Carrey. His intricate and witty writing style has won him numerous fans for his critically acclaimed literary work and his wildly successful children's books.
    Handler has worked intermittently in film and music, most recently in collaboration with composer Nathaniel Stookey on a piece commissioned and recorded by the San Francisco Symphony, entitled "The Composer Is Dead," which has been performed all over the world and is now a book with CD. An adjunct accordionist for the music group The Magnetic Fields, he is also the author of Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Biography, The Beatrice Letters, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid, and two books for Christmas: The Lump of Coal and The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: a Christmas story. He is the screenwriter of the film Rick, a revamp of the Verdi opera Rigoletto, and the film adaptation of Joel Rose's novel Kill the Poor, and has written for The New York Times, Newsday, San Francisco Chronicle, The Believer, Chickfactor, and various anthologies, and was the chair of the Judging Panel for the National Book Awards in Young People's Literature, 2008. His current projects include a fourth novel for adults, a picture book in collaboration with Maira Kalman and the script for the long-awaited second Snicket movie.
    "Daniel Handler something like an American Nabokov."–Dave Eggers
    "One of our most dazzling literary conjurers."–Michael Chabon
    "Sentence by sentence, Handler dazzles, teases the unwary with unforeseeable perceptions."–San Francisco Chronicle
    Sponsored by: The Sophie Kerr Committee and The Rose O'Neill Literary House
    Decker Theatre, Gibson Center for the Arts, Washington College, Chestertown
  • “Black Soldiers in Blue”
  • Saturday, March 27   |  7pm
  • This event runs March 27
  • Location: Kent County High School Auditorium, 25301 Lambs Meadow Road, Worton
  • Contact: Karen Somerville
  • Phone: 410-810-1416
  • Email: africanamericanheritagecouncil@gmail.com
  • URL: AfricanAmericanHeritageCouncil.blogspot.com
  • This a public showing of the film, “Black Soldiers in Blue”, is a documentary about Camp William Penn and the United States Colored Troops who trained there. The film will be followed by a living history presentation by Tom Davis, a reenactor with the 3rd Regiment Infantry. This event is to gather awareness of Black Civil war soldiers and connect the community to events celebrating local Kent County, African American Civil War veterans who fought for freedom.
  • Inna Faliks Concert
  • Sunday, March 28   |  4pm
  • Location: Decker Theatre, Washington College
  • Contact:
  • Phone: 410-778-7839
  • Email:
  • URL:
  • The Washington College Concert Series–now in its 58th season–will host an exciting 2009–2010 line-up of performances. Single tickets can be purchased at the door, $15 for adults and $5 for youth and students. Season tickets are available for $50 per person in advance or at the box office on performance nights.
    Decker Theatre, Gibson Center for the Arts, Washington College, Chestertown