DO Delaware: Dolly Parton musical, Henry Rollins gig, more fun on tap

Well, hello, Dolly Parton musical

It’s been a little more than four months since country icon Dolly Parton visited Wilmington. She loved the First State so much that she’s coming back to the state’s largest city.

Well, kinda.

Tricia Paoluccio will play the role of Dolly in the musical “Here You Come Again.” Paoluccio also wrote the show, along with Bruce Vilanch and Gabriel Barre.

The humorous production, directed by Barre, is an homage to Dolly’s music, which is heard by a struggling comedian quarantining in his parents’ attic. The musical offers hits like “Here You Come Again,” “9 To 5” and “Jolene, per the DTC’s website.

Dolly Parton fans will get a double dip of Dolly in Wilmington when “Here You Come Again” hits the stage at the Delaware Theatre Company (200 S. Water St., Wilmington) at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 2 p.m. Wednesday; and 7 p.m. Thursday. Show dates run through Oct. 2. Tickets start at $29. For more information, visit delawaretheatre.org or (302) 594-1100.

Welcome to MickeyFest 2022

In an effort to help support two siblings diagnosed with “Children’s Alzheimer’s” at ages 1 and 3, their parents are launching a family-friendly festival to fight for their young lives.

The third annual MickeyFest is intended to help Michaela "Mickey" Merrill and her brother, Declan, fight the disease San Filippo Syndrome, a degenerative disease sometimes referred to as children’s Alzheimer's, per press materials.

Proceeds of MickeyFest will support the Save Mickey Association, a nonprofit created to fund research to save the lives of parents Donny and Molly Merrill’s children and those like them.

MickeyFest will include a bunch of fun including a pirate parade at 4:15 p.m., games, prizes, a bounce house, obstacle course, pony rides and more, according to press materials.

There will be vendors, a beer garden, wine grab and full bar, plus live music from groups like Fat Daddy Has Been, Harvey Road, New Kings of Rhythm, Hippocampus, Chorduroy and others.

MickeyFest will launch at Fort DuPont Preservation Lands (260 New Castle Ave., Delaware City) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday. Admission is free. For more information, visit savemickey.com.

Savor Last Sips of Summer

If you never met a can of beer or bottle of wine you didn’t like – then you might have a slight problem.

But if you’re just a social drinker who enjoys a cold drink on occasion, you may want to check out the 21-and-older event Last Sips of Summer.

This “Frogtoberfest” event features over 30 Delaware producers of wine, beer, spirits, cider and mead offering samples of their drinks outside of FranksWine in Wilmington.

Some of the featured vendors include Dogfish Head Brewery and Distillery, Nassau Valley Vineyards, Liquid Alchemy, Painted Stave Distillers, Iron Hill Brewery and Blue Earl Brewery. A complete list is available at the website for FranksWine.

The event also will include live music and a food truck. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Delaware Symphony Orchestra.

“Last Sips of Summer” is a collaboration between Frank Pagliaro, owner of FranksWine, and Barry Schlecker of Barry’s Events, who’s popular for producing the Brandywine Festival of the Arts.

Frogtoberfest gets its name from the adorable frog featured in FranksWine’s business logo.

Folks can get their sip on this weekend, outside of FranksWine (1206 N. Union St., Wilmington), from 1-4 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $40 ($50 for reserved table seating) and music be purchased online and in advance at frankswine.com/events. For more information, call (800)-At-FRANKS.

Check out Henry Rollins at The Grand

Over the next two months, musician and spoken-word artist Henry Rollins will perform more than two dozen shows, from New Jersey all the way to Hawaii.

Of course, he couldn’t complete that without an appearance in the Small Wonder on his “Good To See You Tour.”

Rollins will hit the stage and shed light on his pre-COVID life, and how things got more interesting over the last several months.

Premium tickets include reserved a seat in the first three rows, an exclusive meet-and-greet with Rollins, personal autograph, access to a post-show Q&A, and an official meet and greet laminate that’s autographed by Rollins, according to The Grand’s website.

Rollins will bring the “Good To See You Tour” to The Grand (818 N. Market St., Wilmington) at 8 p.m., Monday. Tickets are $38-$168. For more information, visit thegrandwilmington.org or (800) 37-GRAND.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dolly Parton musical in Delaware, Henry Rollins show at The Grand