Artscene With Erika Funke

Playwrights Marcie Riebe and Paul Gallo speaking about their new original play, "Inconveniences: A Comedy in Two Acts " presented by Diva Theater April 19, 2024 through April 28th--shows Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 with Sunday matinees at 2:00 at the Olde Brick Theatre, 126 W. Market Street in Scranton. 570-209-7766

Maria Santomauro, Artist Acquisition & Program Manager at the Scranton Cultural Center, and Dave Brown, co-artistic director of the annual String Fling, speaking about the 2024 concert on Friday, April 19th at 7:30 (doors open at 7:00) in Shopland Hall at the Scranton Cultural Center.  The show will feature a number of bands including Dave Brown & The Dishonest Fiddlers. For more information: www.scrantonculturalcenter.org/

Filmmaker Doug Claybourne speaking with WVIA's Larry Vojtko about his most recent movie, "The Rainbow Prince" in anticipation of his appearance as keynote presenter at the 2024 NEPA Film Festival at the Waverly Community House, Waverly PA. Claybourne will be featured on Friday, April 12th beginning at 6:00 with an opening night reception, followed by a screening of his new film and then a Q & A with WVIA's Julie Sidoni. The festival runs from April 12th through the 14th with workshops and a full roster of screenings. For more information: www.nepafilmfestival.com/

Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the Spring 2024 Concert, "Bach Inspired," on Sunday, March 17th at 4:00 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street. On the program: Cantata No.80, "Ein Feste Burg" and more. www.bach.org

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale, speaking about the 37th Annual NEPA Bach Festival in Scranton: The Organ Concert will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 4:00 pm, at Elm Park United Methodist Church; The Chamber Concert will be held on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 pm, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, and the Choral Concert will be presented on Sunday, March 17 at 3:00 pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church. www.arcadiachorale.org/

John Vaida, violin, and Amy Iwazumi, viola, co-founders of the NEPA Chamber Music Society, speaking about 3 concerts they will offer titled, "Dedications." Friday, March 15, 2024, at 7 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 97 S. Franklin Street, in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Saturday, March 16, at 7 pm, in the Trachte Music Center at Lycoming College, 304 E. 4th Street in Williamsport. Sunday, March 17 at 3:00 pm, at the White Haven Area Community Library, 121 Towanda Street in White Haven, PA. The program will include music by Schumann, Borodin, Webern and more. www.nepacms.org/

John Vaida, violin, and Amy Iwazumi, viola, co-founders of the NEPA Chamber Music Society, speaking about 3 concerts they will offer titled, "Dedications." Friday, March 15, 2024, at 7 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 97 S. Franklin Street, in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Saturday, March 16, at 7 pm, in the Trachte Music Center at Lycoming College, 304 E. 4th Street in Williamsport. Sunday, March 17 at 3:00 pm, at the White Haven Area Community Library, 121 Towanda Street in White Haven, PA. The program will include music by Schumann, Borodin, Webern and more. www.nepacms.org/

Rudy Caporaso & Rosey Hay, Co-Founders of REV Theatre, speaking about an original theater piece titled, "Soda Pop Can: An American High School Story," to be presented Friday (3/15) & Saturday (3/16) at The Space at Olive, 451 Wyoming Avenue, in Scranton, at 7:00 each evening. Admission is free and the performances will be followed by a reception and community forum.

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about a program titled. "Wild West Adventures: A Night of Cowboy Music," on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 7:30 pm at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street in downtown Williamsport. The concert will feature music by John Williams, Ferde Grofe, Aaron Copland and more. www.CACLive.com/ or www.williamsportsymphony.org/

Melisse Brunet, Music Director & Conductor of the Northeastern PA Philharmonic, speaking about her life in conducting & about the documentary film, "Maestra," directed by Maggie Contreras, that is continuing on the film festival circuit. Brunet will lead the NEPA Philharmonic on April 1, 2024, in an all-Gershwin program, and on June 1st in a Masterworks program featuring Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff. www.nepaphil.org & www.melissebrunet.com/

Sean Downes, principal dancer with Rhythm of the Dance, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the program of Irish Dance as part of the ensemble's 25th Anniversary Tour, to be presented on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 7:30 pm at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. www.CACLive.com/

Jessica Woolnough, director, and actors Brielle Fisher and Mike Corcoran, speaking about the upcoming production of the musical, "The Secret Garden," at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, March 15 through the 24, 2024, with shows Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm. The Little Theatre is located at 537 North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre, and for more information: www.ltwb.org/ or 570-823-1875

Claire McRee, Associate Curator at the Allentown Art Museum, speaking about the current exhibition, "Angela Fraleigh: Threaded with moonlight", running through April 21, 2024. There will be a free guided tour on Saturday, March 16th at 1:00 pm; and a "Dynamic Conversation" between Angela Fraleigh and Claire McRee on Saturday, March 23rd at 1:00, and it is also free.of charge. There is no admission charge to visit the Allentown Art Museum, 31 North 5th Street, and parking is free. www.allentownartmuseum.org/

Joshua Harper, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting and Applied Voice at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, speaking about a program titled, "Shining Light: A Hymn to the Sun," to be performed by the Choral Society of Northeast Pennsylvania on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 4:00 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 South Franklin Street, in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Admission is free. For more information: www.choralsociety.net/

Eugene Albulescu, award-winning pianist and professor in the Department of Music at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, speaking about the new Steinway concert grand piano acquired for the school with funds provided by the Lehigh University College of Arts and Sciences. Albulescu will offer a performance featuring the new instrument on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 3:00 pm in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center on the campus. The program will include music by Bach, Haydn and Chopin. For more information: www.zoellnerartscenter.org/

Brenda Grunza, Co-President, & Ann Manganiello, Music Director, of the Catholic Choral Society of Scranton, speaking about a Lenten Recital to be presented at St. Martin of Tours Church in Jackson, PA, on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 4:00 pm. (Snow Date is March 12 at 7:00 pm). There is no admission fee. For more information: www.catholicchoralsociety.org/

Cheryl Boga, Director of Performance Music at the University of Scranton, speaking about three events featuring Jazz Musician, Scholar, Educator, Archivist, Author, Arranger & Band Leader Loren Schoenberg, who will deliver a talk titled, "The Lincoln/ Armstrong Connection" at the Schemel Forum on Friday, March 1, 2024 in Brennan Hall at 11:30 am. He'll take part in a free Jazz Documentary Screening and Music Talk with filmmaker Kris Hendrikson at the Houlihan-McClean Center on Saturday, March 2nd at 3:30 pm: "Wham-Re-Bop-Boom-Bam." On Saturday night (3/2) Shoenberg will be the guest soloist with the University of Scranton Jazz Band at 7:30 pm in the Houlihan- McClean Center. Admission is free. www.scranton.edu/

Artistic Director Oleksandr Stoianov and Kateryna Kukhar, principal dancers of the Grand Kyiv Ballet, speaking about their work in anticipation of a performance of Giselle by Adolphe Adam at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barrre, on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 7:00 pm. For more information: www.kirbycenter.org/

Artistic Director Oleksandr Stoianov and Kateryna Kukhar, principal dancers of the Grand Kyiv Ballet,speaking about their work in anticipation of a performance of Giselle by Adolphe Adam at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barrre, on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 7:00 pm. For more information; www.kirbycenter.org/

Nancy Sanderson, Executive Director of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, speaking about a program for strings titled, "Dynamic Duo," to be presented on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Kirby Center for the Creative Arts on the campus of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA, at 7:30 pm. Music Director Melisse Brunet will conduct. For more information and tickets: www.nepaphil.org/