Artscene With Erika Funke

Jill Carletti, Creative Director of Harmony in the Woods, speaking with us about the 2023 season that will get underway at the special outdoor venue in Hawley, PA, on Friday, June 30 with The Everly Set and continuing through September 3. Shows begin at 6:00 pm unless indicated. www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, speaking about the 2023 season that includes Othello, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and Rent, at the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton in the new Shakes Space Theatre now through July 29. There is no admission fee but reservations are requested: www.scrantonshakes.com/tickets

Richard Briggs, founder and artistic director of the Briggs Farm Blues Festival, speaking about the history of the event and its vision during an interview in 2016. The 2023 Briggs Farm Blues Festival will be held July 6, 7 and 8 in Briggsville across the Susquehanna River from Berwick. Camping is available and all information can be found at briggsfarm.com/

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Co-founder & Artistic Director of the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, speaking about a tribute to the late Stephen Sondheim, "Sunday in Steamtown with Sondheim" on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 3:00 and again at 6:00 at the Shakes Space at the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton. For more information: www.scrantonshakes.com/

Dr. Alan Baker, Artistic Director & Tenor, & Francis McMullen, Bass, speaking about the 30th anniversary of the Lyric Consort in anticipation of the closing concert of the 2022-23 season, "My Spirit Sang All Day!" The performance will feature the world premiere of "As The Time Draws Nigh," by Richard Wargo, commissioned by the Lyric Consort in memory of Dr. Steven Thomas. The concert will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton on May 21 at 3:00. For more information: www.lyricconsort.org/

Mona Pande, Rostered Folk Artist with the PA Council on the Arts, speaking about her work in connection with a solo exhibition at the Pauly Friedman Gallery at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. "Indian Folk Art: Mona Pande" will run from April 21 to May 31, 2023. There will be an artist-led Indian Folk Art Workshop on May 19 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. For more information: www.misericordia.edu/art

Mary Anne Federick, Board President; Gina Malsky & Carl Achhammer, Jr, Board Members, speaking about the 67th Annual Fine Arts Fiesta--Fiesta Together/Fiesta Juntos--running May 18 through May 21, 2023, on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre. For more information: www.fineartsfiesta.org/

Brenda Grunza, Co-President, & Ann Manganiello, Music Director & Conductor of the Catholic Choral Society of Scranton, speaking about the 74th Annual Spring Concert May 19, 2023, at 7 pm, at Mary, Mother of God Parish: Holy Rosary Church in Scranton, and May 21 at 7 pm at The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Kingston, PA. For more information: www.catholicchoralsociety.org/

Holly Pilcavage, CEO of Coal Creative; Samuel O'Connell, Creative Director of Coal Creative; & Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of the Lackawanna County Arts & Culture Department, speaking about NEPA Creative and the free monthly meetups for creatives in the region. The meetups are held the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 5:00 at the THINK Center, 7 South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre or at the Penn State Scranton Campus in Dunmore. For more information: www.nepacreative.com/

Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director & Conductor of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, speaking with WVIA's Fiona Powell about the final concert of the 2022-23 season on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:30 pm at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. There will be music of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev & Moncayo. CACLive.com or www.williamsportsymphony.org/

Jazz Saxophonist Louis Fouche´, who grew up in Mountain Top, PA, speaking about his music in anticipation of his return to NEPA to perform at the F.M. Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre: Live from the Chandelier Lobby on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 7:30 pm. www.kirbycenter.org/ www.louisfouche.com/

Paige Balitski, Artistic Director & Co-founder with Bob Balitski, of Diva Theater in Scranton, marking its 25th anniversary, speaking about the original production, "Perceptions: Stories from the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communities". The show will be presented May 12 and May 13, 2023, at 8 pm, at the Olde Brick Theatre, 126 West Market Street in Scranton. Diva can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton or by calling 570-209-7766

Alexander Monelli, award-winning filmmaker from the WVIA Public Media staff, speaking about his new documentary film, "ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers," that will receive its broadcast premiere on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 8 pm, on WVIA TV and online at wvia.org/ For more information: www.wvia.org/ a

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and the Bach Festival Orchestra, speaking about the 115th Bethlehem Bach Festival--May 12 & 13; May 19 & 20, 2023 in & around Bethlehem, PA. For more information: www.bach.org/

Artist Mark Loughney, native of Dunmore, PA, & Dr. Darlene Miller-Lanning, Director of the Hope Horn Gallery at the University of Scranton, speaking about the exhibition titled, "Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration by Mark Loughney," running through May 12, 2023 at the Hope Horn Gallery. For more information: www.scranton.edu/

Dr. Steven Sametz, Ronald J. Ulrich Professor of Music at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, speaking about the concert program titled, "A Sacred Garden," featuring music by Bernstein, Durufle & Dr. Sametz. The performances will take place May 5 & May 6, 2023, at the Zoellner Arts Center at 8 pm, under the direction of Steven Sametz and Sun Min Lee. For more information: www.choralarts.lehigh.edu/

Donna Doherty, arts advocate & friend of Judith Youshock, speaking about the celebration of Judy's life and legacy on First Friday at the AFA Gallery in Scranton from 5 to 9 pm--May 5, 2023. An exhibit of her work will run through May 27th. For more information: www.artistsforart.org/

Cheryl Boga, Performance Music Conductor & Director, & Philip Kuehn, Conductor & Co-Director at the University of Scranton, speaking about the 40th Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert featuring 2 new works by Kuehn. The performance will take place on May 6, 2023, at 7:30 pm, at the Houlihan-McLean Center on the U of S campus. Admission is free. www.scranton.edu/music

Marjorie Maddox, Professor of English & Creative Writing at Lock Haven University, poet and editor, speaking with WVIA's Mindy Cronk about her new collection of poems, "In the Museum of My Daughter's Mind," a collaborative project with artist Anna Lee Hafer, her daughter. The book will be released on May 14, 2023, by Shanti Arts, and there will be a book signing on May 5 from 6 to 8 pm at the Otto Bookstore, 107 W. 4th Street in Williamsport, PA. www.marjoriemaddox.com/

Dr. Joy Hirokawa, Founder & Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Youth Chorus; Julia Sobrinsky, Bel Canto chorister & composer; Dr. Larry Lipkis, Professor of Music & Composer-in-Residence at Moravian College, speaking about "Remember," an original work by Julia Sobrinsky that will have its premiere at Bel Canto's 30th Anniversary Spring Concert on May 6, 2023, at Wesley United Methodist Church at 4 pm. www.bach.org/