Artscene With Erika Funke

Sarah Effertz, Executive Director of the Scranton Jazz Festival; James Olecki, Managing Partner and CEO of the Ritz Theater in Scranton, and Marko Marcinko, Founder and Music Director of the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band, speaking about The Swingin' Jazz Nutcracker Suite on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at 6:00 pm, at the Ritz Theater, 222 Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. Toys will be collected for the Women's Resource Center. www.scrantonjazzfestival.org/

Director Elizabeth Dowd, Actors Amy Rene Byrne & Aaron White, members of the BTE Resident Acting Company, speaking about the 2023 Holiday show to be presented by the Bloomsburg  Theatre Ensemble November 24 through December 28: "A Christmas Story." Shows are Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3:00.  November 24 is a food preview at 2:00; December 2 at 1:00 is the Kathy Baas Sensory Friendly Performance. Shows take place at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center Street in downtown Bloomsburg. www.bte.org/

Rick Coulter, Music Director & Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony's Billtown Brass, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the ensemble's annual holiday concert on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 5:00 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 142 Market Street in Williamsport, coinciding with Victorian Christmas in Williamsport. www.williamsportsymphony.org/ www.victorianchristmaspa.com/

Theresa O'Connor, Director of the Artists for Art Gallery, speaking about the current exhibition, "The Moth Project 2023," that will run now through November 25th, with a special event on the closing evening at 6:00 with music and more. The Gallery is located at 101 Penn Avenue in downtown Scranton, and for more information: www.artistsforart.org/

Dr. David Heineman, Associate Professor in Communications Studies at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, speaking about his recent documentary film, "NEPA Doc" to be screened at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg, PA, on November 15, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. www.davidheineman.net/

James Lansing, Curator, and Mark DeStefano, Member of the Board, speaking about the Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art, in Scranton, PA. There will be a Community Day on Saturday, December 16, 2023, "Snow Much Fun," from 10 am to 5 pm and admission is free. The new Folk Art exhibition will open on December 20, and "Every four Years: Looking Back, Looking Forward" will run now through March 31, 2024. The Museum is located at 1901 Mulberry Street at Nay Aug Park. www.everhart-museum.org/

Angel Berlane Mulcahy, Director, and Lorenzo Medico of Artic Productions, speaking about Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company" that will run from November 10th through the 19th at the Milford Theater, 114 E. Catharine Street in Milford, PA. Shows are November 10, 11, 17 & 18 at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees November 12 & 19 at 2:00. For more information: milfordhospitalitygroup.com/company-a-musical-comedy/

Cody Mead, Founder and Artistic Director of the Bloomsburg Singers, speaking about the group's Fall concert on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 7:00 pm, at Wesley United Methodist Church on Market Street in downtown Bloomsburg. Admission is free. For more information: Facebook.com/TheBloomsburgSingers/

Dr. Larry Lipkis, Starner Professor of Music & Composer-in-Residence, at Moravian University in Bethlehem, speaking about the premiere of his new violin concerto, "Columbina". The piece is dedicated to the memory of Maestro Donald Spieth and is a salute to violinist Michael Montero, concert-master of the Moravian University Orchestra. Dr. Lipkis will lead the orchestra in a concert on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 7:00 in Foy Hall on the Moravian campus. Also on the program, Tchaikovsky, Ravel and more. www.moravian.edu/

Brenda Grunza, CCS President, and Ann Maganiello, Music Director and Conductor, speaking about the opening of the 75th anniversary season of the Catholic Choral Society of Scranton with the annual Generations Sing concert on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 4:00 pm, at the Houlihan-McLean Center on the campus of the University of Scranton. The CCS will be joined by a number of groups from area schools--elementary to college level. Admission is free. For more information: www.catholicchoralsociety.org/

Jove Graham, President of RiverStage Community Theatre, speaking about the upcoming production of "Puffs" by Matt Cox, running November 3rd through the 12th, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30, at the GreenSpace Center, 815 Market Street in Lewisburg. www.riverstagetheatre.org/

Dr. Gary Boerckel, Music Director and Conductor at St. Boniface Church, 326 Washington Blvd. in Williamsport, speaking about the special commemoration of the Feast of All Souls on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 7:00 pm, with the requiem mass setting by Gabriel Faure. The St. Boniface Choir and members of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra will be directed by Dr. Boerckel, with soloists Kent Weaver and Bernadette Boerckel. All are welcome, and there is no admission charge. www.stbonifacecatholic.com/

Violinist, vocalist and composer Terry Jenoure, 2023 Creative Capital Awardee, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about her upcoming concert titled "Secret to Life" that shines the spotlight on women’s stories, ones that were once held in secret. The performance will be held in the Weis Center Atrium on the campus of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:30 pm.  Admission is free. More information at www.bucknell.edu/

Joshua Plesce, Director; Jadyn Culp & Holly Pambianco, actors, speaking about "Carrie: The Musical" to be presented at the PA Theatre of Performing Arts, 212 W. Broad Street in Hazleton, Friday and Saturday, November 3 & 4 at 7 pm, and Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 3 pm. www.PTPAshows.org/

Dr. Larry Lipkis, Starner Professor of Music and Director of the Early Music Program at Moravian University in Bethlehem, speaking about the Fall 2023 Early Music Concert in Peter Hall on Sunday, October 29th at 5:00 pm. There will be music of William Byrd and more. www.moravian.edu/

Phoebe Wagner, author, editor & Assistant Professor at Lycoming College in Williamsport, speaking about her new novel, "A Shot of Gin" published by Parliament House Press. There will be a book signing at Otto Bookshop, W. 4th Street in Williamsport, Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 1 - 3 pm; a book event and dance party on October 28 at about 10 pm presented by Femme Vital, and a book signing, reading & conversation on Tuesday, October 31st at 3:00 on the Lycoming campus at the Humanities Research Center. www.phoebe-wagner.com/

Julie Schumacher Cohen, Project Director, and Kimberly Crafton, Oral Histories Coordinator, for "Scranton's Story, Our Nation's Story," made possible through a grant from the NEH, speaking about the premiere of oral history interviews and an exhibition of photographs titled, ""Scranton Stories" at the University of Scranton on Friday, October 27, 2023, with a panel discussion in Brennan Hall at 5:00 pm, and an opening reception in Hyland Hall at 6:00. The exhibition runs through November 17th. The events are free and open to the public. www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory/

Meg Davis & Tyler Floryan, directors, and Dan Nudo, Amanda Alfano & Michael Speranzo, actors, speaking about the 9th annual production of "The Rocky Horror Show" at the LIttle Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 North Main Street, on Friday, October 27, 2023, at 8:00 pm, and Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 and again at Midnight. Prop bags will be for sale with a ticket to the show. For more information and tickets: www.LTWB.org/ or 570-823-1875.

Brian Carso, Associate Professor of History and Pre-Law Program Director at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA, speaking about his new novel, "Gideon's Revolution," issued by Cornell University Press. Dr. Carso will present a program and reading on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 7:00 pm, in Insalaco Hall on the campus. The event is free and open to the public. www.briancarso.com/ www.misericordia.edu/ www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the opening concert of the 2023-2024 season on Tuesday, October 24, at 7:30 pm at the Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street in downtown Williamsport. The program will feature music by Beethoven & Rachmaninoff. www.caclive.com/ www.williamsportsymphony.org/