Artscene With Erika Funke

Melisse Brunet, Music Director & Conductor of the NEPA Philharmonic, and Chason Goldschmitz, newly-appointed Executive Director, speaking about the 2024 Holiday Concerts on Saturday, December 7 at 7 pm at the FM Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre, and again Sunday, December 8 at 3 pm at the Scranton Cultural Center. www.nepaphil.org or 570-270-44440

Justin O'Hearn, Director, speaking about the original holiday play "Grandpa's Jazz Christmas Adventure" by Tony Schwartz and Roxann Schwartz, presented by Diva Theater at the Olde Brick Theatre, 126 W. Market Street in Scranton from December 6 through December 15, 2024. There will be shows Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton.com

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the 2024 Christmas concerts on Saturday, December 7 at 4 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman Street in Allentown; Also Sunday, December 8 at 4 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center Street in Bethlehem. The concert will be available via Livestream on December 8 at 4 pm (bach.org). There will be music by Bach and Kile Smith with carols for an audience sing-along. www.bach.org/

Dr. Alan Hack, Founding Music Director & Conductor, and David Hamilton, President of the Board and Choir Member, speaking about the holiday concert titled, "The Work of Christmas" to be presented by the Jubilate Choir & Brass Ensemble on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 7 pm and Sunday, December 8 at 3pm, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market Street in Bloomsburg. The program will feature John Rutter's Gloria and other pieces of the season. Joining the Choir will be organist Carl Ruck. Admission is free. For more information, you can find them on Facebook or call 570-784-4515

Dr. Olapeju Simoyan, practicing addiction medicine physician & professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, who is affiliated with Reading Hospital, speaking about her new book titled, "I Played My Best for Him: The Inspiring Stories Behind The Little Drummer Boy & Other Christmas Favorites." There is a companion CD/Album as well. Dr. Simoyan will be part of Take Heart Counseling's "Deck the Stalls" on December 7, 2024 in Wernersville, PA--at 11:30 am & 12:30 pm. There will be a book signing/launch on December 8 in Gilbertsville, PA at The Crossroads Guitars and Art from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. www.the doctorwriter.com/

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale, speaking about the program titled, "Love's Light Abounds: A Holiday Celebration in Song," to be presented Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 at 3 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 S. Franklin St. in downtown Wilkes-Barre, and again on Sunday, Dec 8 at 3 pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. Admission is free. www.arcadiachorale.org/

Bob McCormick, Artist & Author, and Mark Peterson, Executive Director of the Hazleton Art League, speaking about the exhibition of McCormick's work titled, "Reclamation: From Coal Dust to Hope," which will open at the HAL Gallery on December 6, 2024 and run through January 19, 2025. There will be an opening reception on December 6th from 5:00 to 8:00 and a Coffee Talk on December 8th from 1:00 to 3:00. There is a companion book of the same title that will be available as well. The HAL Gallery is in the Hayden Family Center for the Arts at 31 West Broad Street in Hazleton, and for more information: www.hazletonartleague.org/

Marko Marcinko, drummer & band leader, speaking about the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band and its concert titled, "The Swinging Jazz Nutcracker Suite" at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:00, in Lemmond Theater. The program will include narration and a light reception beginning at 6:00. For tickets and information: misericordia.edu/nutcracker

David Parmelee, Director; Actors Walt Mitchell & Mariah Kohn, speaking about the 2024 holiday production of "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 Main Street, from December 6th through December 15th. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3 pm. www.ltwb.org/

Amy Rene Byrne, Adapter, Director & Sound Designer; and Aaron White, Actor, speaking about the 2024 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in a new version that will be presented at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center Street in downtown Bloomsburg, from November 29th through December 28th, with shows Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm. There will be a special food preview November 29th at 2:00 pm and a low-price preview November 30th at 2:00. For more information: bte.org/ or 570-784-8181.

Maureen McGuigan, Director of the Arts & Culture Department of Lackawanna County, speaking about the upcoming 2024 Winter Holiday Market on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton, December 6th, 7th & 8th, with vendors, live performances, the annual Tree Lighting on Friday at 5:00 pm, and more. Find information on Facebook by searching for Lackawanna Winter Market.

Ryan Keberle, trombonist and bandleader, speaking about the concert on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Cooperage Project, 1030 Main Street in Honesdale, PA, at 7:00 pm. The event is the final performance in a tour that launches the new album "Bright Moments" with Keberle and the ensemble Catharsis. www.the cooperageproject.org/ www.ryankeberle.com/

Chase Bottorf, reporter in the WVIA News Department, speaking with Dr. Caleb Hopkins, assistant professor of music at Bucknell University in Lewisburg and new music director of the Williamsport Civic Chorus, about the concert on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 3:00 pm at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1400 Market Street in Williamsport. Music by Conrad Susa and Ola Gjeilo will be featured. https://willliamsportcivicchorus.org/

Dr. Rick Hoffenberg, Associate Professor, Director of Choral Activities and Co-Chair of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Marywood University in Scranton, speaking about the fall concert presented by the Marywood Chamber Singers on Sunday, November 24, 2024, in the Marian Chapel on the Marywood campus in Scranton.  The program will feature a wide range of composers from Thomas Weelkes to Lucy Walker, and admission is free. www.marywood.edu/academics/mtd

Photographer Michael Mirabito, Professor Emeritus & former Chair of the Communication Arts Department at Marywood University in Scranton, speaking about his work in connection with the current exhibition, "Photography of Protest," running through December 3, 2024, at the Friedman Art Gallery at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 44 University Drive in Dallas PA. Open weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. www.wilkesbarre.psu.edu thetor.smugmug.com/

Brenda Grunza,Co-President, & Ann Manganiello, Music Director & Conductor, speaking about the Catholic Choral Society of Scranton and its 21st annual Generations Sing concert featuring 4 guest choruses from 3rd grade up to college singers. The performance will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 3:00 pm at Mary, Mother of God Parish at Holy Rosary Church, 316 William Street in Scranton. There is no admission charge; a free will offering will be accepted. www.catholicchoralsociety.org/

Actors George Conrad and Christian Wheeland speaking about the current production of "Dracula" adapted and directed by Lou Bisignani at Actors Circle, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton, running November 14 through November 24, 2024--Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00; Sundays at 2:00. www.actorscircle.com/

Cody Mead, Music Director & Conductor of the Bloomsburg Singers, speaking about the concert featuring the Brahms German Requiem on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 7:00 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church in Bloomsburg. There is no admission charge. Facebook.com/TheBloomsburgSingers

Dr. Darlene Miller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery at the University of Scranton, and Paul Biedlingmaier Jr, University of Scranton graduate and Art Collector, speaking about the exhibition, "Hudson River & Delaware Valley," running now through November 22, 2024, with a Collector's Lecture on November 15 at 5:00 pm, Kane Forum, in Leahy Hall, 2nd Floor, 243 Jefferson Avenue in Scranton. A Gallery Reception will follow at 6:00 pm at the Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall, 4th Floor, 301 Jefferson Avenue. https://www.scranton.edu/academics/hope-horn-gallery

Director Jahmeel Powers, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at King's College, & Actor Elizabeth Powers of the King's Theatre Faculty, speaking about the decades-long tradition of presenting Shakespeare at King's and the Fall production of "All's Well That Ends Well" that runs at the Maffei Theatre, 133 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre from November 14 to 22, 2024, with shows at 7:30 November 14, 15 & 16; November 17 at 2:00; November 21 & 22 at 7:30. For information and tickets search for King's College Theatre at www.onthestage.com/