Artscene With Erika Funke

Barbara Spellman Shuta; Kate Bohan,& Tom Price, founders of the LackawannaHistorical Society's Genealogy Forum,speaking about the upcoming EuropeanTour that will begin on April 12, 2025and run through September 13th--on Saturdays each month at 10 am.The sessions will be held at variouslocations in Lackawanna County, andthere is no charge to attend. Advanceregistration is required, though:lackawannahistory@gmail.com/ or570-344-3841. www.lackawannahistory.org/

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor ofthe Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speakingabout the concert titled "Rhythms of the Dance"taking place on Tuesday, March 18 2025, at 7:30pm at the Community Arts Center, 220 W. 4th Street in downtown Williamsport. Works includeRavel's Bolero & the Emperor Waltz byJohann Strauss, Jr. Joining in will bemembers of the LKW Dance Center.www.CACLive.com/ orwww.williamsportsymphony.org/

Audio highlights from a 1993 WVIAdocumentary film, "The VanishingAmerican Landscape," a profile ofPA artist David Armstrong. Some ofArmstrong's works are part of anexhibit titled, "Art in Lewisburg:A 50-Year Retrospective" atThe Gallery at 15 N. Water Streetin Lewisburg, running March 3through March 15, 2025.Isabela Weiss, Rural GovernmentReporter with WVIA News spokewith Dr. Gary Sojka & artistsSandy Davis, Paula Swett,Joanne Landis and Catherine Hafer.www.lewisburgartscouncil.com/the-gallery

Liz Tilley, artist, designer, writer &Corporate Sponsorship Representativeat WVIA Public Media, speaking about2 exhibitions in the Poconos:The 3rd Annual Women's Art Showat the Middle Smithfield Community& Cultural Center, 5200 MilfordRoad, East Stroudsburg, runningthrough March 27, 2025, withan Artist's Reception March 6thfrom 5 to 7 pm. 570-223-1881Also, "All About Music" at theGallery at 530 Main in Stroudsburg,now through April 12, 2025.On Facebook: Gallery at 530 Mainhttps://shermantheater.com/venue/gallery-at-530-main/

William Payn, Artistic Director & Conductor of theSusquehanna Valley Chorale, speaking about"Alzheimer's Stories: A Monument To Memory"by Robert Cohen & Herschel Garfein, tobe presented by the Susquehanna Valley Choraleand Orchestra 15 years after they gave thepremiere, on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 pm,and Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 3:00, in StretanskyHall at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove.The composer & lyricist will be interviewedon stage by WVIA's now-retired producer FionaPowell. For more information: www.svcmusic.org/

Brenda Grunza, Co-President, and Ann Manganiello,Music Director & Conductor, of the Catholic ChoralSociety of Scranton, speaking about the ensemble's2025 Lenten Concert on Sunday, March 9th at4:00 pm, at St. Joseph Marello Church, 237William Street in Pittston. They will be joinedby the combined choirs of St. Joseph Marello& St. John the Evangelist, and admission isfree, with a free-will offering to be taken.www.catholicchoralsociety.org/

Jeannine Luby, Founder of Laugh to Live, andTheresa O'Connor, Executive Director of theArtists for Art Gallery, speaking aboutReSTart Scranton, an initiative to educate thecommunity about ways to reduce waste & createsustainable art. There will be 2 workshops:March 12, 2025, for those over 18; Alsoon March 22 for families--at the AFAGallery, 101 Penn Avenue in downtownScranton. The related exhibit will runfrom March 28 through April 26, witha special event on April 4th as partof First Friday activities. On Facebook:ReSTart Scranton or www.artistsforart.org/

Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductorof the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking aboutthe Gala Concert & Fundraiser on March 8, 2025,featuring the historic Thomanerchor of Leipzig,at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church Streetin Bethlehem, at 4:00 pm. It will be an a cappellaperformance of music by Bach, Martin, Poulencand others.A Special Gala Fundraising Dinner/Receptionwill be held at 6:00 pm at the Historic HotelBethlehem. For more information: www.bach.org/

Brian McGurl, Theater Educator, SCF Venue Liaison & Director of"The Shadow of a Gunman," and Joe McGurl, Actor & Director whohas the role of Donal, speaking about the Scranton ShakespeareFestival production of Sean O'Casey's play February 28 & March 1at 7:00 pm and March 2, 2025 at 2:00 pm, at TheShakes Space @ The Marketplace at Steamtown in downtownScranton. www.scrantonshakes.com/

