Celebrate Oysters and the Performing Arts

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By Lisa A. Lewis


Looking for something fun to do? No worries. From festivals to the performing arts—both Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM) and Annapolis Opera cele ate their season openings this weekend—there’s no shortage of exciting events taking place. You may even have trouble deciding what to do. So why not check out a few events?

Cele ate the Chesapeake Bay oyster at OysterFest on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels. This exciting festival features live music on two stages, boat rides, retriever demonstrations, oysters and other local fare, an oyster stew competition, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, oyster demonstrations, harvesting displays, Chesapeake-related documentary screenings, and much more.

If you love oysters, you’re definitely in for a tasty treat. Enjoy freshly caught and shucked Chesapeake Bay oysters steamed or raw on the half shell. Or savor aquaculture raw oysters, oyster fritters, and fried oyster sandwiches. In addition to oysters, pit beef, hot dogs, hamburgers, cold beer, warm apple cider, and other delicious food and beverages are also available.

But don’t just come for the food. Check out these exciting highlights:

  • Watch Chesapeake watermen perform oyster tonging demonstrations.
  • Explore an oyster nursery.
  • Watch net-making and knot-tying demonstrations.
  • Learn about efforts to clean up the Bay.
  • See live sturgeon, diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs, and other native creatures.
  • Explore CBMM exhibits, and try tonging or nippering for oysters.

Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $6 for children ages 6-17. CBMM members and children ages 5 and under are admitted free. There are additional costs for food and boat rides. Join CBMM and cele ate the Chesapeake Bay’s most iconic bivalve at this exciting festival.

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*Oyster Restoration “By the Numbers”

5 billion+: number of oysters that have been planted on 1,600 acres of oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay.

Source: Oyster Recovery Partnership

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If you love the grace and beauty of ballet, you definitely won’t want to miss Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s season grand opening in the newly renovated theater at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. Cele ate Shakespeare’s 450th birthday with a performance of his classic fantasy A Midsummer Night's Dream. Join the king and queen of the fairies and the mischievous Puck as they set off a series of hilarious, romantic misadventures that enchant and delight audiences of all ages.

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*Notable Quotable

“It has been a real challenge to capture the complexity of Shakespeare's characters and his language through the imagery of dance,” says BTM's artistic director Dianna Cuatto. “But I think you will find it to be as splendidly delightful as my dancers have—full of beauty and humor.”

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Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. And if you attend the matinee on Sunday, you can also enjoy the free Fairy Tea Party. This festive event, which takes place one hour prior to the performance, features treats and photographs with your favorite dancers in their Midsummer fairy garb. You can even come dressed as your favorite fairy, elf, imp, or goblin if you wish.

Tickets for Section A are $47 for adults, $42 for members, $38 for seniors, $27 for students, and $22 for children. Section B tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for members, $33 for seniors, $24 for students, and $19 for children.

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*The Origins of Ballet

You may think that ballet began in France because the terminology is in French. However, ballet actually began in Italy during the late 1400s.

Ballet started to become popular when Henry II, King of France married Catherine de’ Medici, an Italian noblewoman, in 1533. She introduced France to the type of ballet she had known in Italy.

The word “ballet” comes from the Italian word “ballo.” The French adapted it to “ballet.”

Source: Ballet Dancers Guide.com

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If you enjoy ballet and the opera, there’s certainly no reason why you can’t attend both performances this weekend. The Annapolis Opera kicks off its 42nd anniversary subscription season with Opera with a Twist on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis. The first concert of the season cele ates the complexities and disguises so often found in opera with a rich and diverse range of operatic styles. 

The performers are among Annapolis Opera’s favorite singers, and they are accompanied by Maestro Ron Gretz, now in his 32nd year as artistic director of the Annapolis Opera. Whether you’re a devoted opera lover or new to opera, this concert offers something for everyone. Come enjoy an evening of beautiful music.

Tickets are $37 for adults and $17 for students with a valid student ID.

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*Did You Know?

The first performance of Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly was one of opera’s all-time worst flops. However, it has become one of the best-loved operas in history.

Source: Random Facts

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Check out some other exciting events taking place this weekend:

Annapolis/Anne Arundel County:

Eastern Shore:

Regional:

To view more events taking place this weekend, please owse our online calendar. And be sure to follow What’s Up? on Twitter and like us on Facebook.