Artscene With Erika Funke

Tannis Kowalchuk, Founder & Artistic Director of the Farm Arts Collective, and Yurika Sase, Rice Farmer & Artist from Japan who volunteers each summer with the FAC, speaking about the Dream on the Farm series and this year's production, "Conference for Those Still Living," at Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Damascus, PA, from August 8th to 18th, 2024, starting at 6:30 pm, Thursdays to Sundays. Each  performance concludes with a shared farm-fresh meal. www.farmartscollective.org/

Rev. Bill Carter, Jazz Pianist, Band Leader & Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, speaking about his recent book, "Thriving on a Riff: Jazz & the Spiritual Life" issued in 2024 by Broadleaf Books. For more information: www.presbybop.com/ The interview first aired in April to coincide with the book's release.

Kathryn Maguet, Executive Director of the Weis Center for the Performing Arts at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, speaking about the 2024-2025 season that gets underway on September 13th with bluegrass performer Sierra Hull. For more information: www.bucknell.edu/weiscenter

Dr. William Kashatus speaking about his study titled, "Jackie & Campy: The Untold Story of Their Rocky Relationship & the Breaking of Baseball's Color Line," issued in 2015 by the University of Nebraska Press. WVIA-TV will broadcast a new documentary on the Negro Leagues titled, "Never Drop the Ball," on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 7 pm. For more information www.wvia.org/ The interview was originally recorded in 2015.

Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, Director of the Lackawanna Historical Society; Michael Gilmartin, President of the Board and Architect Martina Bacarella, speaking about "Sacred Sites & Sounds," taking place in Carbondale, PA. There will be a reception and choral performance on Thursday, August 22, 2024, and then a walking tour of 6 different churches on Saturday, August 24th. The tour will be led by Martina Barcarella. For tickets and more information: www.lackawannahistory.org/

Walter Mitchell Jr., Artistic Director, and David Parmelee, General Manager, speaking about the Weekend of One-Acts to be presented August 9, 10 & 11, 2024, at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 North Main Street. Shows Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 3:00. www.ltwb.org/

Violinist Barbara Sonies of the Philadelphia Trio, remembering acclaimed cellist Deborah Reeder who passed away in January of 2024. There will be a concert in her memory on Friday, August 2, at the Dewire Center, 891 Laporte Avenue in Eagles Mere, PA, with a reception at 7:30 pm and the performance at 8:00. Featured will be the Eagles Mere Chamber Players, former students at the Music in the Mountains summer camp run by Reeder and Sonies. On the program Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann and others. The event is part of the Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts summer series, and for more information: www.emfoa.org/

Tenor T.J. Capobianco, a native of Scranton, speaking with Haley O'Brien of the WVIA News Department about the Metropolitan Opera in NY where he is a Full Plan Artist. Capobianco returned this summer as a vocal coach at the Lyceum School for Visual & Performing Arts in Scranton, and he will perform at La Festa Italiana on Courthouse Square on September 1, 2024, at 5:00 pm. www.thomasjcapobianco.com/ www.broadwaynepa.com/

Domenic Salerni, violinist, composer, arranger & member of the award-winning Attacca Quartet, speaking about recent initiatives including the album project, "A Change is Gonna Come" for the Palaver Strings and soloists Nicholas Phan and Farayi Malek, issued by Azica Records. For more information: www.palaverstrings.org/ www.domenicsalerni.com/

William Jay & Robyn Madara Jay, speaking about the Listening Room at the Exchange Gallery, 24 E. Main Street in Bloomsburg, featuring blues, roots & Americana performances the last Wednesday of the month beginning at 7:00 pm. Donations accepted at the door. The 8th season begins on July 31, 2024 with a concert featuring Ed Randazzo & Bret Alexander. (570) 317-2596 www.exchangearts.org/

Marko Marcinko, Artistic Director of the Scranton Jazz Festival and Leader of the Festival Big Band, speaking about the 19th annual SJF to be held in downtown Scranton August 2, 3 & 4, 2024. Friday and Saturday will feature free jazz walks & on Saturday evening, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at the Scranton Cultural Center at 7:30 pm. Celebrated jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano will join the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band under Marcinko's direction at 6:00 pm at the Ritz Theater. For more information: www.scrantonjazzfestival.org/

