Artscene With Erika Funke

Neil Prisco, Director of Marketing at the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the 39th Season andofferings during the Summer & Fall of 2025.There will be a Big Screen Summer Series for children along with 2 other film series through the summer months, and many shows by comedians,great musicians, ballet companies, Broadway touring productions to come, with Celtic Thunder in September. For information: www.kirbycenter.org/

Andrew Waggoner, violinist, composer and artistic co-directorwith cellist Caroline Stinson of the Weekend of ChamberMusic, speaking about WCM 2025 and composer-in-residenceAugusta Read Thomas. The festival takes place in SullivanCounty NY from July 14th through July 26th and will featureintimate concerts, discussions, open rehearsals and moreat the Catskill Art Space in Livingston Manor as well asthe Eddie Adams Barn in Jeffersonville NY.www.wcmconcerts.org/

Ronnie Harvey, General Manager and Film Booker at the DietrichTheater, speaking about Summer Fest 2025--a film festival with18 movies to be screened in 21 days, from July 11 throughJuly 31st at the Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga Street inTunkhannock, PA . www.dietrichtheater.com/

BTE resident actor Amy Rene Byrne, who directs the summerfamily production, speaking about Sideways Stories from WaysideSchool that will run from July 12 through July 27, 2025, at theAlvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center Street in downtownBloomsburg. There will be 2 low price previews on July 10 & 11at 7 pm, and a free Sensory Friendly Performance on Saturday,July 12 at 2 pm. The show opens July 12 at 7 pm.There are shows Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 & Sundays at 3 pm.Also, matinees on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 1:00.www.bte.org/ 570-784-8181

Jessie Thompson, Director, speaking about the musical"Annie"— to be presented by Hamilton-Gibson Productionsat Straughn Auditorium at Commonwealth University-MansfieldJuly 10 through July 13, 2025. There are shows Thursday, Friday &Saturday evenings at 7:30, and matinees at 2:30 on Saturday &Sunday. For more information: www.hamiltongibson.org/

Janet Gaglione, Executive Director of the Wayne County Arts Alliance,speaking about the organization and the 2025 Artists StudioTour to be held July 11, 12 and 13 at 18 studio locations throughoutthe county and also the WCCA Gallery at 959 Main Street in Honesdale.The event is free and there are brochures/maps available at variousbusinesses and online.For more information: www.waynecountyartsalliance.com/

Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Spenner, Assistant Director of the United States Coast Guard Band, speaking about his life in music in anticipation of leading the NEPA Philharmonic on Thursday, July 3, 2025, on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton as part of the Scrantastic Spectacular, beginning at 7:30 and culminating in the annual fireworksdisplay. There will be music by Sousa, Ives, Leroy Anderson, Tchaikovsky and more.For information about all of the orchestra's performances through the Fourth of July weekend: www.nepaphil.org/

Lewis Flinn, composer and co-owner with Douglas Carter Beane of theOld Carter Barn at Lake Carey in Wyoming County, speaking about"Summer Sessions 2025," a concert series running now throughAugust 16th. There will be a wide variety of musical ensembles,a food truck on hand for each performance and much more.For information and tickets: www.summersessionspa.com/

Adelaide Ferguson, Co-chair of the Board of the Eagles MereFriends of the Arts, speaking about the 50th AnniversarySeason that begins with a special event, "The 50 x 50Art Exhibit and Reception" at the David Dewire Center onWednesday, July 2, 2025, from 4 to 6 pm. The show opensJuly 1st and runs through July 3rd. The concerts begin onJuly 4th at 5:00 with the Repasz Band performing holidayfavorites on the Eagles Mere Green.For information about the whole summer season ofperformances, art classes and more:www.emfoa.org/

Jason Stein, Principal Trombone, Music Librarian & Personnel Managerof the NEPA Philharmonic, speaking about the series ofconcerts to be presented by the orchestra to celebrateIndependence Day in 2025. July 3--The full Philharmonic onCourthouse Square in downtown Scranton with fireworks at 7:30. Free.July 4--Philharmonic Brass & Percussion musicians at KirbyPark in Wilkes-Barre with fireworks at 8:00. Free.July 5--The Philharmonic Brass Quintet in a program titled,"Americana Brass" at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA at6:00 pm. For more information: www.nepaphil.org/

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Artistic Director & Executive Producerof the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, speaking about the2025 Summer Season at The Shakes Space at the Marketplaceat Steamtown. There are 6 main stage productions:Sister Act; Julius Caesar; Timon of Athens; Hairspray;Little Shop of Horrors; and Romeo & Juliet.For more information: www.scrantonshakes.com570-230-7277

