Artscene With Erika Funke

John Pullo, Sr, President of Keystone College, Karl Neuroth, Professor Emeritus, and Ward Roe, Professor of Art, speaking about the new initiative, "ReImagining the Arts," to be celebrated on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 5:00 pm in the Theatre in Brooks on the Keystone Campus in La Plume. For information and reservations: www.keystone.edu/reimaginingthearts

Christopher Jend, Senior Associate and Lead Designer at Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects in NYC, speaking about a presentation titled, "Architect E.G.W.Dietrich: From Steel City to the Electric City" to be offered on Saturday,October 21, 2023, at the Albright Memorial Library on Vine Street in Scranton at 2:00 pm. The event is filled, but there is a waiting list on the website and the program will be presented live online.  For more information and to register: www.albright.org/ And to learn more about the architect who is the subject of the talk, www.egwdietrich.org/ The program is co-sponsored by the Albright Memorial Library and the Lackawanna Historical Society.

Composer Steven Sametz, Ronald J. Ulrich Professor of Music, and Hana J. Cai, Associate Director of Choral Activities, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, speaking about the opening concert of the 2023-24 season of Lehigh Choral Arts with a program titled, "Sacred & Profane," on October 21 at 8:00 pm and October 22 at 4:00 pm, at the Zoellner Arts Center on the Lehigh campus. www.lehigh.edu/

Composer Steven Sametz, Ronald J. Ulrich Professor of Music, and Hana J. Cai, Associate Director of Choral Activities, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, speaking about the opening concert of the 2023-24 season of Lehigh Choral Arts with a program titled, "Sacred & Profane," on October 21 at 8:00 pm and October 22 at 4:00 pm, at the Zoellner Arts Center on the Lehigh campus. www.lehigh.edu/

William Payn, Music Director & Conductor of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the Fall concert featuring Handel's Messiah at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 22 at 3:00pm. There will be a pre-concert talk by Dr. Gary Boerckel on the 21st & 22nd. The Saturday performance is "pay-what-you-decide". www.SVCMusic.org/

Jerry Wemple, award-winning poet and professor of English at the Commonwealth University of PA/Bloomsburg Campus, speaking about his most recent poetry collection, "We Always Wondered What Became of You," issued by Broadstone Books. Wemple will have a reading on Friday, October 20, 2023, at 5:00 pm at Endless Records, 111 W. Main Street in Bloomsburg, and an online event with 3 readers on Saturday, October 28 at 4:00. To register for the link, broadstonebooks.com/new For more information: www.jwemple.com/

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale, speaking about "Spirituals in Concert" to be presented October 14, 2023 at 7:30 pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 550 Madison Avenue in Scranton, and October 15 at 3:00 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 S. Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre. www.arcadiachorale.org/

Ken Jaworowski, staff editor at the NY Times, author and playwright, speaking about his recent novel, "Small Town Sins" issued by Henry Holt and Company, and set in Central Pennsylvania. For more information: www.kenjaworowski.com/ or www.henryholt.com

Pastor Richard Bradshaw and Brenda Grunza, choir member of the Forty Fort United Methodist Church, speaking about the 150th Anniversary of the Church to be celebrated on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 10:00 am, and the public is invited to attend. The Church is located at the corner of Wyoming and Yeager Avenues in Forty Fort, PA. For more information, www.fortyfortchurch.org/

Tyler Dempsey, Drummer & Educator from Clarks Summit, speaking about the concert featuring his trio on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at the Waverly Community House in Waverly PA. Dempsey will perform with pianist Kevin Hayes and bassist Ben Smith at 2:00 pm. For more information: www.waverlycomm.org/

Bill O'Boyle, Times Leader Staff Writer & Co-Founder with Joe Nardone, Sr, of the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame, speaking about the first class of inductees to be honored with a special dinner on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Mohegan PA on Highway 315 in Wilkes-Barre. There is a reception at 5:30; dinner at 6:30 & program & performances at 7:00. Tickets are available at the www.timesleader.com/; The Gallery of Sound and the F.M Kirby Center.

Elizabeth Powers and Jahmeel Powers of the King's College Theatre faculty, speaking about their late friend Robert Anderson and his play "No It To Get" that he adapted as a gift for them. They will perform the piece at the 2023 Scranton Fringe Festival October 5th through the 7th in the Junior Ballroom at the Scranton Cultural Center. There will be shows October 5, 6 & 7 at 7:00 pm, with a Covid-safe matinee on Saturday at 2:00. www.scrantonfringe.org/

Dan Kimbrough, Artistic Director & Curator of "Taking Up Space," a film festival under the umbrella of the Scranton Fringe Festival, showcasing short films by BIPOC filmmakers on October 6, 2023 at 8:00 and October 7 at 3:30 and 8:00 pm at People's Security Theatre at Lackawanna College in Scranton. Admission is free. www.scrantonfringe.org/

Rose Randazzo Pizzuto, Chairperson of Scranton Tomorrow's Mural Arts Program, speaking about "The Office: The Story of Us" mural by Hagopian Arts, to be dedicated in a ceremony on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 5:30 pm, at 503 Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton.  There will be a Meet and Greet with the artist to follow.  For more information: www.scrantontomorrow.org/theofficemural/

Dan Tompkins, Director of the North Branch Art Trail and Coordinator of the 27th annual Artists' Open House Weekend in Susquehanna County, PA, running October 7, 8, & 9, 2023, from 10 am to 5 pm each day. There will be 29 artists showing their work in 22 locations. For more information: www.artiststour.com/

Thomas Speicher, Writer/Video Producer | Public Relations and Marketing at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about his children's book, "A Week with Waffles," illustrated by Marina Saumell. For more information: Tom.speicher@yahoo.com or 570-777-6444.

Darice Pauselius, Executive Director of the Pocono Arts Council, speaking about the organization and the 17th Annual Festival of Wood taking place on September 23, 2023--in conjunction with National Public Lands Day--and September 24, from 10 am to 4 pm each day at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, PA. For more information: www.poconoarts.org/

Zach Sprowls, Scranton-based pianist and composer, speaking about--and playing--his music in anticipation of the 2023 Scranton Fringe Festival where he will present his show "All Beginnings Are Hard," featuring piano and string trio. Performances will be held in the Jr. Ballroom at the Scranton Cultural Center on September 29 at 8:30 pm, September 30 at 2:00 and 8:30 pm and October 1 at 2:00. For more information: ZachSprowls.com/shows

Julie Esty, founder and artistic director of the Dearly Departed Players, speaking about the 2023 Dunmore Cemetery Tour they will present on October 1 and October 8, at the Dunmore Cemetery, 400 Church Street. The tour begins at 2:00 each Sunday afternoon, and admission is free. Facebook.com/TheDunmoreCemeteryTour

Composer Paul Salerni, the NEH Distinguished Chair in the Humanities and Professor of Music at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, speaking about a concert titled, "Disruption and Hope," to be presented in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 7:30 pm. There will be pieces by Dr. Salerni, Domenic Salerni, Steven Sametz, Louis Karchin & Astor Piazzolla. For information on the performers and works: www.zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/ For information on Dr. Salerni: www.paulsalerni.com/