Artscene With Erika Funke

Rick Coulter, Founder & Music Director of the Billtown Brass, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about their 2023 "Summer Brass" concert series with performances on August 19 at 7 pm at Central Oak Heights pavilion in Milton, PA; Also August 25 at 5 pm on Pine Street in Williamsport as part of the Williamsport Welcomes the World Celebration. www.williamsportsymphony.org/

Claire McRee, Associate Curator at the Allentown Art Museum, speaking about the current exhibition, "Fashion as Experiment: The '60s," running through September 24, 2023. The show features over a hundred garments and accessories from the Museum's collection along with special 1960s-themed programs. Admission is free. www.allentownartmusuem.org/

Trebbe Johnson, writer, speaker, founder of Radical Joy for Hard Times, talking about her recent book, "Fierce Consciousness: Surviving the Sorrows of Earth and Self," issued by Calliope Books in January 2023. For more information: www.trebbejohnson.com/

Filmmakers Luz Cabrales & Robert Savakinus speaking about their original documentary, "Scranton's Championship Season," centering on the making of the Hollywood movie "That Championship Season" in Scranton 41 years ago. The documentary will be broadcast on WVIA TV on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 8:00 pm. www.wvia.org/

Oren Helbok, Executive Director of The Exchange, speaking about the 15th annual ArtFest in downtown Bloomsburg, PA, on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 10 am to 5 pm, near the fountain on the other side of Main Street. There will be a range of arts and crafts, non-profit organizations, food vendors and live music, as well as children's activities. www.exchangearts.org/artfest/ For information about current and future art shows at The Exchange Gallery, 24 E. Main Street in Bloomsburg, www.exchangearts.org/

Playwright David Parmelee, General Manager of the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, and playwrights Montie Price Ford & William Jeffrey, speaking about "5X1 ACT: One Weekend of Original One-Act Plays," August 11, 12 & 13, 2023, at the Little Theatre of W-B, 537 N. Main Street. Featured playwrights: Montie Price Ford; K.K. Gordon; William Jeffrey; David Parmelee & Art Walsh. Shows are Friday & Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 3 pm. www.ltwb.org/

Patricia Treacy, internationally-known Irish violinist, speaking about her life in music in anticipation of a performance at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA, on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 5:30 pm. The concert is a benefit for WVIA and is presented by Harmony in the Woods. There are concert-only tickets and tickets for the concert and reception. www.wvia.org/events www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Matt Birkbeck, award-winning investigative journalist & best-selling author, speaking with WVIA's News Director Julie Sidoni about his most recent book, "The Life We Chose: William 'Big Billy' D'Elia and the Last Secrets of America's Most Powerful Mafia Family," just issued by William Morrow/Harper Collins on July 11, 2023. For more information: www.mattbirkbeck.com/

Liz Tilley, visual artist from Stroudsburg, speaking about her one-person exhibition at the Hazleton Art League, 31 W. Broad Street, "Paradise Found: Revisioning the Garden of Earthly Delights." The show will run from August 4 to August 27, 2023, with an opening reception on Friday the 4th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. There will be an artist's talk Sunday, August 6th from 1:00 to 3:00, and an acoustic jam on August 27th from 1:00 to 3:00. www.hazletonartleague.org/back-to-the-garden/

Rick Markham, producer of "Sylvia" & actor in the role of Greg, speaking about the Legion Theatre Group production of "Sylvia" by A. R. Gurney, a comedy for adults, to be presented August 11 & 12, 2023, at the Tillbury Community Center in West Nanticoke, PA, at 7:00 each evening. The show will benefit Mureille's Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen. For more information: www.legiontheatregroup.org/

Deborah Reeder, distinguished cellist and educator, and coordinator/founder with Barbara Sonies of "Music in the Mountains," a summer workshop for high school musicians. She spoke about the history of the program in anticipation of an annual reunion concert presented by the Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 8:00 pm, at the Dewire Center, 891 Laporte Avenue in Eagles Mere, in Sullivan County, PA. The program will feature Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorak, Florence Price and more. www,emfoa.org

Maxim Furek, writer & journalist, and John Yamrus, writer of poetry, novels, memoirs & other nonfiction, speaking about their work & their roots in northeastern PA. Furek's new book is "Coal Region HooDoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit," and Yamrus's latest collection is "Twenty Four Poems." They will take part in the second annual Authors in the Park event on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at the Public Park in Freeland, PA. Hours are 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. 20 or so writers will be on hand and there will be readings by children's authors and more. www.maximfurek.com Facebook.com/John.Yamrus/

Singer-Songwriter Paul Hayward speaking about his life and music as he begins his 2023 East Coast tour that will culminate in a benefit performance in his hometown, Forest City, PA, for the Forest City Area Historical Society, August 2 at 7:30. He'll also play at Arlo's in Union Dale on July 29; at the Berwick Brewing Company on August 4; and at Turkey Hill Brewing Company on August 5. For more information: www.paulhayward.com/

Actors Chris Fitting and Joelle Woodson, speaking about the Scranton Fringe Festival production of the Icke & Macmillan adaptation for the stage of George Orwell's "1984" in its PA premiere at the Lackawanna College Theatre, 501 Vine Street in Scranton, July 27, 28 & 29, 2023, with shows each evening at 7:30 and a matinee on the 29th, as well, at 2:00. The Saturday evening performance will be live streamed. For more information: www.scrantonfringe.org/

Maria Jacketti, poet, journalist, educator & translator, & Jennifer Ochman, historical reenactor & board member of the Luzerne County Historical Society, speaking about their work in anticipation of a poetry reading & celebration of writers in NEPA on July 29, 2023 at Susquehanna Studio in Union Dale, PA. Also featured will be singer-songwriter Lester Hirsh. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/JackettiLaureate/

Robert Morgalo, Actor, Director, Producer, Writer and CEO of Outhouse Production Films, with offices at 105 W. Broad Street in Tamaqua, PA, speaking about the company's current feature film, "Dream Devil," being shot in Tamaqua and plans for the development of Tamaqua Film Studios. For more information: www.tamaquafilmstudios.com/

Lakeetha Blakeney, Director, and Shantel Hill, Asst. Director & Choreographer, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the 2023 Lycoming College "Summer Stock" production of the musical "Matilda," based on the story by Roald Dahl, at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport, July 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm, and July 23 at 2 pm. www.caclive.com/

Arrah Fisher, Executive Director of the Cooperage Project; Sam Gellerstein and Michael Spearman of the band SNACKTIME, speaking about the group's performance on Friday, July 21, 2023, as part of the Cooperage Project's event series at 1030 Main Street in Honesdale, PA.  The doors open at 7:00 and the concert begins at 7:30 pm.  For more information: www.thecooperageproject.org/  and www.snacktimephilly.com/

Joanne Oakum & Jennifer Gerhard, Members of the Board of the Greater Hazleton Concert Series, speaking about the 2023-2024 season, opening on September 6th with the Limeliters and continuing into May, with 8 performances to be held at Hazleton Area High School. For more information: www.hazletonconcertseries.org/ or call 570-436-6615

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager & Film Booker at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock, PA, speaking about Summer Fest 2023, the annual summer film festival featuring 22 films in 21 days, running from July 14 to August 3 at the Dietrich, 60 East Tioga Street. For more information: dietrichtheater.com/