Artscene With Erika Funke

Joell Yarmel, Executive Director, and NeilPrisco, Director of Marketing, at the F. MKirby Center for the Performing Arts indowntown Wilkes-Barre, speaking abouta recent economic impact survey andsharing some of the performancesscheduled at the Kirby in the upcoming months.For more information: www.kirbycenter.org/

Sara Male, Executive Director, and Dana Allaband, Artistic Director of the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble, speaking about the second concert in the 2025-2026 season atJerusalem Lutheran Church, 252 Dock Street in Schuylkill Haven at 3:00 pm on November 2nd. The program is titled, "Evolution - From Past to Plague" and will feature the oratorio"The Plague" by Andrew Lipke, as well as music by Bach and Puccini.The GCE will be joined by members of the Schuylkill Choral Society and Eastern PA Choral Society directed by Mark Thomas. Composer Andrew Lipke will join the performance.A reception will follow. For information: www.gabrielensemble.org/Agnes Maurer will be recognized for her remarkable leadership of 35 years.

Richard Stanislaus, artist, collector and guest curator for the Hope Horn Gallery exhibit; Chester Kulesa, retired Historic SiteAdministrator of the PA Historical & Museum CommissionAnthracite Heritage Museum & Scranton Iron Furnaces &guest essayist for the catalogue of the show, & Dr. DarleneMiller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery at theUniversity of Scranton, speaking about the currentexhibition titled, "The Anthracite Coal Industry ofNortheastern Pennsylvania: Selected Paintings,Sculptures & Works on Paper from Public & PrivateCollections: 1829 - 1959."The show will run at the Hope Horn Galleryfrom October 20 through December 12, 2025,with a talk on post office muralsNovember 7th at 5:00 with a reception at 6:00.www.scranton.edu/academics/hope-horn-gallery/index.shtml/ This is the second of a two-part interview.

Actors Zach Rossetti and Kayla Kay who are in the cast of the 2025production of "The Rocky Horror Show" at the Little Theatre ofWilkes-Barre. Shows are October 30th at 8 pm; October 31stat 7 pm & 11:59 pm and November 1st at 8 pm.Suggested for mature audiences. www.ltwb.org/

Artist Helen Zughaib and Heather Sincavage, Director of the Sordoni Art Galley at Wilkes University and Exhibition Curator, speaking about, "Helen Zughaib Migrations"opening on October 28 2025, and running through February 27, 2026.There will be an Art in Context Lecture by Helen Zughaib titled, "Unfinished Journeys" at 5:00 on Wednesday, October 29th with a reception to follow. For more information about the exhibition and related events, www.wilkes.edu/sordoniThe Sordoni Gallery is located at 141 S. Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Richard Stanislaus, artist, collector and guest curator for the Hope Horn Gallery exhibit; Chester Kulesa, retired Historic SiteAdministrator of the PA Historical & Museum CommissionAnthracite Heritage Museum & Scranton Iron Furnaces &guest essayist for the catalogue of the show, & DarleneMiller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery at theUniversity of Scranton, speaking about the currentexhibition titled, "The Anthracite Coal Industry ofNortheastern Pennsylvania: Selected Paintings,Sculptures, & Works on Paper from Public & PrivateCollections: 1829 - 1959."The show will run at the Hope Horn Galleryfrom October 20 through December 12, 2025,with a talk at 5:00 on October 24 & a receptionfrom 6:00 to 8:00 pm. And another program onNovember 7th at 5:00 with a reception at 6:00.www.scranton.edu/academics/hope-horn-gallery/index.shtml/

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor of theWilliamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking aboutthe 2025-2026 season and the opening concert onFriday, October 24th at 7:30 pm. The program will featureCarmina Burana by Carl Orff and the Galanta Dances of ZoltanKodaly. The orchestra will be joined by the State College ChoralSociety, the Williamsport Youth Choir & 3 guest soloists.The Concert will be presented at the Community ArtsCenter, 220 West Fourth Street in Williamsport.In addition, there will be a second performanceof the program on Sunday, October 26th at 4:00 pmat the State College Area High School.For more information: www.williamsportsymphony.org/570-326-2424

Richard Grunn, actor, puppeteer & educator, speaking about his original show, "Urbano's Circus," that includes his son Sheridan Grunn in the cast. The piece will run on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, October 19th at 2:00 pm, at the Tusten Theatre, 210 Bridge Road in Narrowsburg, NY. For information & tickets: delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/

Richard Grunn, actor, puppeteer & educator, speaking about hisoriginal show, "Urbano's Circus," that includes his son Sheridan Grunn in the cast. The piece will run on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 7:00 pmand Sunday, October 19th at 2:00 pm, at the Tusten Theatre, 210 Bridge Road inNarrowsburg, NY. For information & tickets: delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/

Willam Payn, Music Director & Conductor of the SusquehannaValley Chorale, speaking about the opening concert of the2025-26, his 30th season with the ensemble. Dr. Payn willretire at the end of the season, and he has chosen twocelebratory works for the performance on Sunday, October 19,at 3:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury. The programwill feature the Dvorak Te Deum & the Gloria by MichaelGlasgow, with guest soloists Jill Gardner & Tim LeFebvre.www.svcmusic.org/

