Finding the Best Seats

Tips & Tricks To Find the Best Seats This Season!

Hello Clear Space friends and fans!

Our new season is almost here! Single tickets for most shows go on sale January 12!

We’ve had amazing response from the community to our upcoming season already. For the first time, over 1,000 subscribers have made plans to join us for the entire season. That’s nearly 4 times as many as we had just a few years ago. 

But we know that subscribing might not make sense for everyone. But for our patrons who love great theater who can only attend a few shows each year, we don’t want that to stand in the way of getting the best seats available for the shows you want to see.

Here are a few pieces of advice to help you still land great seats before they get snatched up. Hopefully these suggestions help ensure you have a fantastic experience in the best seats possible the upcoming season!

1) Not all productions have the same number of performances. 

If you’re especially interested in The Legend of Georgia McBride or either of our Spotlight on Young Performers shows (Anastasia or 13: The Musical), get those tickets first. Georgia McBride has only 10 performances and the two youth shows each only have 4 performances. With fewer tickets available, those shows will sell the fastest. 

2) Most productions have performances that are not part of a subscription package.

Based on the strong demand in the “shoulder” season in Rehoboth Beach, in planning the 2026 season, we added an extra week to the runs of each of our winter, spring, and fall shows (Noises Off, 42nd Street, Dear Evan Hansen, The Rocky Horror Show, and A Christmas Story). The final week of performances for these shows aren’t part of any subscription series, so as tickets go on sale, you’ll find great seats that our subscribers haven’t already claimed. 

Similarly, during our summer repertory season, performances on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are generally not part of a subscription series, so you’ll find good availability at those performances as well.

There are a few other recurring performance dates and times that aren’t in a subscription series. We have Thursday matinees of Noises Off, 42nd Street, and A Christmas Story. We have Saturday matinees of Dear Evan Hansen and A Christmas Story. And we have 10:30pm late shows of The Rocky Horror Show. All of these dates and times should have sold availability in prime seats as we put tickets on sale.

3) Some seats are slightly raised, which can give you a better view.

If the first row is already sold out and you want to ensure you have a good view, I’d suggest either getting seats on the aisle of the further rows back or getting seats in rows that are raised up on risers. That allows you to be sure you can see over the heads of the folks in front of you – and can also sometimes mean a little more leg room! In the center section, seats in rows E and F are up on the risers. In the side section, seats in row C are up on the riser.

4) Seats in our side sections face in towards the thrust, not up towards the proscenium.

If you haven’t been to Clear Space before or to a theatre that performs in three-quarters thrust (with audiences on three sides of the stage), our side sections can look confusing when you buy tickets online. For starters, the seat numbers aren’t continuous like they are in the center. House right, they are all odd numbers. House left, they are all even numbers. That means if you buy seats B6, B8, and B10, they are right next to each other. Also, the seats in each of those rows face the thrust. So all seats in row A on the side form one line of seating. We hate it when someone accidentally buys seats A 10, B10, and C10 together, thinking they are next to each other when they are actually in three different rows. Please don’t let that happen to you!

5) Aisle seats and front row seats give better views, but are also deal with more traffic.

It’s true that most people prefer sitting in the front row or sitting on an aisle. However, everyone is different. It’s important to be aware that if you are on an aisle, depending on the show, actors may use that aisle for entrances or exits – or even for important moments in the show. In short: you can enjoy more leg room and unobstructed views in these seats but you also need to be mindful to pull your feet in and not to leave purses or drinks on the floor so that you don’t accidentally trip an actor. Similarly, some people love the aisle seats right by the doors to the lobby in rows C and D because it makes it easier to make a quick beeline for the restrooms at intermission. Just know that the trade off there is that it can also get pretty crowded around those seats before the show starts because you are right on the main doorway to the lobby as the rest of the patrons are coming in.

6) Obstructions can happen.

