Freeman Arts Pavilion sets stage for big future

As the band Straight No Chaser did a pre-concert soundcheck in the background, Patti Grimes and Alyson Cunningham showed off the future of the Freeman Arts Pavilion.

On show nights, Grimes, the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation’s executive director, and Cunningham, marketing manager, are there to put out fires.

“Anything could go sideways, mostly because of weather,” Grimes said. “But we’re always asking how would a delay affect our patrons, employees, volunteers and vendors.”

The weather was perfect Aug. 7, and they looked forward to talking about what’s to come.

The nonprofit foundation is in the middle of a $40 million, multi-phase transformation. New elements are already visible to patrons of Freeman’s diverse performance lineup.

This season, Lyle Lovett, Foreigner and the Southern Delaware Orchestra have already performed. Maren Morris and ZZ Top are among those still to come through September.

Contractor Gillis Gilkerson has erected the steel frame for a new stage that will be twice as large as the current one.

“It will bring another level of artist, maybe a national touring act that needs more room to perform, somebody who may have passed on us before,” Grimes said.

The stage will face 90 degrees from its current position, making it less likely that performers will have the sun set in their eyes.

The concrete has been poured for new back-of-house facilities, including green rooms for performers. They will replace temporary trailers now set up behind the current stage.

The lawn will slope up to 32 feet, which will give patrons a raised view from the back.

Freeman will also showcase local artists on a smaller stage on a lower level.

Capacity will remain at 4,000, according to Cunningham.

The Freeman Foundation began 18 years ago to honor the legacy of Joshua M. Freeman, former chair of the Carl M. Freeman companies, who died in a helicopter crash near Dagsboro in 2006.

The foundation impacts the community through two programs: the Art Access Initiative and Freeman Arts.

Grimes said an economic study showed the arts pavilion brings $24 million to the local economy every year. More than 1 million patrons have attended shows there.

“For every $1 that comes into the pavilion, $2 go back into the local economy to support small business,” she said.

Even though the capital campaign is about improving brick-and-mortar facilities, Grimes said the Freeman Arts Pavilion is not about the music; it’s about the experience.

“Treating people right is the most important thing,” Grimes said. “In 2021, Harry Connick performed here. As he walked off the stage, he came to me and said, ‘This place is good. Your people are good,’ and that he wanted to come back. If you treat them well, and feed them well, they don’t care about the rudimentary things.”

Grimes gave some insight into how they accommodate artists to give them the best experience.

She said Freeman provides the sound system and lighting, but everything else is a negotiation, because every act is different.

“Sam Hunt brought his own lighting and video wall. He wants to project his brand everywhere he goes. So they bring what they need so [the pavilion] is close to the same as Madison Square Garden,” Grimes said.

Grimes said negotiations usually start five to six weeks before the show.

She said the next big step for the foundation is to raise the $9 million needed to finish future phases of the transformation.

“We’re a financially sustainable and viable nonprofit because we have support of the public to make that happen,” Grimes said. “And how cool is it that you can see a band like Straight No Chaser in Sussex County and you don’t have to drive two to three hours?”

For more information and to donate, go to freemanarts.org.