ArtScene with Erika Funke

Jack Swersie, coordinator of the Gallery Committee, speaking aboutthe Summer 2026 show at the Gallery at 530 Main in downtown Stroudsburg,titled "America--As We See It." The exhibition features works by over100 artists, and there will be an opening reception on Saturday,July 11th from 5 to 8 pm. The show will run through August 29th and general hours areFridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to...

Dr. Michael Geib, bassist, educator and founder of the DyberryCreek Music Festival in Wayne County with Meryl Geib, cellistand educator, speaking about the 2026 Festival that openson July 8th at 5:00 pm at the Wayne County Arts Alliancein Honesdale. There will be other performances--7/10 at the Himalayan Institute at 7:30;7/11 at the Cooperage Project at 7:30.The concerts are free.www.dyberrycreek...

Thomas Putnam, Artistic Director of Hamilton-Gibson Productionsin Wellsboro, speaking about the musical"Big Fish," which he directs. The show will run from July 9through July 12, 2026, at the Straughn Auditoriumon the campus of Commonwealth University-Mansfield. Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm;matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30.www.hamiltongibson.org/

Sherry Emershaw, President of the 24th Connecticut MilitiaRegiment, and Jenn Ochman, new member of the 24thCMR,speaking about the Battle of Wyoming Event Weekendon July 11 and 12, 2026, in Nesbitt Park in Kingston, PA.Hours on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday from10 am to 3 pm. There will be cooking demonstrationsand exhibits of 18th century clothing; military music ofthe American Revolution; t...

Rick Benjamin, founder and director of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra based in Lewisburg, PA, speaking about the background of the ensemble and the PRO's invitation to accept a residency at the Spanish Expo '92 in Seville in 1992. The conversation sets thestage for an hourlong special featuring highlights from the recording, "Meet Me at theFair: Sounds From the Great American World's Fairs," to mar...

Janet Gaglione, Executive Director of the Wayne County ArtsAlliance, speaking about the WCAA's 23rd Annual Artists'Studio Tour, July 10, 11 & 12, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pmeach day. 25 artists are featured in 21 different locationsthroughout Wayne County. The tour is free, and mapsare available online or at the WCAA Gallery, 959Main Street in Honesdale, where works by eachartist are on display now t...

Adam Randis, director; actors Ciaran Burke who plays John Adams, & David Zimmermanwho takes the role of Ben Franklin, speaking about the PA Theatre of Performing Artsproduction of the award-winning musical 1776. The show will run two weekends inHazleton and one in Lehighton. July 3 & 4 at 7 pm; 7/5 at 2 pm; July 10 at 7pm; July 11 at 5:30 (dinner) & 7pm curtain;July 12 at 12:30 (dinner) & 2:00 pm...

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of theNortheastern PA Philharmonic, speaking aboutthe special America250 performances scheduledinto August 2026. There will be free concerts bythe full orchestra under Melisse Brunet atCourthouse Square in downtown Scrantonon Friday, July 3rd at 7:30, culminating ina complete display of fireworks. The sameprogram with the full orchestra will bepresented on Sa...

David McCourt and Julie McCourt, producers of the new PBS documentary titled, "Amerigo," asking the question of everyday Americans, "What does the American Dream mean today?""Amerigo" will be broadcast on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:00 pmon WVIA TV and it will be followed at 8:30 by, "Amerigo in NEPA:A Community Town Hall," recorded by WVIA at the GeisingerCommonwealth School of Medicine. For mo...

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Founding Artistic Director;Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director and LizzieNewcomb Gumula, Director of Education, speakingabout the 15th Summer Season of the ScrantonShakespeare Festival, featuring performances in twodifferent locations this year: The Shakes Space atthe Marketplace at Steamtown, and Church of theGood Shepherd. The productions include:Carousel, Saint Joan; He...

