Artscene With Erika Funke

Marko Marcinko, Artistic Director & Co-founder of The Scranton Jazz Festival, speaking about the 17th annual event to be held August 5, 6 & 7, 2022, throughout downtown Scranton. There will be 23 venues offering a variety of performers and styles of jazz. On Saturday, August 6, the Royal Scam will take the stage at the Ritz Theater on Wyoming Avenue at 7;30 pm. The Four Freshman will join the SJF Big Band at the Ritz on Sunday at 5:30 pm. www.scrantonjazzfestival.org/

Jill Carletti, Creative Director for Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA, speaking in April 2022 about tenor Blake Friedman. Blake Friedman will return to northeastern PA on Friday, July 29 as part of the 2022 Harmony in the Woods Summer Series. The concert will be held at the Boiler Room of the Hawley Silk Mill, 8 Silk Mill Drive, at 6:00 pm. There will be a complimentary after-show reception www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Tannis Kowalchuk, founding artistic director of the Farm Arts Collective at Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Damascus, PA, speaking about the 2022 "Dream on the Farm" performance titled, "Tavern at the Edge of the World" to be presented August 3 through 7 at 7:30 each evening in the greenhouse at the 30-acre farm in Wayne County. For more information: www.farmartscollective.org/

Thom Shubilla, professor of speech communication at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, PA, speaking about his recent book, "Primetime 1966-1967: The Full Spectrum of Television's First All-Color Season," issued by McFarland Books. Shubilla will have a book signing at the Mahoning Drive-In Theater, 635 Seneca Road in Lehighton, PA, on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at "Mahoning Monkee Mania" from 6 pm to 11 pm. www.mahoningdit.com www.mcfarlandbooks.com/

Amelia Bergeron, President, & Board members Shirley Ikeda and Tom Chegwidden, of the Greater Hazleton Concert Series, speaking about the organization and its 87th season, getting underway on September 15, 2022, & running through May 9, 2023. There will be 8 concerts, and memberships are available for the whole series. Single tickets are also available. Performances are held at the Hazleton Area High School, 1601 West 23rd Street and begin at 7:30 pm. www.hazletonconcertseries.org/

Father Robert Carbonneau, CP, PhD, speaking about the history of the annual Novena to St. Ann in Scranton, held at St. Ann's Monastery and Shrine Basilica, 1233 St. Ann Street, from July 17 to July 26. For more information: www.stannsmonasterybasilica.org/

Cellist Deborah Reeder, member of the Philadelphia Trio and founder of Music in the Mountains in Eagles Mere, Sullivan County, PA. The Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts will present the annual concert featuring alumni of MIM on Friday, July 29, 2022, at 8:00 pm, at the David Dewire Center, 891 Laporte Avenue. Tickets will be available at the door. On the program, works of Brahms, Shostakovich, Bach, Elgar, J. Montgomery and more. www.emfoa.org/

Marcie Riebe, playwright and poet, speaking about her new play, "Pockets" that will have its premiere at the Diva Theater in Scranton. The show centers on women's issues over the years, & Riebe and Paul Gallo direct. There will be shows August 5, 6, 12 & 13, 2022, at 8 pm, and matinees Sunday August 7 & 14 at 2:00 at the Olde Brick Theater, 126 W. Market Street in Scranton. Reservations are suggested. 570-209-7766 Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton

Simone Daniels, director; Rosie Garcia, actor, speaking about "Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play" by Anne Washburn, to be presented by Scranton Fringe July 21 through July 23, 2022, at 7:00 each evening, with a Saturday matinee at 2:00, at People's Security Theatre at Lackawanna College in Scranton. There will be a live streamed option on Saturday evening at 7:00. For more information: www.scrantonfringe.org/

Scott Coulter, award-winning vocalist & artistic director of the Pocono Mountains Music Festival in Monroe County, PA, speaking about the 13th season that will run from July 21 through July 30, 2022. There will be a variety of musical programs featuring NY artists and regional students from the summer music camp, all culminating in a performance by the Pocono Pops at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on the 30th. www.poconofest.org/