Even the best laid plans to find a perfect seat can be hampered for one moment of a performance. That’s the nature of theatre in three-quarters thrust. Directors work to make sure that audiences on all three sides can enjoy every moment of a show. But sometimes the sight lines from your seat can be blocked for a moment by a piece of furniture or an actor. Thank you for your understanding when those moments happen!

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Is there a perfect seat? For some people, perhaps! But maybe not for everyone. After all, each show is different, so the experience of sitting in the same seat changes based on how each show is staged. If you’re planning to join us multiple times this year, my advice is to try a few different seats out for size to see which seats work best for you. Then, in a future year, when you do subscribe, you’ll have a much better sense of what seat is perfect for you all season long!

Thank you for your support of Clear Space. We can’t wait to welcome you this season!

Joe Gfaller
Managing Director

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2025 End of Year Letter

As 2025 comes to an end and we look to our new year ahead, I am filled with enormous gratitude to everyone who has helped make all that Clear Space has accomplished this year possible. 

2025 has been a year of incredible growth. Attendance continued to surge. Our gala inspired more generosity than any previous fundraising event in our history. We reached more young people in our Arts Institute than ever – and welcomed more on scholarship than ever as well.

We’ve also grown in ways that might be a little less visible, but in ways that will have a meaningful impact on our work in the years ahead. The size of our staff has increased to help support this increased scale of impact. (We now have a Production Manager, an Education and Administration Manager, and a Patron Stewardship Manager!) We developed a new strategic plan to guide us through the next five years. We received our first ever Longwood Foundation grant, which will enable us to expand the reach of our educational and theatrical programming in the years ahead, well before we move into a new building. And, of course, the story that has made the most headlines this year that will transform both Clear Space and our region in the many years to come… with enormous thanks to the staff and Board of Commissioners of the City of Rehoboth Beach, we have begun the framework for a public-private partnership with the city to build a new performing arts center for our entire region in the years ahead.

So much of what we’ve achieved has been made possible thanks to you and so many others like you. As audience members, as Arts Institute parents, as contributors, as volunteers, the Clear Space community is remarkable. Thank you for being there to cheer us on, for being our ambassadors, and for your continued generosity. Simply put: without you letting us know through your presence that our mission matters to you, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Time and again in our lobby, I heard so many compliments from our audiences about the productions throughout the year. It is thanks to the talents of our artists that each show this year inspired laughter, joy, heartbreak, catharsis, and all the emotions that come with great theater. We are so lucky to have such amazingly talented local professional artists in Sussex County and so many amazing artists from across the country who more and more seek to invest their talents in our work at Clear Space. Whether they are working on stage, behind the scenes, or in our Arts Institute, those artists are the heartbeat of mission.

Our volunteers are also heroes of this year. From those who help provide an excellent front of house experience each night, to those who open up their homes for artist housing, to those who give of their time and talent on our board, producer’s circle, or a volunteer committee, those gifts make a profound difference over the course of the year.

And supporting our artists, our volunteers, our donors, and our audiences every day is our amazing staff. Without question, each and every one of them have gone above and beyond to make 2025 a success. Most of all, my gratitude extends to them for standing together day after day, week after week, to make sure live theater and arts based learning can make our community a better place. To Lara, Jadine, Candice, Justin, Jason, Kirk, Ashley, Brendan, David, Evan, and Gabby… thank you for all that you do each and every day.

This holiday week, we have been closed so that our wonderful staff can have a little R&R before stepping into 2026. But we look forward to bringing this next season of live theater and education programs to life for you starting January 2.

We can’t wait to see you in the new year!

