Artscene With Erika Funke

Matthew Hinton, playwright, poet, editor and Coordinator of Writing at Misericordia University, speaking about his "Playroom" project, produced by Gaslight Theatre over an eight-year period. Hinton's own one-acts for the series have been issued as a collection titled, "Playroom," by Blue Moon Plays, and he will be part of an alumni panel at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre on January 11, 2023, at 6:30 at the Sordoni Art Gallery in connection with the semi-annual residency of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing, www.wilkes.edu/

Mary Beth Voda, Author & Independent Historian, speaking about the Frank Capra holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life," that was inspired by a story written by Philip Van Doren Stern titled, "The Greatest Gift." Stern was born in Wyalusing, PA. The Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga Street in Tunkhannock, will continue its annual tradition of presenting free screenings of "It's a Wonderful Life," Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 2:00, 7:00 & 8:00 pm. For more information: www.dietrichtheater.com/

Dr. Alan Baker, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Lyric Consort of NEPA, speaking about the annual holiday performance, "A Lyric Consort Christmas," on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 8 pm, at St Luke's Episcopal Church on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. www.lyricconsort.com/

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Artistic Director of the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, and Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director, speaking about the original pantomime, "Snow White & the 7 Scrantonians," to be presented by the company at their new performance space at the Mall at Steamtown, with shows December 15-18, 2020; Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, with matinees at 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday. For more information: www.scrantonshakes.com/

Reverend Allison Carnahan with Scott Atherton and Bruce Candlish, musicians, speaking about "A Service of Lessons & Carols" to be presented by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Main & Iron Streets, in Bloomsburg, PA. on Sunday, December 18, 2022, with prelude music by The Brass Menagerie at 4:40 and the service at 5:00 pm. A free will offering will be accepted. www.stpaulsbloomsburg.diocpa.org/

Amy Casimir, Artistic Director, and Trey Casimir, Producer of A Victorian Nutcracker, as Strictly Ballet & RiverStage Community Theatre partner for the fifth year to present the holiday classic at the Greenspace Center, 815 Market Street in Lewisburg. There will be 2 performances on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 2:00 and 7:00 pm. www.riverstagetheatre.org/

Jason Smeltzer, musician & creative artist, speaking about a program featuring his ensemble Nefarious Musical Accompaniment for Silent Films scheduled on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 7:00 pm at the Olde Brick Theatre, 126 W. Market Street (Rear Entrance) in Scranton. The evening will center on 2 experimental films by Robert Bowen of NYU focusing on architects Arakawa & Madeline Gins. Smeltzer will read from their manifesto, as well. 3-D glasses will be provided by the filmmaker. Facebook.com/divatheaterscranton/

Gerarado Edelstein, Music Director and Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the 2022 Holiday Concert, "Happy Holidays to All," at the Community Arts Center, 220 West 4th Street on Friday, December 9 at 7:30 pm. www.caclive.org/ or www.williamsportsymphony.org

Scott Coulter, Artistic Director of the Pocono Mountains Music Festival, speaking about the 2022 Holiday Concert, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," featuring the Pocono Pops! & the Pocono Pops! Chorus with guest soloists at the Sherman Theater, 524 Main Street in Stroudsburg, PA, on Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00 pm. For information: www.shermantheater.com/

David Parmelee, LTWB General Manager, and Kelly Krieger, actor who plays the role of The Old Man, speaking about the production of the musical, "A Christmas Story" at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 North Main Street, December 9th through the 18th. There will be shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3:00. For more information: www.ltwb.org/

Matt Vashlishan, composer, arranger, band leader and musician, speaking about the premiere of The Grinch Suite for full jazz ensemble that he finished in February 2022. The Water Gap Jazz Orchestra will also perform the Jazz Nutcracker Suite arranged by Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, with guest narrators Nancy Reed & Duke Ellington II. The concert will be held in the Cecelia S. Cohen Recital Hall on the campus of E. Stroudsburg University on Saturday, December 10 at 6:00 pm. www.wgjo.org/

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Music Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about The Christmas Oratorio by Bach, Parts 4, 5 & 6, to be performed by the Bach Choir and the Bach Festival Orchestra and guest soloists, on December 10, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown at 4:00 pm (*note special time) and December 11 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem at 4:00, with a chance to listen live online at bach.org/ Each concert will close with an invitation to the audience to join in the singing of carols. For more information: www.bach.org/

Robert Zaloga, assistant to the artistic director & principal dancer at Scranton Civic Ballet, with dancers Rachel Stopper & Sasha Rumyantseva, speaking about Helen Gaus's vision for the Nutcracker in advance of 2 performance at The Theater at North, December 9, 2022 at 7:30 pm and December 10 at 2:00. www.scrantoncivicballet.com/

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale, speaking about the holiday concert, "A Koliada Christmas" from Eastern Europe, to be presented Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 7:30 pm at St. Luke's Church in Scranton, and Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 pm at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre. For more information: www.arcadiachorale.org/

Bobby Arvon, singer, pianist & impressionist, a native of Scranton, speaking about his life in music in anticipation of a concert on December 4, 2022, at 7:00 pm, at the Kirby Center for Creative Arts at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA, with the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band under the direction of Marko Marcinko, and special guest Lorenzo Medico of Artic Entertainment, producer of the event. www.wyomingseminary.org

Nancy Sanderson, Executive Director of the Northeastern PA Philharmonic, speaking about the 2022 Holiday Concerts to be presented Friday, December 9 at 7 pm at the Scranton Cultural Center, and Saturday, December 10 at 7 pm at the FM Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Music Director Melisse Brunet will conduct, and the Choral Society of Northeast PA & Ballet Theatre of Scranton will be featured with the orchestra. www.nepaphil.org/

Dr. Philip Simon of the Wilkes University Music Faculty, speaking about his return to campus following his retirement, in order to teach & direct the Civic Band and Jazz Ensemble. There will be a series of concerts presented by the Wilkes groups including: The Civic Band on December 4, 2022, at 3:00 pm, at the Darte Center on the Wilkes campus in Wilkes-Barre. The Chamber Orchestra under John Vaida on December 5 at 8:00 pm at the Darte Center. The Jazz Ensemble on December 7 at 7:30 at the Darte Center. The Choral Ensembles under Matthew Rupcich on December 11 at St. Stephen's Church, 35 S. Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre at 3:00pm. There is no admission charge for any of the concerts. www.wilkes.edu/

Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of Arts & Culture for Lackawanna County, speaking about the annual Winter Holiday Market scheduled for December 2, 3 & 4, 2022, on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton, with many vendors, live music, traditional holiday crafts and more. Dec 2nd from 5-9pm; Dec 3 from 11 am to 7 pm; Dec 4 from 11 am to 4 pm. For more information: www.lackawannacounty.org/ or on Facebook or Instagram

Rebecca Sheir, host of "Circle Round," a storytelling podcast for children and adults, presented by WBUR Public Media in Boston, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the project and the related books that have been published to accompany the series. www.wbur.org/podcasts/circleround

Elaine Mehalkes, Vice President of Curatorial Affairs at the Allentown Art Museum, speaking about the New American Galleries, the first major reinstallation of the permanent collection since 2011, and the new initiative, "Free Admission for All, Forever." The Allentown Art Museum is located at 31 North Fifth Street, and can be found on the web at www.allentownartmusuem.org/