Neil Prisco, Director of Marketing at the F.M.KirbyCenter for the Performing Arts in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking with Kara Washington, Director ofPromotion at WVIA Public Media. The 2026-2027season marks the Kirby's 40th anniversary, andthey have issued a special brochure to commemoratethe occasion. Prisco offered some history of thetheater and described some of the latest additions,such as a...

Sue Minsavage, alto with the Arcadia Chorale & Chair of itsDr. Steven Thomas Memorial Fund; and Dr. Joshua Harper, Director of Choral Activities at Wilkes University, Artistic Director of theChoral Society of Northeast PA and Guest Music Director of the 2026Summer Sing, to be presented by the Arcadia Chorale thisSaturday, June 20, 2026 at 7:00 pmat Covenant Presbyterian Church, 550 Madison Avenuei...

Ellen Boyer, accomplished theater educator, actor & director, from the Susquehanna Valley, speaking about the award-winningBroadway musical 1776 that she is directing at River StageCommunity Theatre, at the Greenpeace Center, 815 MarketStreet in Lewisburg. Shows Fridays & Saturdays- - June 19, 20 & 27, 2026 at 7:30 pm. There will be a special Friday performance on June 26th at6:00 in anticipation...

Tyler Florian, director; Scott Colin Woolnough,LTWB artistic director & actor with role of LordFarquaad; and Jacob Thomas who has the roleof Donkey, in the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreproduction of "Shrek the Musical", running fromJune 19 through June 28, 2026 at 537 N. MainStreet in Wilkes-Barre. Shows are Fridays andSaturdays at 7:30 pm with Sunday matinees at 3:00.For more information: www.lt...

Brandon Hanks, founder and director of Rebel Stagesin Stroudsburg, speaking about the 2026 summer seasonat RS and the summer camps to be offered by theSchool of Visual and Performing Arts. The season begins with, "For Colored Girls Who HaveConsidered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough,"by Ntozake Shange June 19th at 8pm, 20th at 2:00 &8:00; & 21st at 6:00pmat the SVPA Black Box Theatre, 11 Foundry...

Paige Balitski, Artistic Director; Bob Balitski, actor playing Ben Franklin;and Ray Hopkins, actor playing John Adams, speaking about thespecial production of the Broadway musical "1776" that is acollaboration between Diva Productions and Actors Circle,and an America250PA Semiquin Grants-supported presentation. The show will run from June 19 through June 28, 2026,at West Scranton Intermediate Scho...

Michele Bannon, Mayor of Carbondale, PA, speaking about the creative activities in the city including Second Saturdays that will be held through October 10, 2026, withthe next in the series taking place on Saturday, June 13th, from 4:00 to 8:00 pmthroughout the downtown area. There will be artists, live music, food and muchmore. For information: www.carbondalepa.org/ or www.visitcarbondalepa.com/T...

Dr. William C. Kashatus, American historian, educator and author,speaking about his new study titled, "Spitballer: Stan Coveleski andthe 1920 Cleveland Indians," just released by the University ofNebraska Press. Coveleski was a native of Shamokin, PA, andhe went on to be a Hall of Fame pitcher in the Major Leagues. This is Part Two of a two-part interview. For more information: www.nebraskapress.u...

Dr. William C. Kashatus, American historian, educator and author,speaking about his new study titled, "Spitballer: Stan Coveleski andthe 1920 Cleveland Indians," just released by the University ofNebraska Press. Coveleski was a native of Shamokin, PA, andhe went on to be a Hall of Fame pitcher in the Major Leagues. This is Part One of a two-part interview. For more information: www.nebraskapress.u...

Dr. Joseph Stuligross, Instructor in the Department of Music,Theatre and Dance at Commonwealth University--Bloomsburg,speaking about the Spring Concert of the Bloomsburg Singers,"Americana," that will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at3:00 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 130 W. 3rd Streetin Bloomsburg. The program will include "Chester" by WilliamBillings; "Bread and Roses," "The Promise of L...