Joe Gfaller, Managing Director

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Clear Space Theatre Company Accepts Letter of Intent from the City of Rehoboth Beach to Begin a Public Private Partnership to Redevelop City Owned Land into a New Performing Arts Center for Sussex County

Project will Ultimately Redevelop City Owned Land at 11 Christian Street to Become a New Performing Arts Center for Sussex County

October 24, 2025 – Rehoboth Beach, DE: After extensive negotiations and multiple public meetings, Clear Space Theatre Company (CSTC) and the City of Rehoboth Beach have agreed to move forward to develop a comprehensive public-private partnership agreement, based on the terms provided in a letter of intent from the City of Rehoboth Beach. The CSTC Board of Directors formally accepted the letter of intent from the City at a special meeting on October 23, 2025. In accepting the letter of intent, CSTC concludes its 18-month process for site selection for its new performing arts center and commits to remaining in Rehoboth Beach, where it has been based since 2010.

Based on the terms of the letter of intent, Clear Space will enter into a land lease of 11 Christian Street after the Cape Henlopen Senior Center (CHSC) relocates to its next home outside the city limits on Hebron Road. CHSC has been a tenant on city land for 45 years, but was gifted land to expand its operations and will be moving after the completion of a capital campaign. At that time, CSTC will begin a lease of up to 50 years. The land, which has been valued at $7.2M, will be made available to CSTC for $1 per year. CSTC is committed to building Sussex County’s first purpose-built performing arts center on the site, which will include a proscenium mainstage, a flexible seating black box, a rehearsal studio, expanded lobby, concessions, and backstage facilities, and gallery space. Parking will be provided on the site as well to help address the City’s growing need for expanded parking facilities during the City’s busy summer season; the details of which will be worked through during the planning process.

“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I am thrilled that Clear Space has selected our offer and plans on staying in the City of Rehoboth Beach,” says Mayor Stan Mills. “Clear Space has always enriched Rehoboth Beach culturally, socially, creatively, and economically. It is a top-notch performing arts center that is near and dear to our residents, visitors, and business owners. We believe it’s a win-win, and we look forward to many more years of our partnership with Clear Space.”

CSTC Board Chair Megan Nehrbas shared, “Accepting this LOI is the first step in our commitment to work with the City of Rehoboth Beach as partners in creating an amenity for our region that serves not only residents and visitors here in town, but also audiences and families all across our region. While our physical building will remain in Rehoboth Beach, we still intend to partner with key institutions in communities across coastal Delaware to expand the reach of our Arts Institute and of our mainstage programming through satellite classroom and performance opportunities in the years to come. I am grateful to city leadership and to the chair of the CSTC Building Committee Joe Sterner, our board treasurer Al Willis, and Managing Director Joe Gfaller for navigating the process that led us to this wonderful outcome.”

“We are ecstatic about Clear Space’s decision to remain here in the City of Rehoboth Beach,” adds City Manager Taylour Tedder. “Not only does Clear Space mean so much to our community from a cultural perspective, but it also plays a key role in economic development. Rehoboth Beach is a thriving year-round beach destination, and Clear Space is a key part of that. We are confident the new site on Christian Street will help revitalize that area of town, provide more parking, and serve as an enticing area for new business opportunities. Clear Space remaining in Rehoboth Beach is the outcome many of us were hoping for, for so many reasons.”

Clear Space Managing Director Joe Gfaller comments, “We are grateful to Mayor Mills for first proposing that Clear Space consider the site at 11 Christian Street back in March 2024. Without his encouragement, the site might not have been explored as one of the nine in our 2024 market study. As our analysis winnowed down our preferred sites, the City of Rehoboth Beach’s staff and elected officials were consistently excellent partners, negotiating fairly and transparently in the interest of the citizens, business owners, and visitors of Rehoboth Beach. We are grateful to them for helping us make this project possible, on a site that had the strongest favorability from the largest segments of our donor and subscription bases. We are deeply grateful to our audiences and supporters in Rehoboth Beach who were also instrumental in advocating on our behalf to the City.”

Total project cost for the new performing arts center is approximately $40M. While Clear Space Theatre Company will own and operate the new facility, it is intended to be a state-of-the-art hub for arts organizations across the region, bringing theater, music, dance, film, and visual arts under one roof in a convenient location. Clear Space anticipates beginning a national RFP process for the project’s architect soon, with community forums for residents and audiences to follow later in 2026.