Dr. David Mazza, Founder & President Emeritus of thePocono Mountains Music Festival, speaking about theevent's history, its dedication to education, its new homeand the 2025 performance season. The first concertwill take place on Sunday, June 29th at 7:30 pm--"Total Eclipseof the Chart: 80s Chart-Toppers" at BARC, Route 390 inCresco, PA. Many other performances follow, including"The Room Where It Happens"--The Performing ArtsShowcase featuring students in the 2025 SummerCamp program--July 25th at 6:00 pm at BARC.For more information: www.poconofest.org/Barbara Andres, award-winning actor & memberof the PMMF board of directors and artisticboard, spoke about the PMMF in an ArtSceneinterview from 2010.

Scott Colin Woolnough, artistic director & the actor who playsFagin, and Mariah Kohn, the actor who plays Mrs. Sowerby, speakingabout the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre production of Lionel Bart's musical "Oliver!" in its final weekend: June 27, 28 & 29, 2025, with showsFriday & Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. The LittleTheatre is located at 537 N. Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. For moreinformation: www.ltwb.org/ 570-823-1875

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA PhilharmonicOrchestra, speaking about the upcoming 2025 Independence Daycelebrations and community events the Philharmonic will present:The NEPA Philharmonic Orchestra at Courthouse Square in downtownScranton on July 3rd at 7:30 with fireworks. The event is free.12th Annual Yoga on the Roof--July 4th at 9:00 am on the garagerooftop at the Marketplace at Steamtown.Philharmonic Brass & Percussion in Kirby Park on July 4th at 8:00 pm.There will be fireworks, and the event is free."Americana Brass in the Woods" on July 5th at 6:00 pm outdoors at Harmony in theWoods in Hawley. There will also be educational events in Peckville & Carbondale.For more information: www.nepaphil.org/

Justin Davis, Music Director & Conductor of theWyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus,speaking about the group and its Annual SpringConcert titled, The Magic of Harmony, an all-Disneyprogram to be presented on Sunday, June 29, 2025,at 2:00, at the Kirby Center for Creative Arts on theWyoming Seminary campus in Kingston, PA.For information & tickets: www.singwb.com/Tickets will be available at the door.

Bonnie Culver, co-founder & writer, Robert Mooney, Kaylie Jones,Christine Gelineau, writers & faculty members, andDavid Hicks, writer & CW director, speaking about the Maslow FamilyGraduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University inWilkes-Barre as it marks its 20th anniversary. Also featuredfrom the archives, J. Michael Lennon, co-founder, writer & faculty member,and novelist Barbara J. Taylor.www.wilkes.edu/

Dr. Artress Bethany White, award-winning author and AssociateProfessor of English at East Stroudsburg University, speakingabout her new collection, "Black Doe of the Anthropocene: Poems,"issued by the University Press of Kentucky in June 2025.The collection is available online and regionally at theEnd Bookstore in Allentown and Carroll & Carroll Booksellersin Stroudsburg. For more information:www.artressbethanywhite.com/

Camille Dantone, Director of Education, and Nancy Ariza, Collections Managerat the Everhart Museum in Scranton, speaking about Peg McDade, masterfiber artist and educator and the exhibition titled, "Artwoven by Hand: The Workof Peg McDade (1937-2025)" that will run from June 19 through November 30,2025, with a free opening reception on June 19th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Thereception will be a celebration of her life and legacy. The Everhart Museum islocated at 1901 Mulberry Street in Scranton, at Nay Aug Park.www.everhart-museum.org/

Michael Gilmartin, Lackawanna Historical Society Board President;Sarah Piccini, LHS Assistant Director, & Pat Atkins, homeownerfrom the Abingtons, speaking about the House Tour of theAbingtons presented by the Lackawanna Historical Society onSunday, June 22, 2025, from 10 am to 4 pm. It is a self-guided tourand tickets are available in advance or at the Waverly Community House,1115 N. Abington Road in Waverly on the day of the tour.www.lackawannahistory.org/

Conor Kelly O'Brien, Co-Founder/Executive Director of theScranton Fringe Festival, speaking about the new culturalexchange with the Balina Arts Centre in County Mayo inIreland. Balina is Scranton's sister city, and in October 2025,after the first staging of "Ulysses of Scranton" as part of the2025 Scranton Fringe Festival--October 2, 3, & 4th at theRitz Theater--Scranton Fringe will present the productionat the Balina Arts Centre at the end of the month.Scranton Fringe 2025 will run from September 25th through October 5that various locations in the city, and for information: www.scrantonfringe.org/Tickets for "Ulysses of Scranton" are available now.