Artscene With Erika Funke

Dr. Bode Morin, Site Administrator of the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum, the Scranton Iron Furnaces & Eckley Miners Village, and Anthracite Photographer Scott Herring, speaking about Herring's 288,000 images of the anthracite region & its history and culture, and the current exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of his documentary project, "The Hardcoal Chronicles," at the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park in Scranton now through January 2026. www.anthracitemusuem.org/ www.hardcoalchronicles.com/

Ed Randazzo, highly-respected singer-songwriter from NEPA, speaking about his life in music and his new album, "Wishing on a Train," set to be released on Friday, August 30, 2024. For more information: www.edrandazzomusic.com/

WVIA's Haley O'Brien reports on the exhibition titled, "Arts to the Rescue," opening Friday, August 16, 2024, with a reception from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the AFA Gallery, 101 Penn Avenue in Scranton. The show, featuring works of pets, centering on those in need of adoption, will run through September 14th. www.artistsforart.org/

Jill Carletti, Creative Director for Harmony in the Woods, speaking about the 2024 season and the special performance by The String Queens on Sunday, August 18 at 6:00 pm. The natural amphitheater is located at 19 Imagination Way in Hawley, PA. For more information: www.harmonyinthewoods.org/ 570-503-6685

James Lansing, Everhart Museum Curator, speaking about the exhibition, "Peace, Love & Music," running from August 15 to December 27, 2024. The opening of the show coincides with the 55th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival in 1969, and there will be a reception on August 15 outside the museum in Nay Aug Park in Scranton from 5:30 to 8:00 pm--The Flower Power Happy Hour. For more information: www.everhart-museum.org/

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/