For those seeking to support the Cape Henlopen Senior Center’s efforts to complete its capital campaign, a fundraising event for CHSC will be held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. More information on the event can be found at www.capehenlopenseniorcenter.org/cabaret-fundraiser.

About Clear Space Theatre Company

Clear Space Theatre Company is Delaware’s second-largest professional non-profit theater and the state’s most prolific producer of professional theater. A 501(c)(3) cultural organization, CSTC was founded in 2004 and is currently located at 20 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Each year, the company produces a robust production season of plays and musicals, including a summer repertory festival, a children’s theater series featuring young artists, and a cabaret series. The company’s Performing Arts Institute has served over 10,000 students over CSTC’s history, currently reaching students of all ages, building self-confidence, inspiring collaborative problem-solving, and awakening creativity. Under the current leadership of Managing Director Joe Gfaller and Interim Creative Director Candice Jewell, Clear Space Theatre Company is comprised of a remarkable team of full-time, part-time, and volunteer administrators, artists, and educators.

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Meet Donna and Roger West: Supporting Sponsors of Reefer Madness

What inspired you to sponsor this show?
We got excited when we heard Reefer Madness announced at the 2024 Gala. As an old-school hippie, I thought it would be a fun one to co-sponsor. We actually decided that night at our table with Dale and Cindy!

How did you first get involved with Clear Space Theatre?
I was recruited by a board member after he attended an event at my house and saw my potential for development. I served on the board for seven years—two of them as Board Chair.

What role do the arts play in your own life?
My mother played show tunes throughout my life and took us to live productions at the former Shady Grove Theater when I was in elementary school. My first live theater experiences were Bye Bye Birdie and South Pacific.

My high school drama teacher took me and another student to many shows at Baltimore’s Morris Mechanic Theatre—I especially remember seeing HAIR! Over the years, we’ve been subscribers to many theaters, including the New York City Theater and the New York City Ballet when we lived in New Jersey. Now, we enjoy our annual subscriptions to Clear Space Theatre.

Why do you believe supporting the arts in our community matters?
Live theater offers a unique and shared experience, with the energy of the actors and audience creating a dynamic and often unpredictable atmosphere. It can transport us to another time or place for a few hours—which feels especially important given the current political climate in the U.S.

How familiar were you with this show before?
I wasn’t aware that Reefer Madness was a stage production—I only knew the movie, which I saw years ago.

What was your favorite thing about it?
Honestly, it was the title that first grabbed me!

If you weren’t familiar, what are you most excited to see on stage?
I’m really curious to see how it transcends into a live stage production.

What would you say to someone considering seeing this show?
If you enjoy modern satire—and if you love clever music and well-choreographed song numbers—this is the show for you.

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Meet Edward Chrzanowski, the Presenting Sponsor of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

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Introducing WSFS Bank, Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Barefoot & Bowtie Gala

Clear Space Theatre Company is thrilled to announce that WSFS Bank is the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Barefoot & Bowtie Gala at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Their generous support down through the years have made a tremendous impact not only at Clear Space but throughout our community. Without their support, Clear Space would not be able to continue to bring inspiring performances and meaningful educational programs.

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Meet Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Sponsor Visit Rehoboth

We would like to thank Visit Rehoboth, for their supporting sponsorship for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Their commitment to celebrating the arts and culture of the Delaware Beaches helps bring stories like Carole King’s to our stage. We sat down with Tom Protack from Visit Rehoboth to hear more about their passion for the arts, their connection to Clear Space, and their excitement for this inspiring musical.

What inspired Visit Rehoboth to sponsor Beautiful: The Carole King Musical?
The inspiring true story of Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

How did your partnership with Clear Space Theatre first begin?
Clear Space and Visit Rehoboth‘s partnership began several years ago. As a local marketing and advertising company based here at the Delaware Beaches, we wanted to partner with those bringing the arts to our community. We wanted our followers and viewers to know about the great gem which is Clear Space.

