Artscene With Erika Funke

Tony Brooks, Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society Director & Board Member of the Hollenback Cemetery Association, speaking about a walking tour that he will host on September 24, 2022, through the Hollenback Cemetery, 540 N. River Street in Wilkes-Barre at 11:00 am, exploring the life and times of veterans from the Revolutionary War to WWII. www.wbpreservation.org/

Julie Esty, Founder & Artistic Director of the Dearly Departed Players, with an introduction by Luz Cabrales of Scranton Films, speaking about the 2022 Dunmore Cemetery Tour, 400 Church Street, Sundays October 2 and October 9, getting underway at 2:00 each afternoon. There is no admission fee. For more information on the tour and the award-winning documentary produced by Luz Cabrales, Facebook.com/TheDunnmoreCemeteryTour

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager & Film Booker at the Dietrich Theater, 60 East Tioga Street in Tunkhannock, speaking about the 2022 Fall Film Festival running from September 23 through October 13. For more information: www.dietrichtheater.com/

Dr. Paul Salerni, composer & NEH Distinguished Chair in the Humanities and Professor of Music at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and Laura Johnson, internationally-known opera & theatre director, speaking about Dr. Salerni's one-act opera, "The Life & Love of Joe Coogan," adapted from a Dick Van Dyck TV Show episode with an original screenplay by Carl Reiner. There will be a concert performance of the work on Saturday, September 24, 2022 in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh at 7:30 pm. For information on the full program: www.zoellnerartscenter.org/

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager & Film Booker at the Dietrich Theater, 60 E.Tioga Street, in Tunkhannock, speaking about the 2022 Fall Film Festival that opens with a gala on September 23 and runs through October 13. 23 films to be screened in 21 days. For more information: www.dietrichtheater.com/

Walter Mitchell, Jr., General Manager Emeritus & Director of Development, and David Parmelee, General Manager, speaking about the 100th anniversary of the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre. The milestone will be marked with a Gala Centennial Celebration on September 23, 2022, from 5:30 to 8:00 at the Westmoreland Club, 59 S. Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre. For more information: www.ltwb.org/

Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of Arts & Culture for Lackawanna County (PA), speaking about her documentary film, "A Shop on Every Corner: Memories of the Garment Industry" to be screened September 21, 2022, at 7:00 pm, at the Ritz Theatre, 222 Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton, with a discussion to follow. The event is part of the special initiative, "Scranton's Story, Our Nation's Story" presented by the University of Scranton & its partners through a grant from the NEH. www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory

WVIA's Fiona Powell, folklorist, storyteller & historian, with a special audio essay titled, "Home Thoughts From Abroad on the Death of the Queen," to mark September 19, 2022 and the Royal Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. www.wvia.org/

Thomas Putnam, Artistic Director of Hamilton-Gibson Productions of Wellsboro, PA, speaking about the upcoming presentation of the musical revue, "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16 and 17, 2022, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 as well as at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24 in the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. www.hamiltongibson.org/

Shimon Attie, internationally-renowned artist and Horger Artist-in-Residence in the Department of Art, Architecture & Design at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, speaking about his video/sculptural installation exploring the history of Bethlehem that is on exhibit at the LUAG Main Gallery through December 3, 2022. The show is titled, "Starstruck: An American Tale" and Lehigh students participated in the process along the way. There will be an artist's talk & opening reception on Tuesday, September 13, at 5:30 pm. The talk will be in the Baker Center with the reception to follow in the LUAG Main Gallery. For more information: www.luag.lehigh.edu/

Michael Novak, Artistic Director, & Jessica Ferretti, member of the dance troupe, speaking about The Paul Taylor Dance Company performing at the Weis Center of Bucknell University in Lewisburg featuring three of Taylor's well-known works on Sept. 16, 2022 at 7:30 pm. They spoke with WVIA's Larry Vojtko. www.bucknell.edu/weiscenter