Dane Bower, NEPTA Board Member & Co-Host of"NEP-TAC-TOE," a celebrity game show presentedby the Northeastern PA Theatrical Alliance on Saturday,March 1, 2025 at The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre,537 North Main Street at 7:00 pm. The event will benefitthe William Zdancewicz Scholarship Fund, awardedannually to a graduating senior going on to major in thearts or arts education. Purchasing a ticket enters theaudience member into the running to become acontestant. www.neptatheaters.org/neptactoe

JooWan Kim, Composer, Musician & Artistic Director of theHip Hop Orchestra Experience, and Abigail Manss, Directorof Performing Arts & Arts in Bloom, speaking about theupcoming performance by THHOE at Commonwealth University--Bloomsburg, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 7:30 pm in Haas Centerfor the Arts. The event features scores by JooWan Kim with rhymes byMC Unity Lewis & turf dance by Yung Phil, supported by a25-piece chamber orchestra. For more information:www.bloomu.edu/arts-in-bloom https://bloomu.universitytickets.com/

Alissa Swarts, Director of Education at WVIA Public Media,speaking about the Student Showcase and invitingyoung people from grades 4 through 12, and college anduniversity students, to submit short films by Monday,March 3, 2025. Films will be screened at the2025 NEPA Film Festival in April at the WaverlyCommunity House in Waverly, PA. All theinformation is online along with a "how-to" videoon making films with smartphones.www.wvia.org/studentshowcase

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager & Film Bookerat the Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga Street in Tunkhannock,speaking about Winter Fest 2025 featuring 21 films in21 days. The series opens on Friday, February 21stand continues through March 13th. There will be aspecial presentation on Saturday, March 1st at 10:30 am,"Exploring Nearly 100 Years of Cinema and the AcademyAwards" with Professor John Tindell. Admission is free.www.dietrichtheater. com/ 570-836-1022

Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the annual Greg Funfgeld Family Concert takingplace on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 3:00 atthe Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University inBethlehem. The program this year is dedicatedto a Youth Choirs Festival with special guests,The Westminster Choir under Donald Nally.www.bach.org

Jamie Smith, photographer & founder of The Social Fabric Collective, Olivia Deluca, participant in a SFC photography workshop; Valeria Sartor, chef and Olivia's mother, speaking in anticipation of the opening of Olivia's solo photo exhibition "AVP to MVD," February 21, 2025 & running through March 14th at the Circle Center for the Arts , Rear 130 S. Franklin St. in downtown Wilkes-Barre. There will be an artist's reception on Thursday, February 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. www.socialfabriccollective.org/events The Spring Photography Class offered by The Social Fabric Collective will begin on March 25th and run on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 6:30 through June 3rd. Formore information: www.socialfabriccollective.org/

Dave Reynolds, Professor & Chair of the Department of Theater at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, and John Toussaint, student/actor; speaking about the current production of the musical "Something Rotten!" at the Maffei Theatre on the King's campus, running from February 20 through March 1, 2025, with shows Thursdays, Fridays &Saturdays at 7:30 and a Sunday matinee on February 23rd at 2:00.For information: www.kings.edu

Mark Riccetti, Jr, Executive Director of the Luzerne County Historical Society, and Board Member Jenn Ochman, speaking about a special two-part program on Thursday, February 27, 2025, to mark Black History Month. There will be a ceremony in the City Cemetery of Wilkes-Barre at the gravesites of local USCT members. At 7:00 that evening, Tim Hodge of the Confederation of Union Generals will portray Captain Robert Smalls, an enslaved African-American who became a hero for the Union during the Civil War. The Soulful Springs Gospel Choir will perform, and there will be art works by C. Edgar Patience on display. The event will be held at The Grand Hall on River Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.Admission is free. www.luzernehistory.org/

Steven Sametz, award-winning composer, conductor, Ronald J. Ulrich Professor at Lehigh University, & artisticdirector of The Princeton Singers, speaking about a concertprogram titled, "When Morning Comes" on Sunday, February16, 2025, at 4:00 pm in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Centeron the Lehigh campus in Bethlehem. There will be apre-concert talk at 3:00. www.zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/or www.stevensametz.com/. The program will also be presentedon February 15th at 6:00 pm at Trinity Church Princeton.