Artscene With Erika Funke

David Hicks, Director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, and Mandy Pennington, Director of Digital Marketing at Wilkes, who is completing her MFA, speaking about creative writing at the university and LitFest 2024. LitFest is a weeklong series of readings, discussions, screenings and more, celebrating the written word, running from June 21 through June 27th, open to the public at no charge. For information: www.wilkes.edu/cw

Bonnie Tallman, Events Producer & Co-founder, of the Billtown Blues Festival, speaking about the 34th annual event taking place on Friday and Saturday, June 21 & 22, 2024, at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville. The music starts Friday at 6:00 pm and Saturday at Noon. There is camping and bus service from the Genetti Hotel in downtown Williamsport. For more information: www.billtownblues.org/

Thom Shubilla, author of "Primetime 1966-1967" and articles and reviews, speaking about his recent study, "James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze" issued by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. There will be book signings and events at the Mahoning Drive-In and Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre Twp during the summer of 2024. For information: The Publisher: www.rowman.com/ The Mahoning Drive-In: www.mahoningdit.com/ or Thom Shubilla on Facebook

Artist Brian Keeler, co-founder and artistic director of the Susquehanna Summer Solstice Fest, at French Azilum in Bradford County, PA, June 17 through June 23, 2024. 30 plein air painters will be on hand &, headlining the music weekend, will be singer-songwriter Kate Taylor. For information: www.susquehannasolstice.com/

Dr. Timothy Schwarz, Founder & Artistic Director of the Techne Music Festival, and Dr. Lawrence Stomberg, Techne Faculty Member, speaking about the 2024 weeklong program for talented young musicians at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. The festival runs from June 9th through the 13th with a final concert on Thursday, June 13th at 7:00 pm in Peter Hall, 342 Main Street in Bethlehem. There is no admission fee. For information: www.technemusic.org/

Jove Graham, President of the RiverStage Board, and Robert Jones, Director, speaking about the RiverStage Community Theatre production of the musical, "Oliver!" running for two weekends--June 14 through June 23, 2024, at the Greenspace Center, 815 Market Street Lewisburg, PA. Shows Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30. For more information: www.riverstagetheatre.org/

Dr. Carl Frankel, Board President, and Mark Peterson, Executive Director of the Hazleton Art League, speaking about the 13th Annual Youth Art Expo on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, 2024, at the Hayden Family Center for the Arts, 31 West Broad Street in downtown Hazleton. There will be a gallery exhibit, a talent show an array of artfully-crafted baked goods and much more. Also coming up, an 8-week summer arts camp for young people--beginning June 17th. For information: www.hazletonartleague.org/

Jill Carletti, Creative Director of Harmony in the Woods, speaking about the venue and the 2024 concert season that opens July 5th & 6th and continues through September 7th, at 19 Imagination Way in Hawley, PA. For more information: www.harmonyinthewoods.org/ 570-503-6685

Jason Smeltzer, musician and director of The Olde Stories, and John Bromberg, puppeteer and director of Pictures Moved by Strings, speaking about their collaboration on "Harold's Chair" by Bromberg along with excerpts of the novel "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino, on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 7 pm, at the Olde Brick Theater, 126 W. Market Street in Scranton. For information: Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton/

Joell Yarmel, Executive Director of the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the 2024-2025 season just announced--with the opening act on September 12th featuring Pete Davidson as well as ballet, music, holiday favorites and more. For information: www.kirbycenter.org/ 570-826-1100

Scott Thomas, Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Scranton Public Library, speaking about the services of the Albright Memorial Library and the 13th annual block party, "Swingin' on Vine" to be held on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, in the 500 block of Vine Street in Scranton. There will be music by Picture Perfect, refreshments, picnic-style food, games and more. The event will benefit the library. www.lclshome.org/events

Barbara J. Taylor, author from Scranton, speaking with WVIA's News Director Julie Sidoni, about her new novel titled, "Rain Will Break No Bones," a Kaylie Jones Book issued by Akashic Books. There will be a book event on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at noon at Barnes & Noble, 421 Arena Hub Plaza in Wilkes-Barre. For more information and other events: www.barbarajtaylor.com/

Brian Long and Sarah Schwab speaking about their work as independent filmmakers and their love of interacting with audiences in connection with their recent feature, "A Stage of Twilight," starring Karen Allen and William Sadler. For more information: www.astageoftwilightthefilm.com/

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, speaking about the 116th Bethlehem Bach Festival, taking place May 10 & 11 and 17 & 18, 2024, with 2 full performances of the Bach B Minor Mass, among many other offerings. For more information: www.bach.org/

Casey Thomas, Scranton native and professional actor & director, speaking about directing the satirical comedy, "A Man, A Woman, A Head of Lettuce: The Works of Ted LoRusso," in a production by Actors Circle at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton, May 30 through June 9, 2024--time for the Thursday preview is 7 pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm, as well, with Sunday matinees at 2:00. The show features adult content. For information: www.actorscircle.com/ 570-342-9707 www.tedlorusso.com/

Dr. Catherine Richmond-Cullen, AIE of NEPA & President of neuroLEARN, LLC, Joanne Arduino, Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Scranton, & Frank Blasi, Executive Director of Broadway Theatre League of NEPA, speaking about The Lyceum School for Visual and Performing Arts. Summer 2024 runs from July 8 through July 19, Mondays through Fridays, 9 am to 2 pm. For more information: www.broadwaynepa.com/ and for scholarship information: www.aienepa.org/

Elizabeth Dowd, Member of the BTE Resident Acting Company, and Rand Whipple, an Associate Ensemble Member, speaking about the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble production of "Annapurna" by Sharr White, running May 23 through June 9, 2024, at the Alvina Krause Theatre on Center Street in downtown Bloomsburg. Shows are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3:00. For more information: www.bte.org/

Mark Laubach, organist and choirmaster at St. Stephen's Church, and Charles Francis, organ student in the studio of Nathan Laube at the Eastman School of Music, speaking in anticipation of a recital by Francis on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 7 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 South Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The program will include Bach, Durufle Willan and more. Admission is free. www.ststephenswb.org/

Steven Kurutz, features reporter for the NY Times, speaking about his new book, "American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing Back the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home," issued by Riverhead Books. There will be an author's event at The Otto Bookstore in Williamsport, PA, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 10 am to noon. Admission is free, but reservations are required: www.ottobookstore.com. For more information: www.stevenkurutz.com/

Brenda Grunza, Co-President, and Ann Manganiello, Music Director & Conductor, of the Catholic Choral Society of Scranton, speaking about the group's 75th Anniversary Spring Concert program to be presented Friday, May 17, 2024 at Mary, Mother of God Parish: Holy Rosary Church, 316 William Street in Scranton; Also Sunday, May 19th at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, 339 N. Maple Avenue in Kingston. Each concert begins at 7:00 pm. www.catholicchoralsociety.org/