Music and the arts are at the heart of Rehoboth Beach—what role do they play in your own life or in the community you serve?
Art and culture are a major part of my life. I have been an art collector for many years and also regularly attend our local concerts and shows.

What would you say to local businesses or individuals considering supporting the arts in Rehoboth?
The arts bring another depth to the beauty of the Delaware Beaches.

Have you seen Beautiful before? If so, what part of Carole King’s story resonates most with you? If not, what are you most excited to experience on stage?
I have not seen it before but am very familiar with her transformational journey. I am excited to soak it all in!

Beautiful celebrates resilience, creativity, and the power of music—what do you hope audiences take away from the show?
I hope they take away that with patient perseverance you can do anything!

What do you think makes Beautiful a perfect fit for Clear Space Theatre and the Rehoboth Beach community?
It is a perfect fit because the musical pieces are energizing just like the crashing of the ocean waves and beauty of our sunrises and sunsets.

What would you say to someone considering coming to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Clear Space Theatre?
Get ready for a great show and be ready to spread the news to others about the wonderful talent and offerings at Clear Space.

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Meet Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Presenting Sponsor Fred Mitzner

At Clear Space Theatre, our productions are made possible through the generous support of our incredible community. Each season, we shine a spotlight on the individuals and businesses who help bring our shows to life. We hope you’ll enjoy meeting Fred Mitzner, the Presenting Sponsor of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Fred Mitzner has called Rehoboth Beach home for part of the year for many years. A Senior Vice President at Conference Direct, based in Washington DC, he has helped to facilitate thousands of gatherings across countless industries in the 25+ years of his career. He’s had many honors in his career, including being named Associate of the Year at the Association for Project Management’s annual conference. His relationship with Clear Space spans over nearly a decade. In previous years, he shared a show sponsorship with a business associated. This year, for the first time, Fred is a solo presenting show sponsor. We are thrilled for his generosity and all the good his support makes possible for our community. Thank you, Fred!

What inspired you to sponsor this show? It is a great thing to give back to the community, and Clear Space is an excellent addition to Rehoboth; therefore, it was a natural fit to do so.

How did you first get involved with Clear Space Theatre? I went to see a show there about nine years ago and liked it. Back then, they needed some help with the sound system, which is what prompted me to think I could help them out. They have come a long way, and the present sound system is excellent.

What role do the arts play in your own life? Growing up in New Jersey, close to NYC, I was fortunate to visit Broadway frequently thanks to my parents and school trips. Those experiences ignited my passion for the performing arts.

Why do you believe supporting the arts in our community matters? Clear Space offers a unique venue that both locals and visitors can enjoy. While many know Rehoboth for its iconic boardwalk, the theater enhances the town’s cultural appeal and diversity.

How familiar were you with this show before? What was your favorite thing about it? I had seen it on Broadway and was impressed with Carole King’s music. When I found out last year that this would be my show, I downloaded the Broadway album and had been listening to it for months. I was so jazzed to hear all the songs in person, finally.

When you saw the show, was there a message or moment that resonated with you? Carole King’s journey reflects the universal struggles we all face. Her resilience and triumph serve as a reminder that, despite challenges, life often leads us to extraordinary places.

What would you say to someone considering seeing this show? I recommend avoiding any spoilers about Carole King’s life before seeing the show. Let the performance unfold its surprises for you! Let the Earth move under your feet and enjoy the show.

We’re so grateful to Fred Mitzner for his generous support of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical! We would also like to thank Visit Rehoboth for being the production’s supporting sponsor. If you’d like to learn more about being a sponsor at Clear Space, please contact Director of Development Jason Matthews at jason@clearspacetheatre.org.

