Artscene With Erika Funke

James Olecki and Josh Balz, co-owners of the Ritz Theater, 222 Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton, speaking about the history of the building and the Grand Opening of the revitalized Ritz on Saturday, June 29, 2024, beginning at Noon, with tours of the historic theater, jazz with Marko Marcinko under the new marquee, and at 3:00, a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony. Events will continue until the evening concert featuring Lacey Sturm. For more information: www.TheRitzTheater.com/

Jordan Lewis, Managing Director of Quiet Light Films, photographer, filmmaker, trained operatic baritone, speaking about the movie, "Dancing With The Stones," that centers on Columcille Megalith Park near Bangor, PA, and its creator Bill Cohea, Jr. The film will be screened at Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Lane in Pocono Pines on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 6:00 pm, with a talk with the filmmakers before the showing. The event is free, and reservations are recommended--570-646-0826, www.clymerlibrary.org/ www.quietlightfilms.com/ www.columcille.org/

Maureen McGuigan, Director of the Lackawanna County Arts & Culture Department, speaking about the upcoming Wake Up with the Arts breakfast workshop on June 27, 2024, with the theme, "The Creative Economy & Technology".  Breakfast at 8:30 am; panel discussion at 9:00 am, at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Avenue. Admission is free.  RSVP to 570-496-1724; arts-culture@lackawannacounty.org/ The annual Scrantastic Spectacular will take place on Courthouse Square on Wednesday, July 3rd, from 4:00 pm to 10 pm, with children's activities, regional bands and at 8:00 pm, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass & Percussion members will perform, leading up to the traditional fireworks display.www.scrantasticspectacular.com/

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, speaking about the 13th season in 2024 that opens on June 21st and runs through August 4th at The Shakes Space at the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton. The season includes The Tempest, Gypsy, The Winter's Tale, Next to Normal, Titus Andronicus & Into the Woods. Admission is free. www.scrantonshakes.com/ 570-230-7277

Joy Hirokawa, Artistic / Executive Director of the Mosaic Youth Chorus, speaking about their summer 2024 Immigrant Story/Regional Identity Tour that runs from June 17 through June 21. There will be public performances on Wednesday, June 19th, at 4:30 in Jim Thorpe at the Mauch Chunk Museum & Cultural Center. Also, at Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 604 Fourth St., Catasauqua, on Friday, June 21st at 7:00 pm. For more information: www.mosaicyouthchorus.org/

Justin Davis, Music Director and Conductor of The Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus, speaking about the group and its annual Spring concert on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 2:00, at The Kirby Center of Creative and Performing Arts on the campus of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston PA. The program is titled, "Harmony of the Seas," and will feature a range of favorite songs including "Stand by Me" and "Let's Get Away From It All." For more information: www.singwb.com/ 570-285-4810

David Hicks, Director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, and Mandy Pennington, Director of Digital Marketing at Wilkes, who is completing her MFA, speaking about creative writing at the university and LitFest 2024. LitFest is a weeklong series of readings, discussions, screenings and more, celebrating the written word, running from June 21 through June 27th, open to the public at no charge. For information: www.wilkes.edu/cw

Bonnie Tallman, Events Producer & Co-founder, of the Billtown Blues Festival, speaking about the 34th annual event taking place on Friday and Saturday, June 21 & 22, 2024, at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville. The music starts Friday at 6:00 pm and Saturday at Noon. There is camping and bus service from the Genetti Hotel in downtown Williamsport. For more information: www.billtownblues.org/

Thom Shubilla, author of "Primetime 1966-1967" and articles and reviews, speaking about his recent study, "James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze" issued by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. There will be book signings and events at the Mahoning Drive-In and Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre Twp during the summer of 2024. For information: The Publisher: www.rowman.com/ The Mahoning Drive-In: www.mahoningdit.com/ or Thom Shubilla on Facebook

Artist Brian Keeler, co-founder and artistic director of the Susquehanna Summer Solstice Fest, at French Azilum in Bradford County, PA, June 17 through June 23, 2024. 30 plein air painters will be on hand &, headlining the music weekend, will be singer-songwriter Kate Taylor. For information: www.susquehannasolstice.com/

Dr. Timothy Schwarz, Founder & Artistic Director of the Techne Music Festival, and Dr. Lawrence Stomberg, Techne Faculty Member, speaking about the 2024 weeklong program for talented young musicians at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. The festival runs from June 9th through the 13th with a final concert on Thursday, June 13th at 7:00 pm in Peter Hall, 342 Main Street in Bethlehem. There is no admission fee. For information: www.technemusic.org/

Jove Graham, President of the RiverStage Board, and Robert Jones, Director, speaking about the RiverStage Community Theatre production of the musical, "Oliver!" running for two weekends--June 14 through June 23, 2024, at the Greenspace Center, 815 Market Street Lewisburg, PA. Shows Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30. For more information: www.riverstagetheatre.org/

Dr. Carl Frankel, Board President, and Mark Peterson, Executive Director of the Hazleton Art League, speaking about the 13th Annual Youth Art Expo on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, 2024, at the Hayden Family Center for the Arts, 31 West Broad Street in downtown Hazleton. There will be a gallery exhibit, a talent show an array of artfully-crafted baked goods and much more. Also coming up, an 8-week summer arts camp for young people--beginning June 17th. For information: www.hazletonartleague.org/

Jill Carletti, Creative Director of Harmony in the Woods, speaking about the venue and the 2024 concert season that opens July 5th & 6th and continues through September 7th, at 19 Imagination Way in Hawley, PA. For more information: www.harmonyinthewoods.org/ 570-503-6685

Jason Smeltzer, musician and director of The Olde Stories, and John Bromberg, puppeteer and director of Pictures Moved by Strings, speaking about their collaboration on "Harold's Chair" by Bromberg along with excerpts of the novel "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino, on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 7 pm, at the Olde Brick Theater, 126 W. Market Street in Scranton. For information: Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton/

Joell Yarmel, Executive Director of the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the 2024-2025 season just announced--with the opening act on September 12th featuring Pete Davidson as well as ballet, music, holiday favorites and more. For information: www.kirbycenter.org/ 570-826-1100

Scott Thomas, Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Scranton Public Library, speaking about the services of the Albright Memorial Library and the 13th annual block party, "Swingin' on Vine" to be held on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, in the 500 block of Vine Street in Scranton. There will be music by Picture Perfect, refreshments, picnic-style food, games and more. The event will benefit the library. www.lclshome.org/events

Barbara J. Taylor, author from Scranton, speaking with WVIA's News Director Julie Sidoni, about her new novel titled, "Rain Will Break No Bones," a Kaylie Jones Book issued by Akashic Books. There will be a book event on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at noon at Barnes & Noble, 421 Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre. For more information and other events: www.barbarajtaylor.com/

Brian Long and Sarah Schwab speaking about their work as independent filmmakers and their love of interacting with audiences in connection with their recent feature, "A Stage of Twilight," starring Karen Allen and William Sadler. For more information: www.astageoftwilightthefilm.com/

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the 116th Bethlehem Bach Festival, taking place May 10 & 11 and 17 & 18, 2024, with 2 full performances of the Bach B Minor Mass, among many other offerings. For more information: www.bach.org/