Artscene With Erika Funke

George Aulisio, Dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library and Director of the Schemel Forum at the University of Scranton, speaking about the Fall 2023 season offerings of the Schemel Forum, featuring 3 six-week courses, the World Affairs Luncheon Seminars, two collaborative programs and a bus trip on September 30 to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum. For more information: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum

Nancy Sanderson, Executive Director of the Northeastern PA Philharmonic, speaking about the 2023-2024 season that will get underway on September 29 with the first of the PNC Pops series and will conclude with a Masterworks concert on June 1. Melisse Brunet is the music director and conductor. For more information: www.nepaphil.org/

Rudy Caporaso & Rosey Hay, Co-Artistic Directors of REV Theatre Company, speaking about their return to Scranton to work with a multigenerational cast at United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA on a production of REV's "Lil' Ol' Rodeo Show" to be presented on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at UNC's Oppenheim Center, 1004 Jackson Street on Scranton's West Side. Doors open at 5:30 & the show starts at 6:00 pm. Admission is free. For more information: www.uncnepa.org/

Carl Achhammer and James Gavern of the NEPA Bonsai Society, speaking about the group's 2023 Open House on Saturday, August 26, from 10 am to 4 pm at Keller's Garden Center, 7 Kern Street in Exeter, PA. There will be demonstrations, a display of 78 trees, a contest to judge the finest specimens, music, pottery displays and more. For information: www.nepabonsai.com/

Richard Rinehart, Director of the Samek Art Museum at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the exhibition, "Facing the Giant--3 Decades of Dissent: Shepard Fairey," opening on August 22 at the Samek Museum and running through December 3, 2023. There will be a reception on August 24 at 7:00 pm in the campus gallery on the top floor of the ELC. https://museum.bucknell.edu/

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the 125th Anniversary Season--2023-2024. The ensemble will present the world premiere of Mendelssohn's completed version of Bach's Saint Matthew Passion, with a live recording of the concert on November 4. For complete details on the season: www.bach.org/

Ronald Demkee, long-time conductor of the Allentown Band, speaking about a benefit titled, "For Ukraine: A Concert of Hope and Remembrance," on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at 3:00 pm, at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown. Special guests include: Patricia Risley, mezzo-soprano; The Bel Canto Youth Chorus; organist Rudy Lucente, and Johan de Meij, composer & conductor. There will be music of Ukraine, Sibelius, Mahler, Beethoven & others. www.allentownband.com/

Dennis Corrigan, artist and educator, speaking about his work in anticipation of his solo show at the Circle Center for the Arts of the Wyoming Valley Art League, 130 Rear South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre. The exhibition opens with a reception on August 18, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and continues through September 29th www.wyomingvalleyartleague.org/

Dr. Caroline Payne, Political Science Professor, & Lynn Estomin, Professor Emerita of Art & Digital Design at Lycoming College in Williamsport, speaking about the Lycoming College Interdisciplinary Dominican Republic Project and the Warrior Coffee project, in connection with the exhibition, "Dominican Republic: 1975/2023--Photographs by Lynn (Zimmerman) Estomin & Bob Zimmerman," at the Lycoming College Art Gallery, 25 W. Fourth Street in Williamsport, PA. The show will run from August 18 through September 16, 2023. There will be a reception and coffee tasting on September 15 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, with a gallery talk at 5:30. Admission is free. www.lycoming.edu/coffee

Rick Coulter, Founder & Music Director of the Billtown Brass, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about their 2023 "Summer Brass" concert series with performances on August 19 at 7 pm at Central Oak Heights pavilion in Milton, PA; Also August 25 at 5 pm on Pine Street in Williamsport as part of the Williamsport Welcomes the World Celebration. www.williamsportsymphony.org/

Claire McRee, Associate Curator at the Allentown Art Museum, speaking about the current exhibition, "Fashion as Experiment: The '60s," running through September 24, 2023. The show features over a hundred garments and accessories from the Museum's collection along with special 1960s-themed programs. Admission is free. www.allentownartmusuem.org/

Trebbe Johnson, writer, speaker, founder of Radical Joy for Hard Times, talking about her recent book, "Fierce Consciousness: Surviving the Sorrows of Earth and Self," issued by Calliope Books in January 2023. For more information: www.trebbejohnson.com/

Filmmakers Luz Cabrales & Robert Savakinus speaking about their original documentary, "Scranton's Championship Season," centering on the making of the Hollywood movie "That Championship Season" in Scranton 41 years ago. The documentary will be broadcast on WVIA TV on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 8:00 pm. www.wvia.org/

Oren Helbok, Executive Director of The Exchange, speaking about the 15th annual ArtFest in downtown Bloomsburg, PA, on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 10 am to 5 pm, near the fountain on the other side of Main Street. There will be a range of arts and crafts, non-profit organizations, food vendors and live music, as well as children's activities. www.exchangearts.org/artfest/ For information about current and future art shows at The Exchange Gallery, 24 E. Main Street in Bloomsburg, www.exchangearts.org/

Playwright David Parmelee, General Manager of the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, and playwrights Montie Price Ford & William Jeffrey, speaking about "5X1 ACT: One Weekend of Original One-Act Plays," August 11, 12 & 13, 2023, at the Little Theatre of W-B, 537 N. Main Street. Featured playwrights: Montie Price Ford; K.K. Gordon; William Jeffrey; David Parmelee & Art Walsh. Shows are Friday & Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 3 pm. www.ltwb.org/

Patricia Treacy, internationally-known Irish violinist, speaking about her life in music in anticipation of a performance at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA, on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 5:30 pm. The concert is a benefit for WVIA and is presented by Harmony in the Woods. There are concert-only tickets and tickets for the concert and reception. www.wvia.org/events www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Matt Birkbeck, award-winning investigative journalist & best-selling author, speaking with WVIA's News Director Julie Sidoni about his most recent book, "The Life We Chose: William 'Big Billy' D'Elia and the Last Secrets of America's Most Powerful Mafia Family," just issued by William Morrow/Harper Collins on July 11, 2023. For more information: www.mattbirkbeck.com/

Liz Tilley, visual artist from Stroudsburg, speaking about her one-person exhibition at the Hazleton Art League, 31 W. Broad Street, "Paradise Found: Revisioning the Garden of Earthly Delights." The show will run from August 4 to August 27, 2023, with an opening reception on Friday the 4th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. There will be an artist's talk Sunday, August 6th from 1:00 to 3:00, and an acoustic jam on August 27th from 1:00 to 3:00. www.hazletonartleague.org/back-to-the-garden/

Rick Markham, producer of "Sylvia" & actor in the role of Greg, speaking about the Legion Theatre Group production of "Sylvia" by A. R. Gurney, a comedy for adults, to be presented August 11 & 12, 2023, at the Tillbury Community Center in West Nanticoke, PA, at 7:00 each evening. The show will benefit Mureille's Place, a senior dog sanctuary in Wapwallopen. For more information: www.legiontheatregroup.org/

Deborah Reeder, distinguished cellist and educator, and coordinator/founder with Barbara Sonies of "Music in the Mountains," a summer workshop for high school musicians. She spoke about the history of the program in anticipation of an annual reunion concert presented by the Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 8:00 pm, at the Dewire Center, 891 Laporte Avenue in Eagles Mere, in Sullivan County, PA. The program will feature Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorak, Florence Price and more. www,emfoa.org