By Craig Horleman

A holiday tradition has returned to the area, as Calvary Church in Dover is presenting the Easter production, “The Rock,” starting Thursday.

“The Rock” is the story about the Apostle Peter and his final days on Earth. The musical is based on an ancient account of the soldiers who watched over Peter, as he sat waiting for his death in prison.

This will be the first show for Calvary in a long while.

“We haven’t done anything since a year from last Christmas,” said the church’s Creative Arts Ministry director and the production’s director, Larry Goldberg.

“We were actually in the middle of rehearsing for the Easter show last year and were three weeks away from opening, and we had to cancel the show.”

Mr. Goldberg and his crew are happy to get back on stage.

“We know that the people in our community have been looking forward to our shows for over 38 years. We’ve provided them free for the public, and it’s kind of a love gift back to them every Christmas and every Easter,” he said.

“So many people have been asking me, ‘When are you going to start doing the shows again?’ And I think it’s going to bring a degree of normalcy into people’s lives that they’re just craving for. And just to get back out and see friends and neighbors and enjoy something that’s going to be uplifting to them is great.”

Preparations for the play began late last year.

“Unlike the last time when we were going into the pandemic, there’s more of a sense now that we’re kind of turning the corner on it. We’ve had a change in the allowed occupancy now from 30% to 50%, and that’s made a big difference,” Mr. Goldberg said.

“And I think it’s just a general consensus that people are being wiser when it comes to mask-wearing and just being careful. Plus, getting the vaccine is a big deal, as well.”

There will be plenty of precautions taken, however. The audience will remain at about 30% capacity. So instead of the normal 900 people at each show, it will be around 300.

“We will use the same kind of caution that you would find anywhere else, if not more,” Mr. Goldberg said.

“We will ask everyone to wear a mask. All of our ushers will be wearing masks. If anything’s handed out, it will be with people wearing gloves. We’ll still have our social distancing, and our seats will be cleaned every night and disinfected. And we won’t do as much in the lobby to keep people around. As much as we love to have people hang out, it will be more of a situation where we’ll have people come see the show, and then, we will dismiss them by rows, so it’s not such a cattle call, like it is at the end of a movie.”

As much as the audience will be social distancing, the actors will also be separated. That has made rehearsals a bit trickier.

“When the actors come out, they aren’t wearing masks, but they will wear masks the second they leave the stage. And for the show, we have everyone spaced out. Even when they’re out singing for the audience, there’s at least 6 feet distance with them, as well,” Mr. Goldberg said.

“We have a lot of backstage spacing for the actors. We’re asking them not to bring a lot of stuff with them. We’re asking them to wear the costumes to the church and bring their stuff home and wash them. So it’s been a challenge. Both rehearsals and performances ... have really required a lot of logistical planning.

“We have custodial staff that are constantly wiping down doorknobs and light switches all day long. You see them walking around disinfecting. So it’s been tricky, but it’s been worth it because we miss our community. It’s like seeing your family. That’s how Dover is. The people in Dover love each other, and it’s such a small, intimate community, and not having that opportunity, I think, hurts everyone.”

The cast of this year’s show is led by veteran actors Phil Frerichs playing Peter and Robert Rebeck playing Martinian, the head guard. The cast numbers about 45, which is a bit lower than previous productions.

“Just like everywhere else, we have people who still haven’t come back to church yet because of the virus. They have started to come back because people are getting vaccinated. Many of our folks are older and really weren’t feeling comfortable until they were vaccinated. Certainly now, we’re starting to see our numbers climb back again, which is really exciting,” Mr. Goldberg said.

“And so the (attendance) numbers are down, but I think it hasn’t really affected the quality of the show. We really tried to do a show that would be more intimate in nature this time around, which I think is going to be a more enjoyable experience. You’re not going to be overwhelmed like you would in a private theater with people sitting next to you, which is really nice.”

The cast is comprised of primarily church members but also some who do not attend Calvary.

“They’re willing to serve and willing to do things. Our church kind of shuts down for two weeks every year, as we open our doors to folks who come in to visit and see the show, and we give them coffee and just let them have a good time. I think these people just have always had a heart for welcoming our community,” Mr. Goldberg said.

“I think that’s always a challenge at churches these days. Sometimes, people will be even scared to go into a church, and we don’t want folks in our community to be like that. We want them to feel like it’s a home, and we do so many other ministries with so many outreaches within our community, such as a food pantry, for example.

“It’s a church whose members are very into giving to others. And so this show falls into that. So someone may feel like I’m not all that talented, but if there’s some way you can use me, use me. And so what’s even more rewarding as a director than their talent is their desire to be used.”

Mr. Goldberg said the story itself, which features about seven songs, is, at its heart, one about redemption and second chances.

“Who doesn’t want those? We all need them. So it’s one of those things that we just think will inspire people and, hopefully, impart hope into people’s hearts,” he said.

“The Rock” is set to open Thursday and continue to April 3. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will be at 7 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 2.

Reservations can be made by visiting here or calling 697-7776. The production can also be viewed on the church’s website during showtimes.

Calvary Church is at 1141 E. Lebanon Road, Dover.

Do More raises $2 million

Do More 24 Delaware, aka “Delaware’s Giving Day,” raised nearly $2 million in 24 hours between March 4-5. More than 40% of these dollars went to nonprofits in the arts sector, in large part thanks to a creative partnership launched this year with the Delaware Division of the Arts.

The division offered more than $425,000 in matching grants and donation incentives to dozens of its fiscal year 2021 general operating support grantees. Eligible arts organizations competed in either the large or small nonprofit category, each of which shared in its own matching grant stretch pool and bonus structure for those organizations receiving the most number of donations.

The DDoA also supported the event’s virtual benefit concert, which provided all donors who made a $50 contribution to any of the participating nonprofits with an exclusive opportunity to hear from Delaware’s own platinum-selling, chart-topping country music star Jimmie Allen after the event.

Including the support of the DDoA’s financial incentive, eligible arts organizations raised nearly $800,000 collectively, and the state’s investment yielded a better than 82% return.

Paul Weagraff, director of the Division of the Arts, said he was pleased that so many arts organizations participated, boosting their fundraising efforts and encouraging individuals to donate to their favorite arts organizations.

“It’s been difficult to watch the COVID-19 pandemic’s detrimental impact on the arts sector, particularly the performing- and visual-arts organizations, over the past year. The fact that nearly $400,000 was raised from the private sector in 24 hours to support the arts shows that the public remains strongly supportive of the arts community and recognizes how important the arts are to our economy,” he said.

This year’s giving day total of $1.97 million shatters last year’s total by nearly five times, and the 400-plus nonprofits raising money were supported by more than 10,000 individual donors from around the country and internationally. All 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Delaware are eligible to participate.

Do More 24 Delaware 2022 is scheduled to take place March 3-4.

Now showing

New this weekend in theaters is the action film, “Nobody,” starring Bob Odenkirk.

To share news of your entertainment group, venue or event, contact Craig Horleman at 741-8224 or chorl@newszap.com.