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic, speaking about the orchestra's candlelit performances of the Mozart Requiem on October 23, 2025, at 7:00 pm, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre,and on October 24 at 7:00 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Scranton.The concerts will be led by Music Director Melisse Brunet and will feature 4 notablesoloists and the Marywood University Concert Choir. 570-270-4444www.nepaphil.org/

Larry Lipkis, Composer-in-Residence & Professor ofMusic at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. Alsoa member since 1986 of The Baltimore Consort.Dr. Lipkis will direct the Fall 2025 Early Music concerttitled, "Aspects of Love: a European Tour," onSunday, October 26th at 4:00 pm in Peter Hallon the Moravian campus. Featured will be theMostly Monteverdi Ensemble & the BaroqueEnsemble. www.moravian.edu/music

Kara Washington, Promotions Coordinator at WVIA Public Media,speaking about her new documentary, "Making NEPA Home,"that will have its broadcast premiere at 7 pm on Thursday,October 16, 2025, on WVIA TV. The film will also stream live onWVIA's Facebook & YouTube pages and at WVIA.org/WVIA is co-hosting a premiere watch party with the Black Scranton Projectat the group's Center for Arts & Culture, 1902 Main Avenue in Scranton.The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, soreservations are suggested. There will be a post-screening discussion.www.wvia.org/events

Rick Benjamin, Founder, Artistic Director & Conductor of theParagon Ragtime Orchestra, speaking in anticipation of the inauguralSymposium on Historic American Music at Susquehanna Universityin Selinsgrove October 16 - 18, 2025. There will be performances,lectures, interactive workshops and more. The keynote speaker isJohn McWhorter of Columbia University and opinion writer for theNY Times. The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra under Rick Benjaminwill celebrate their new album titled, "Meet Me at the Fair: Soundsfrom the Great American World's Fairs" in a concert of that musicon Friday, October 17th, at 7:30 pm in Stretansky Concert Hallon the Susquehanna University campusFor more information: susqu.edu/symposium andwww.paragonragtime.comThis is the second of a two-part conversation.

Rick Benjamin, Founder, Artistic Director & Conductor of theParagon Ragtime Orchestra, speaking about his decades-longwork recording with and leading the PRO, in anticipation of a newalbum titled, "Meet Me at the Fair: Sounds from the Great AmericanWorld's Fairs" and a concert of that music on Friday, October 17, 2025,at 7:30 pm in Stretansky Concert Hall on the campus of SusquehannaUniversity in Selinsgrove. The performance is part of the inauguralSymposium on Historic American Music at Susquehanna, Oct 16 - 18, 2025.For more information: susqu.edu/symposium andwww.paragonragtime.comThis is the first of a two-part conversation.

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale,speaking about the opening concert of the 2025-26 season:"Echoes from the Cathedrals: Sacred Sounds of Western Europe."Performances: Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 pm atSt. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, 35 S. Franklin Street indowntown Wilkes-Barre; and Sunday, October 12 at 4:00 pm atthe First Presbyterian Church, 300 School Street in Clarks Summit.Organist Christopher Johnson, Director of Music at CovenantPresbyterian Church, will be a featured guest.For more information: www.arcadiachorale.org/

Andrea Simon, author, editor and photographer, speaking abouther writing life and three of her books: Floating in the Neversink,Esfir is Alive, and Bashert: A Granddaughter's Holocaust Quest.She has a new book titled, Did You Have the Life You Wanted?For more information: www.andreasimon.net/

Justin Costello, director, & Marcie Riebe, stage manager/actor, speaking about the production of "Subtle Bodies" by Clive Barker at Actors Circle, October 9, 10, 11 & 12,2025, at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton. Shows Thursday,Friday & Saturday at 7:00 pm; Sunday at 2:00. For more information:www.actorscircle.com/ & reservations can be made at 570-342-9707. The show is suggested for mature audiences.

Award-winning organist Jason Roberts, Director of Music Ministries at Blessed Sacrament in NYC, speaking about his visit to Scranton to perform as part of the "Music to Feed the Soul" Concert Series at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Friday, October 3rd, 2025, at7:00 pm. The concert is free but an offering will be taken to support the Dr. Jane MartinMusic Endowment. Covenant Church is located at Madison Avenue & Olive Street, andfor more information: www.covenantscranton.org/

Hannah Beaudry, Director of Institutional Partnerships at the NEPA Philharmonic,speaking about the orchestra's first Battle of the Bands, inviting bands of any genre tocompete for a chance to win $5000 in cash and an opportunity to perform with theNEPA Philharmonic in the 2026-2027 season. There will be a panel of judges, including Music Director/Conductor Melisse Brunet. The deadline to apply is October 11, 2025. The finalists will be announced on November 7, and those 15 will perform on January 31, 2026 at Mohegan PA. For information: www.nepaphil.org/