Chapel Street Players

"The Horn," a staged reading
2026-05-03 14:00 (America/New_York) | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Batten down the hatches! “The Horn” is coming to Chapel Street Players on May 2nd and 3rd. This will be a staged reading, followed by a talkback, of a brand new play that is a gothic horror on a ship. And yes, there will be plenty of sea shanties to go around. See a short description below: Irish Captain Reeve just wants to make it safely around Cape Horn, but ghosts of his failed past continue to torment him. He must push his haunts behind him, lest he doom his cursed crew. We look forward to seeing you the first weekend of May. But beware! The sounds of the ocean toll different at night . . .
Headline: ⚓️ Years in development… a new haunting arrives at CSP.
Batten down the hatches! After years of refinement, “The Horn” is finally ready for its first public reading on May 2nd and 3rd.
This is an immersive dive into the psychological toll of the high seas. Expect:
• 🎶 Rhythmic Sea Shanties: The heartbeat of a crew battling the waves.
• 🕯️ Gothic Horror: A “cabin fever” thriller where the ghosts of the past are as real as the storms outside.
• 🧠 A Creative Inside Look: This staged reading is the final “stress test” before the play’s World Premiere at CSP.
Why we need you: A script only truly comes to life when an audience hears it. Your reactions and your feedback during our post-show talkback will help us navigate the final path to production.
Come help us bring a new classic to life. But beware… the sounds of the ocean toll different at night. 🌊

First State Ringers Modern Rock Concert
2026-05-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Join the First State Ringers for an afternoon concert of modern rock! First State Ringers is an advanced handbell choir affiliated with Newark United Methodist Church in Newark, Delaware. Their mission is to introduce audiences to the varied repertoire of handbell music since, contrary to popular belief, handbells are not solely used for ringing holiday music. They are an auditioned group performing throughout the New Castle County and Cecil County areas. For more information, visit firststateringers.org.

The Forgetful Squirrels present: Mother MAY We?
2026-05-09 19:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day treat that doesn’t involve a crowded brunch? Join the Forgetful Squirrels for our special improv show: “Mother May We?” We’re serving up high-energy laughs, family-friendly fun, and scenes inspired entirely by YOU (and maybe your mom’s favorite catchphrases). Don’t forget to bring the leading lady in your life!
Tickets: $15 ($7.50 for Mom!)

Copeland String Quartet
2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
The Copeland String Quartet, comprised of violinists Eliezer Gutman and Lisa Vaupel, violist Elizabeth Jaffe, and cellist Jennifer Jie Jin, will present a recital of music drawing from the vast treasure trove of works written for string quartet.

Rock of Ages
2026-06-12 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-06-13 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-06-14 14:00 - 16:30, 2026-06-19 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-06-20 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-06-21 14:00 - 16:30, 2026-06-25 20:00 - 22:30, 2026-06-26 20:00 - 22:30 and 1 more date | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock ’n’ roll fairy tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.

Audition :: POTUS
2026-06-15 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Chapel Street Players is looking for seven fearless actors to kick off our 2026–2027 season with one of Broadway’s funniest and most chaotic modern farces that became one of Broadway’s most talked-about comedies for a reason.
Set inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, this fast-paced comedy follows a group of seven brilliant women scrambling to contain a PR disaster spiraling wildly out of control. What begins as one crude comment quickly snowballs into international chaos, political damage control, and absolute mayhem as they race to save the nation from one catastrophically incompetent man.
This contemporary farce is packed with rapid-fire dialogue, physical comedy, outrageous situations, and a surprising amount of heart. At its core, it’s a hilarious tribute to the women who keep everything running while chaos erupts around them.
Sharp. Satirical. Timely. And wildly funny.
As we head into another election season, this production reminds us that laughter can still be one of the best ways to process the world around us. Behind every political headline are the people cleaning up the mess — and in this case, they’re women doing everything possible to keep the country from imploding. Because sometimes the only response to politics… is comedy.
Seeking a diverse cast of strong comedic actors for seven dynamic feminine-presenting roles.

Aladdin Children's Show
2026-06-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Magic and mystery combine in this fun-filled version of the timeless tale. When Aladdin brushes the dust off a dirty old lamp, he releases a powerful genie and finds the adventure of a lifetime. This delightful production features not one, but two genies. In addition to the amazing genie of the lamp, audiences meet Mr. Green Genie, a bumbling, but eager apprentice. The two genies use their power and their wits to help Aladdin overcome a snarky sorceress and win the heart of a princess! Two actors play eight characters in this sparkling forty-five minute production.

