Artscene With Erika Funke

Tim Novotney, award-winning producer, director & editor at WVIA, speaking about his Emmy-nominated short documentary,"The Secret Beneath Hazleton," that can be viewed onlineat wvia.org/ under Short Takes. There is a Kickstarter campaign underway toraise funds to produce a full documentary on the city beneath Hazleton, and for more information:Kickstarter.com and search for "The Secret BeneathHazleton."

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic;Leah Valenches , violin with the NEPA Philharmonic String Quartet;and Chris Norton, Sr. Vice-President at WVIA Public Media, speaking about the benefit concert for WVIA on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Harmonyin the Woods at 5:30. with a reception at 5:00.Singer-Songwriter Regina Sayles will perform with the PhilharmonicString Quartet featuring folk, rock, and pop arrangements withoriginals by Sayles, too.For tickets: www.wvia.org/events; For more information:www.nepaphil.org/ and www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Bill Amos, playwright, Cole Hrusovsky; directorAnd Matt Bubul, actor, speaking about thePA Theatre of Performing Arts production of"Sherlock Holmes & the Scarlet Avenger" adapted byAmos from the story, "A Study in Scarlet."There will shows from August 14 through the17, 2025--Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7 pm,Sunday at 3:00, at the Ferrara Center on BroadStreet in Hazleton. www.ptpashows.org/

Jason Smeltzer, musician, founder & artistic director of The Olde Stories,and L, musician & reader, speaking about the program, "NefariousMusical Accompaniment for the Mystic Poetry of Rumi, Hafezand Others" on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the Rossetti House,1005 Vine Street in Scranton at 6:00 pm.The event is a benefit for the Rossetti Foundation for theArts & Culture. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.www.rossettiarts.org/

Playwright David Parmelee, General Manager of the LTWB,with William Jeffrey & Roderick Markham, playwrights,speaking about their work in anticipation of the Annual Weekendof One-Acts running August 8, 9 & 10, 2025, featuring pieces by5 regional writers. Shows Friday & Saturday at 8:00; Sunday at3:00. The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is located at 537 NorthMain Street. No reservations needed. www.ltwb.org/

Maureen McGuigan, Director of the Department of Arts & Cultureof Lackawanna County, and Native American artist Ben ScottMiller, speaking about the new mural Miller was commissionedto create in downtown Scranton titled, "Remembrance & Continuance:The Lenape Story in Scranton." There will be a mural dedicationceremony on Friday, August 1, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.at 130 N. Washington Avenue. Ben Scott Miller & Belin,internationally-known mural artist who also worked on theproject, will be on site, and there will be music andrefreshments. The public is invited to attend theevent at no charge.The mural is made possible through a partnership betweenLackawanna County & Scranton Tomorrow.For more information: www.scrantontomorrow.org/muralart

Paul Plumadore, paper montage artist,speaking about his new work/book,"An Anthropomorphic Alphabet"that is on exhibit now as part of agroup show titled: "Twenty-Six: Art of the Alphabet"at the Wayne County Arts Alliance Gallery,959 Main Street in Honesdale throughAugust 23, 2025.Gallery hours: Thursday through Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.For more information: www.waynecountyartsalliance.org/

Dave Reynolds, Chair & Production Manager of theTheatre Department at King's College in Wilkes-Barre,He is stage & technical director for the GaslightTheatre Co. production of Sunday in the Park withGeorge by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine.The show will run from August 1 through August10, 2025, with performances Fridays & Saturdaysat 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00--in theMaffei Theatre on the King's campus.www.gaslight-theatre.org/

Barbara Sonies, violinist with the Philadelphia Trio andco-director of Music in the Mountains with cellistDeborah Reeder, speaking about the history of thesummer chamber music workshop in Eagles Mere, PA,and about the Eagles Mere Chamber Players, alumnaeof Music in the Mountains. The Chamber Players willpresent a concert on Friday, August 1, 2025, at theDavid Dewire Center at 8 pm, as part of the 50thAnniversary Season of the Eagles Mere Friendsof the Arts.The performance will include pieces by Haydn,Mozart, Dvorak, Piazzola, Barber and more.For information: www.emfoa.org/