Sherry Emershaw, Vice-President of the Board, and Adam Thalenfeld, Member of the Board, of the Luzerne County Historical Society, speaking about the new exhibition about Jacob Cist, 19th century inventor, entrepreneur, artist, and writer of Wilkes-Barre opening at the LCHS Museum on September 16, 2022 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Museum, 49 South Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The entire museum will be open for the first time since the Covid-19 closing. www.luzernehistory.org/

Brian Keeler, award-winning artist, educator, author, and Linda Graves, owner of the North Star Art Gallery in Ithaca, NY, speaking about Keeler's work in connection with his new book, "Brian Keeler: Light on the Figure--Aspects of Painting People" and 2 regional exhibitions. Keeler's work will be at the Auradell Gallery at the Stroudsmoor Inn in Stroudsburg through December 31, 2022. And there will be an opening for his show at the Main Street Galleries, Pierce Street in Kingston, PA on September 17th from 4 to 8 pm with music by the Doug Smith Trio. www.BrianKeeler.com/

Rev. Dr. Robert Zanicky, minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the 250th anniversary of the Church and its history in the Wyoming Valley of PA, in anticipation of the formal celebratory service to mark the occasion on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at 10 am, at the Church, 97 South Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre. There will be a 250th Anniversary Grand Music Celebration on October 7 at the Church. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend. www.fpc-wb.org/

Bill Goodwin, acclaimed jazz drummer & schedule manager for COTA, and Steve Krawetz, jazz radio host & member of the COTA board of directors, speaking about the annual COTA Festival--Celebration of the Arts--held in Delaware Water Gap, PA the weekend after Labor Day. This year--the 44th annual--will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 10 & 11th, with music getting underway on the main stage at 12:30 pm, winding up each night at the Deer Head Inn for an open jam session. Take a lawn chair or a blanket. There will be arts and crafts, food and plenty for children to discover. www.cotajazz.org/

Dr. Robert Wolensky, noted sociologist & anthracite historian, speaking about the industrial/labor history of NEPA in anticipation of an event on September 8, 2022 at 5:30 at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton. The program is part of the two-year project, "Scranton's Story; Our Nation's Story," made possible by a special grant from the NEH, and is hosted by the University of Scranton & its partners. The talk is titled, "The 1902 Anthracite Strike: Causes & Consequences" and it will be followed by a panel discussion. For more information: www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory

Nancy Sanderson, Executive Director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, speaking about the 2022-2023 Season that gets underway on September 16 with a Pops program titled, "Blockbuster Broadway!" at 8 pm at Scranton Preparatory School. There is a Masterworks series that opens on November 5 and a Chamber series that begins on October 13. The Music Director and Conductor is Melisse Brunet. For more information: www.nepaphil.org/ 570-270-4444

Dr. Robert Wolensky, noted sociologist & anthracite historian, speaking about his presentation, "The 1902 Anthracite Strike: Causes & Consequences" on September 8, 2022 at 5:30 pm, at the Lackawanna County Courthouse, hosted by the University of Scranton and its partners as part of a special two-year project made possible by a grant from the NEH: Scranton's Story; Our Nation's Story. For more information: www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory

Dr. Robert Wolensky, noted sociologist and anthracite historian, speaking in advance of his presentation, "The 1902 Anthracite Strike: Causes & Consequences" with a panel discussion to follow, on September 8, 2022, at 5:30 pm at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in downtown Scranton. The event is hosted by the University of Scranton & its partners as part of a special two-year grant from the NEH for a project titled, "Scranton's Story; Our Nation's Story." For more information: www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory/

Rev. Bill Carter, jazz pianist, pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit & founder of the Presbybop Quartet, and Tony Marino, celebrated bassist & longtime member of the quartet, speaking about the launch of the group's 30th year on September 4, 2022, with a jazz communion service at the 1st Presbyterian Church, 300 School Street in Clarks Summit, at 10:00 am, with a live stream option and an archival recording available at www.fpccs.org/ The public is invited to attend.