Summer Camp: Movie & TV Acting
2026-07-06 15:30 - 2026-07-10 18:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Ever wanted to be on TV or even in the movies on a gigantic screen in a real theater? This is your chance to act in a TV show and Movie that campers will create at a new location at Newark’s state- of- the -art Chapel Street Players Performing Arts Theater. Work together on different projects such as creating a short movie script, a comedy show, a music video, a game show, a commercial and then perform them while learning camera techniques to film the production. Imagination and creativity as well as acting skills abound as you interact to produce an award-winning production. Campers will observe a “work in progress” each day.
Family and friends can watch the camper’s original production on the big screen in a star-studded film fest at Chapel Street Theater on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Sug Daniels
2026-07-18 14:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Join Sug Daniels and her band for this free afternoon concert! Sug Daniels is a Delaware born, Philadelphia based, ukulele player, singer-songwriter, story teller, and producer and coach who is using the tools around her to capture the emotions of an era. Daniels’ work is as colorful, vulnerable, and charismatic as her personality. She thoughtfully combines elements of folk, rock, and soul alternatives to create personal and tender music interlaced with messages of truth and positive change. Her single release with Don Giovanni Records “When I’m Gone” garnished well deserved attention from local and regional radio and venues and opened new paths. After years of touring with The Black Opry, playing official showcases in SXSW 2022, and supporting acts such as The Indigo Girls, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Molly Tuttle, Buffalo Nichols, Lizzie No, Daniels released her debut studio album “I Believe In You” on September 23, 2025.

Summer Camp: Curtains Up
2026-07-20 15:30 - 2026-07-24 18:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
The excitement of performing on a real stage at the new state-of-the-art Chapel Street Players Performing Arts Theater will be a memorable experience for campers. Be a part of our popular stage acting camp, Curtain’s Up, and perform a popular scripted play at the end of the week. Campers will learn how to develop characters, perform scenes, and interact with others as they work towards their final stage production. Our actors will learn projection, stage movement, listening skills, and characterizations, as well as other acting techniques needed for the stage. What a wonderful opportunity for young performers.
A fully scripted stage performance will be given for family and friends on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Curtain’s Going Up!

Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass
2026-07-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Join us for an evening of bluegrass with Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass! Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass play powerful, unadorned, and intense traditional bluegrass. Their combination of instrumentation and vocals convey the energy and emotion of classic bluegrass and country music. Danny’s lead vocals will captivate your senses, so much so that many prominent musicians, including Alison Krauss, have considered Danny as one of their favorite singers. His voice combines powerful range and soulful blues with a sound like no one else in bluegrass today. The group’s latest release, Bluegrass Troubadour, was nominated for IBMA’s Album of the Year and earned significant chart action, with the song Blink of an Eye spending several months at the #1 spot on the Bluegrass music charts and was also nominated for IBMA Song of the Year.

Ant's on a Log Music Concert
2026-08-01 10:30 - 11:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Join Ants on A Log and the Newark Free Library for their signature concert with lots of opportunities to sing, dance, and be silly! Ants on a Log concerts are fun and interactive, full of humor and harmony, joy and justice! You will not want to miss this amazing show. Recommended for ages 4-11.
Ants on a Log, founded in 2014 by Julie Be and Anya Rose, and later joined by Miles Crabtree, produces music that blends humor, harmony, and social justice themes for children and other childlike audiences. Their work emphasizes positivity, inclusion, environmental awareness, and LGBTQ+ affirmation, often incorporating interactive and educational elements in live shows.
All Ages Welcome | This Event is FREE! https://delawarelibraries.libcal.com/event/16498634

Summer Camp: Stars on Stage
2026-08-03 15:30 - 2026-08-07 18:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Can you imagine the thrill of performing live comedy skits and sketches on a real theater stage? Do you like to be funny? Do you want to improvise and perform unscripted? This camp is for you as we learn how to perform and create comedy through improvisation, comedy skits and sketches, theater games, and to think on our feet and act spontaneously. Make friends, have fun, and learn how to perform on stage and become a “Star on Stage” on the stage at Chapel Street Players Performing Arts Theater!
Family and friends will be treated to a live interactive comedy performance on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

FUTURE CREATORS - BLOCK ONE
2026-08-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
This block of films features student and young creators. All we can say is prepare to be entertained!