Lawrence E. Cohen, Chairman and Chief Customer Advocate,speaking about the history of Benco Dental Supply Companyin Pittson, PA, and taking listeners on a walking tour of Benco's dental museum and state-of-the-art showrooms.Benco invited WVIA to relocate to their corporateheadquarters while the Public Media Center was undergoingrenovations. This feature was broadcast as a small way ofshowing WVIA's appreciation to the Benco family for thetremendous hospitality that we've been shown.www.benco.com/

Tannis Kowalchuk, Artistic Director of the Farm Arts Collective, andDoug Rogers, Composer, speaking about Dream On The Farm 2025:"Paradise Lost Scavenger Hunt," an original theater piece inspiredby the poetry of John Milton. The production will run from July 24through August 3, with shows each evening at 6:30, at Willow WispOrganic Farm in Damascus in Wayne County.www.farmartscollective.org/

Kendall Isadore, Violinist in the award-winning trio The String Queens with Violist Dawn Johnson and Cellist Elise Sharp, speaking about her life in music in anticipation of the ensemble's performance at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA, on July 25, 2025, at 6:00 pm. They will present a wide range of music from classical and jazz to popular songs by the Beatles, Michael Jackson & many others. For more information & tickets:www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Justin Costello, Founder & Artistic Director ofIntrepidus Theatre Lab, and Actor/CompanyMember Marcie Herman Riebe, speaking aboutThe Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman & theTectonic Theater Project, to be presented byIntrepidus and Diva Theatre Thursday throughSunday, July 24 -27, 2025, at the Olde BrickTheatre, 126 W. Main Street in Scranton.Shows are at 8 pm Thursday, Friday &Saturday; Sunday at 3 pm.Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton

Marko Marcinko; Drummer/Pianist, Founder & Artistic Director ofthe Scranton Jazz Festival & Leader of the Scranton Jazz FestivalBig Band, speaking about the 20th anniversary of the SJF to beheld August 1, 2 & 3, 2025, in downtown Scranton. The Saturdayheadliner is Tower of Power at the Scranton Cultural Center at 8pm;Sunday at the Cultural Center, it's the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Bandunder Marcinko's direction with special guests including French jazzvocalist Ilona Knopfler & jazz trumpeter Carl Fischer, beginningat 6:00 pm. There will be more than 80 musicians in venuesthroughout downtown Scranton with the Jazz Walk on Friday & Saturdaynights and Jazz Brunches on Sunday. For information: www.scrantonjazzfestival.org/

Actors Britt Demming & Jessi Teevan speaking about theirproduction of "Gutenberg: The Musical!" at ProvidencePlayhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton.They were joined by director Mark Fryer & sounddesigner Jason Narcoonis.Presented by Actors Circle and It's Curtains for You,there are shows July 17 through July 20, 2025--Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:00 pm;Sunday at 2:00. www.actorscircle.com/

Dr. David Mazza, Founder and President Emeritus ofthe Pocono Mountains Music Festival; Kelli Rabke,Camp Director & Vocal Coach; & Arwen Cameronand Judianne Meredith, former camp participants,speaking about, "The Room Where It Happens,"the two-week performing arts camp presented bythe PMMF from July 14 through July 25, 2025,and the culminating showcase performanceon Friday, July 25th at 6:00 pm at the BarrettAdministrative & Recreational Center in Cresco.There is no admission fee.For information about the camp and the 2025festival concerts: www.poconofest.org/

Artist Paul Plumadore and Sculptor David Greenspeaking about their work in connection with ajoint exhibition at the Circle Center for theArts, 130 Rear S. Franklin Street in downtownWilkes-Barre. "Fractured & Natural Forms" willrun through August 7, 2025.www.wyomingvalleyartleague.org/570-288-1020

Cory Baney, Founder of the River Valley Film Festival,speaking about RVFF's partnership with Lycoming Artsand the launch of the Festival on Friday, July 18, 2025,with a First Friday-style event, "Red Carpet Friday," at 5:00,followed by the opening night film, "Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball"at 8 pm. Film screenings get underway at 10:30 am on Saturdayand 11:00 am on Sunday atAMC CLASSIC Williamsport 11 Movie Theater Downtown.www.lycomingarts.org/rvff

Neil Prisco, Director of Marketing at the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the 39th Season andofferings during the Summer & Fall of 2025.There will be a Big Screen Summer Series for children along with 2 other film series through the summer months, and many shows by comedians,great musicians, ballet companies, Broadway touring productions to come, with Celtic Thunder in September. For information: www.kirbycenter.org/