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2025 Candidates for Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners Talk with Clear Space

On August 9, 2025 voters in Rehoboth Beach will elect two new members to the Board of Commissioners to replace Edward Chrzanowski and Bunky Markert, whose terms end this year and who are not running for re-election. As an arts organization central to the civic life of our region, Clear Space Theatre Company wanted to speak to the candidates to understand their perspective on the arts and on the future of Clear Space’s building efforts in Rehoboth Beach. All three candidates met in person or by phone with Clear Space Managing Director Joe Gfaller.

Continuing a tradition that we began last year, and knowing that many Clear Space patrons are also Rehoboth Beach voters, all three candidates agreed to answer a few questions that may be on the mind of our patrons in advance of the election. Knowing how busy canvassing can be in the final days before an election, we are grateful for their willingness to share their time and their perspective. We applaud each candidate for taking the initiative to serve our community in this role. We hope that their answers to the following questions may be helpful as voters consider which candidates they may ultimately support in the election.

Whether you are a Rehoboth Beach voter or not, we hope you will find this information valuable.

These were the questions asked of the candidates:

      (1) What role do you believe the performing arts play in the health and civic life of a community? What role do you see them playing in Rehoboth Beach?

      (2) As you are aware, the city of Rehoboth Beach has proposed a terms sheet for Clear Space to construct a new performing arts center on city owned land once the Cape Henlopen Senior Center moves to a new site on Hebron Road. What are your thoughts on the project and the terms that have been proposed to date? Are there any proposed terms you would like to see revised before the city completes the agreement?

      (3) What do you hope residents, businesses, visitors, and the community in coastal Delaware might gain from Rehoboth Beach becoming the home to the first purpose built performing arts center in Sussex County?

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Meet Hairspray Presenting Sponsors Rick Tedrick and Shawn Wright!

At Clear Space Theatre, our productions are made possible through the generous support of our incredible community. Each season, we shine a spotlight the individuals and businesses who help bring our shows to life. We hope you’ll enjoy meeting Rick Tedrick and Shawn Wright, the Presenting sponsors of Hairspray.

A long time resident of Rehoboth Beach, Rick has been a supporter of Clear Space for many years, co-sponsoring productions and consistently leveraging his generosity to offer matching challenges in support of our Arts Institute during our annual Tony Party. His love of Clear Space is so strong that when he and Shawn got married in the fall of 2023, they chose to have their wedding ceremony at Clear Space, right on the mainstage. We are so grateful to both Rick and Shawn for their generosity and their consistent wise council.

What inspired you to sponsor this show?
We’ve been sponsoring shows at Clear Space for nearly a decade. When Hairspray was announced for this summer, we knew it was the perfect fit. It’s a happy, fun musical—and we love that kind of energy.

How did you first get involved with Clear Space Theatre?
David Button introduced us to Clear Space. We were used to seeing shows in New York and were hesitant about local theatre at first. But David assured us the quality here was fantastic. After seeing our first show, we were completely sold.

What role do the arts play in your own life?
Neither of us are actors—and we definitely can’t sing—but we love watching the incredibly talented performers at Clear Space do their thing. They bring meaning and heart to every performance.

Why do you believe supporting the arts in our community matters?
It’s another amazing way Rehoboth brings people together. Theatre is great entertainment, and it connects people who love the arts and appreciate live performance.

How familiar were you with this show before? What was your favorite thing about it?
We’re both very familiar with Hairspray and have seen it many times. Our favorite part was the energy and talent of the entire cast—but Ashley Williams as Motormouth Maybelle truly stood out.

Was there a moment or message from the show that resonated with you?
When Ashley used her Motormouth to belt out her solo—that moment was powerful.

What would you say to someone considering seeing this show?
Go! It’s incredibly entertaining, and you’ll leave the theatre smiling.

We’re so grateful to Rick and Shawn for their generous support of Hairspray! We would also like to thank the Cape Gazette for serving as the supporting sponsorship of Hairspray – look for a blog post about them in the weeks to come as well. If you’d like to learn more about being a production sponsor at Clear Space, please contact Director of Development Jason Matthews at jason@clearspacetheatre.org.

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