My Best Friend Ava (Drama)- A young woman receives a teddy bear from her childhood, which connects her past.
Self Portrait (Drama) – Jessica, a young freelance photographer lives a double life as a fixer for hire.
Christian Brothers (Drama) – A close-knit group of boys take the new kid on the block, Joey, on a journey of self-discovery.
YETIMAN: Scourge of the North (Comedy) – An ancient caveman is uncovered in Canada. Shot locally in Newark, DE!
One Thousand Voices (Documentary) – The deconstruction of a local music band, its people and its values.
Pep Talk (Drama) – David gets in a heated argument with his coach, Joel about a fight he has no chance of winning.
Estranged (Drama) – A young man must convince his attempted murderer, his younger sister, to take a plea deal.
Remember Me (Drama) – An ailing woman accidentally reconnects with her estranged son and seeks forgiveness.
STUDENT Q & A – (30 min) hear a little bit from the filmmakers about their projects!

FAMILY DRAMA - BLOCK TWO
2026-08-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Sit With Me While I Die (Drama) – A priest must reconcile his lifelong dogmatic views on suffering and pain.
The Drop Off (Drama) – A man who was left at a police station by his mother as child, attempts to reconcile with her.
The World is Yours (Sci-Fi) – Physical contact has all but disappeared in a mundane yet distant future.
Follow Me Home (Horror) – After a devastating argument, a man drives to his wife’s hometown to make things right.
The Freezer (DE Local) – A junk cleaning crew clears out a dead mobster’s home.
I Promise (Drama) – A promise made from mother to son.
Mom Walkers (Comedy) – A new service that gets your mom where she needs to go!
The Family Story (Horror) – Barry returns to his childhood home seeking a fresh start, only to find his family fractured.
Grandma’s Kitchen (Drama) – A devoted mother and her son with Down syndrome, deliver cookies to his grandmother.
The Liars of Black Mountain Road (Drama) – A couple runs over a stranger’s dog.

REALITY & FICTION - BLOCK THREE
2026-08-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Restless Ground: The Untold Story of Mount Olive (Documentary) – The history of the Mt. Olive Cemetery, the impact of institutional racism on those interred there.
The Interrogation (Drama) – Darius discovers that he is a person of interest in his girlfriend’s murder.
Depression Short Film (Arthouse) – The most self explanatory title we are showing. 🙂
Dress to Kill (Horror Comedy) – Guests at a Halloween Party compete in a costume contest with a prize to die for – literally.
Don’t Go In the Basement (Horror) – Chaos is unleashed when a resident in an apartment complex finds a cursed pendant.
Together Forever At Last (Comedy) – A bride panics minutes before walking down the aisle.
Yes (Drama) – A mute girl discovers an undocumented family hiding near her aunt’s home.
Flowers (Drama) – Beneath the surface of family dinners and polite smiles lies a chilling reality.

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS - BLOCK FOUR
2026-08-14 16:30 - 18:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Ms. Rossi Meets the Mob (Foreign Comedy) – Ms. Rossi gets caught up in a serious case of mistaken identity.
The City and You (Drama) – Is love actually possible in the city?
Cryptic Desire (Horror) – A woman is haunted by her past. Will it dictate her future?
Arrow (DE Local) – Wesley tries to win back his best friend by joining the Order of the Arrow during a camping trip.
Dark of the Storm (Sci-fi) – A lonesome scavenger finds an item of great importance.
Hell (Animation) – Follows the patriarch of a dying farm on the outskirts of Ash Harbor.
Dreams Float Around Us (Documentary) – How does it feel to be a Black woman in 2025?
Love’s Long Shadow (Action) – A private detective is pulled into a twisted case in West Texas.
Do Evil Thoughts Make an Evil Man (Drama) – A man on his deathbed makes a horrible confession.