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager & Film Booker at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock, PA, speaking about Summer Fest 2022, an annual film festival with 20 films screened in 21 days--from July 15 through August 4, at the Dietrich, 60 East Tioga Street. There is an opening night gala with 2 films and a special "Colewell--Meet the Filmmakers" event on July 30 at 7 pm. www.dietrichtheater.com/

Michael Gallagher, Artistic Director Emeritus of the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes Street in Swoyersville, PA, speaking about the musical "Gypsy" to be presented July 15 -24, 2022, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3pm. There is a dinner option, as well, and the meal starts at 6:30 Fridays & Saturdays, and Sundays at 1:30 pm. www.musicbox.org/ 570-283-2195

Jan Lokuta, lawyer, arts advocate & conservation volunteer, speaking about 19th century American artists with ties to eastern Pennsylvania, including George Catlin and Thomas Moran, in anticipation of 2 art workshops for children to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Yellowstone National Park. The sessions will be held at Hickory Run State Park in Carbon County, PA, at 11:00 am at the Visitor's Center, on Saturday, July 16 and again on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 11:00. There is no admission charge and materials will be provided. Facebook.com/HickoryRunSP

Eric Ian Farmer, singer-songewriter from State College, PA, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell in 2020 about his life in music, especially body percussion and mouth music that characterize his style. He will perform as part of the "Concerts Under the Stars" series presented by the Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at 6:30, on the Village Green. Take a chair or blanket or picnic. The series runs Wednesdays, July 13 through August 10. There is also a Main Stage series at the David A. Dewire Center, 891 Laporte Avenue in Eagles Mere, PA. Shows continue July 16 through September 3. www.EMFOA.org/

Adam Randis, director, and Tim Solarek, actor, speaking about Shakespeare's "Hamlet" to be presented by DM Performance Works in Nuremberg, PA, July 21 through July 24, 2022, at the DMPW Factory Theatre, 15 School Street. There will be shows July 21-23 at 7 pm & a Sunday matinee (7/24)at 3:00. www.dmpwshows.org/ 570-710-7244

Janet Gaglione, Executive Director of the Wayne County Arts Alliance, speaking about the 2022 WCAA Artists' Studio Tour, featuring 27 artists in and around Wayne County, PA, July 15, 16 and 17. You can find the Tour Headquarters at the Cooperage Project, 1030 Main Street in Honesdale. The hours are 10 am to 6 pm daily, and admission is free. Brochures are available at area businesses and online. www.waynecountyartsalliance.org/

Madison Zahorsky, soprano, teacher and native of northeastern PA, speaking of her life in music in anticipation of a recital titled, "Nine Greek Definitions of Love" on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 233 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton at 3:00 pm. She will make her operatic debut on August 5 as Donna Anna at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice. For more information: www.madisonzahorsky.com/

Della Hutchison, President of the Lewisburg Arts Council, speaking about the mission of the organization and the 25th anniversary of "Music in the Park" running Wednesdays July 6, 2022 through August 10 at Hufnagle Park, 6th & Market, at 7:00 each evening. Also the Sidewalk Chalk Festival taking place on Friday, July 8 at 11 am in downtown Lewisburg. www.lewisburgartscouncil or on Facebook

Derek Jolley, founding member of the band Cuddledrug, speaking about their new EP released July 4 2022, featuring 3 songs and asking questions about the current climate in the country. For more information: www.cuddledrug.com/

Tom Varano, musician and band leader, speaking about The Glass Prism, a prominent band from northeastern PA with music inspired by the 19th century writer Edgar Allan Poe. A documentary about the band, "On Joy and Sorrow: The Glass Prism Story" will be broadcast on Public Television station WVIA on Thursday, July 7 at 8 pm, followed by "Glass Prism Live" featuring the band's big reunion concert in Scranton. There will be rebroadcasts July 8, 2022, at 1 pm & Saturday, July 9 at 10 pm. www.wvia.org/ On Facebook at facebook.com/people/Glass-Prism