Marko Marcinko, Artistic Director of the Scranton Jazz Festival and Leader of the Festival Big Band, speaking about the 19th annual SJF to be held in downtown Scranton August 2, 3 & 4, 2024. Friday and Saturday will feature free jazz walks & on Saturday evening, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at the Scranton Cultural Center at 7:30 pm. Celebrated jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano will join the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band under Marcinko's direction at 6:00 pm at the Ritz Theater. For more information: www.scrantonjazzfestival.org/

Justin Costello, founder & artistic director of Intrepidus Theatre Lab, and Marcie Herman Riebe, actor/Phaedra, speaking about the production of Costello's original play, "Bulls: The Tragedy of Phaedra of Crete" to be presented July 26, 27 & 28, 2024, at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton. Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 6:00 pm. For information: Intrepidus Theatre Lab on Facebook.

Amy Carter Casimir, owner of Strictly Ballet & Artistic Director of "A Lewisburg Victorian Nutcracker, " speaking about "A Lewisburg Victorian Garden Party" on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 7:30 pm on the great lawn outside the GreenSpace Center at 815 Market Street in Lewisburg, PA. The event is free & open to the public, but it is a fundraiser for the Nutcracker, and donations are welcome. The public is encouraged to attend in Victorian or Fairy costume, and prizes will be awarded. www.strictlyballetarts.com/

Mandy Pennington, Director of Digital Strategy at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, speaking about her new one-person play, "Girl Walks Into a Theater," that will have its first performance as part of a program titled, "Acting Alone: 2 Solo Plays on One Stage," to be presented by Scranton Fringe July 25, 26 & 27, 2024, at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine Street in Scranton, with shows Thursday & Friday at 7:00 pm, and Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 pm. www.scrantonfringe.org www.mandybpenn.com/

Maureen McGuigan, Director of the Lackawanna County Department of Arts & Culture, speaking about her writing life in a conversation in September 2023. Her one-person theatrical piece, "Remember You Must Die: A Comedy," will be part of a program titled, "Acting Alone: Two Solo Plays on One Stage" to be presented by Scranton Fringe, July 25, 26 & 27, 2024, at 7 pm with a matinee on July 27 at 2:00, at Peoples Security Theatre at Lackawanna College in Scranton. The second playwright/actor is Mandy Pennington with "Girl Walks Into A Movie Theater." www.scrantonfringe.org/

Cellist Yosif Feigelson, co-founder & artistic director of Kindred Spirits Arts in Milford, PA, speaking about the Summer 2024 Concert Series continuing on July 20th with Freelance Nun and Weird Uncle at 5:30 pm at the Pool Pavilion at Grey Towers National Historic Site.  The season will run through August and close on September 14th with the Tesla String Quartet. For more information: www.kindredspiritsarts.org/

Cynthia Long, Executive Director of the Endless Mountain Music Festival, speaking with WVIA's Lisa Mazzarella about the 2024 Concert Season, running from July 19th through July 27th, with 17 performances in 17 days at various venues throughout North Central PA and Southern NY. www.endlessmountain.net/

Brian Fanelli and Joe Kraus, co-editors of "Currents in the Electric City: A Scranton Anthology," released on July 16, 2024, by Belt Publishing. There will be a book launch event on Saturday, July 27th at 3:00 at the Albright Memorial Library, 500 Vine Street in Scranton. To register: www.albright.org/ https://beltpublishing.com/

Scott Coulter, Artistic Director of the Pocono Mountains Music Festival, speaking about the 15th Anniversary Summer Season, getting under way on Friday, July 19, 2024, and running through July 27th. There will be sounds of Cabaret, Broadway, Jazz, Pop, Opera and a Roaring 2020s Speakeasy Fundraiser. "The Room Where It Happens" is a special showcase featuring students of the Performing Arts Camp Experience on July 27th at 3 pm. For more information: www.poconofest.org/