DARK NIGHTS & CITY LIGHTS - BLOCK FIVE
2026-08-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Rona Raid (Dramedy) – During the COVID-19 Pandemic in NYC, a young woman gets a job and falls in love.
A Mighty Endeavor (Arthouse) – A film honoring the D-Day invasion of World War II and American veterans.
The Love Con (Comedy) – Is it just love or is there a bigger game afoot?
Seven Valentines (Comedy) – Julian and Phoebe navigate Valentine’s Day in a busy restaurant.
Curse of Ligeia (DE Local) – An adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1838 short story Ligeia utilizing much of its original prose.
Lucy’s Last Dance (Drama) – After learning of her cat Lucy’s terminal diagnosis, June is buoyed by her friends.
Wanna Be A Star! (Comedy) – A frustrated actress loses her temper with an indie film director.
Repercussion(s) (Drama) – The disappearance of his daughter prompts a grieving father to take matters into his own hands
Upside Down On Long Island (Comedy) – Things unravel as a daughter makes a visit to her dad’s new beach condo.
Johnny Mac (Drama) – After spending over 500 hours at The Pile, firefighter John McNamara fights a coverup of 9/11.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT - BLOCK SIX
2026-08-15 11:00 - 12:30 | Chapel Street Players, 643 Creek view Rd., Newark, 19711, United States
Sincerely, Sage Jo (Documentary) – Middle school sweethearts find a new purpose through creating keepsakes.
The Quiet Between (Drama) – After a deep loss, two teenage girls find power in leaning on each other.
Cine Fear: The Scraps (Arthouse) – Two strangers find themselves washed up on a desolate beach with clues to their past
Kan! (Animation) – A bold, epic and beautiful tale of heroism and mischief!
Grizzly Peak (Horror) – Two friends witness a horrific murder and become the target of a serial killer.
The Universe Experience (Documentary) – An exploration of the size of the universe and our limitless potential within it.
Attenuator (Sci-Fi) – A paralyzed man relives his worst day over and over.
Just Sex (Comedy) – An out-of-town comedian on a break from his partner engages a local waitress for a one-night-stand.
The Dumbletons (Comedy) – Estranged brothers attempt to carry out a scheme to pay for their mother’s operation.
It’s A Struggle to Skate Here (Documentary) – The struggles of skateboarding in Bristol, TN.
Super Contra (Action) – Bill and Lance must reunite, reload, and raise hell in the name of freedom.

DREAMS & NIGHTMARES - BLOCK SEVEN
2026-08-15 14:00
I’m Good (DE Local) – A young Black man navigates a very rough patch of time.
Timing (Drama) – Jamal is in the process of breaking up with his girlfriend Lisa… life happens.
All the Men I Met But Never Dated (Drama) – A man conceals his homosexuality to protect his family at his own expense.
Cop-Doc (Comedy) – He’s a cop. He’s a doctor. He’s Cop-Doc.
Skin Laundry (Horror) – After the sudden death of his girlfriend, John is left drifting through an empty apartment.
Adventures of Cashy The Hamster (Animation) – Dr. Korn plans to BLOW UP Christmas, but Team Cashy is in town!
The Depressed Astronaut (Comedy) – Buzz struggles to find his new happy place now that he’s not in outer space.
You’re Not Sorry (Horror) – A party girl is forced to face the consequences of deserting a friend in her time of need.
Eye for An Eye (Sci-Fi) – A scavenger in a post-apocalyptic combine attempts to flea their tyrannical leader’s control.
Tyrone (Documentary) – His path was shaped by systems designed for recidivism — until a paintbrush disrupted the loop.
Daisies (Drama) – A man on his deathbed is mysteriously called into the vast fields and rolling hills of the Unknown

IS FILM A DYING BUSINESS? - BLOCK EIGHT
2026-08-15 17:00 - 18:30
Treasure (Foreign) – A waste collector in Karachi stumbles upon a shocking discovery at a landfill.
Gods of Cable City (Arthouse) – A reclusive townie wanders through dive bars of Mahanoy City.
The Dying Business (Documentary) – A family attempts to innovate their third-generation funeral home in Pennsylvania.
P.O.V (Arthouse) – A commentary on the male gaze from a female/femme perspective.
The Sequence (Horror) – A stay-at-home mom Taylor dreams of horrific events.
Magnet Brain (DE Local) – A mockumentary about who founded a company that uses magnets to reanimate the dead.
Carver: NYE (Horror) – A vain scream queen vows to never participate in another holiday slasher again.
Gloria’s Cut (Arthouse) – A determined actress begins to crack as repeated rejection exposes the brutality of Hollywood.
