Artscene With Erika Funke

Lawrence E. Cohen, Chairman and Chief Customer Advocate,speaking about the history of Benco Dental Supply Companyin Pittson, PA, and taking listeners on a walking tour of Benco's dental museum and state-of-the-art showrooms.Benco invited WVIA to relocate to their corporateheadquarters while the Public Media Center was undergoingrenovations. This feature was broadcast as a small way ofshowing WVIA's appreciation to the Benco family for thetremendous hospitality that we've been shown.www.benco.com/

Tannis Kowalchuk, Artistic Director of the Farm Arts Collective, andDoug Rogers, Composer, speaking about Dream On The Farm 2025:"Paradise Lost Scavenger Hunt," an original theater piece inspiredby the poetry of John Milton. The production will run from July 24through August 3, with shows each evening at 6:30, at Willow WispOrganic Farm in Damascus in Wayne County.www.farmartscollective.org/

Kendall Isadore, Violinist in the award-winning trio The String Queens with Violist Dawn Johnson and Cellist Elise Sharp, speaking about her life in music in anticipation of the ensemble's performance at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA, on July 25, 2025, at 6:00 pm. They will present a wide range of music from classical and jazz to popular songs by the Beatles, Michael Jackson & many others. For more information & tickets:www.harmonyinthewoods.org/

Justin Costello, Founder & Artistic Director ofIntrepidus Theatre Lab, and Actor/CompanyMember Marcie Herman Riebe, speaking aboutThe Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman & theTectonic Theater Project, to be presented byIntrepidus and Diva Theatre Thursday throughSunday, July 24 -27, 2025, at the Olde BrickTheatre, 126 W. Main Street in Scranton.Shows are at 8 pm Thursday, Friday &Saturday; Sunday at 3 pm.Facebook.com/DivaTheaterScranton

Marko Marcinko; Drummer/Pianist, Founder & Artistic Director ofthe Scranton Jazz Festival & Leader of the Scranton Jazz FestivalBig Band, speaking about the 20th anniversary of the SJF to beheld August 1, 2 & 3, 2025, in downtown Scranton. The Saturdayheadliner is Tower of Power at the Scranton Cultural Center at 8pm;Sunday at the Cultural Center, it's the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Bandunder Marcinko's direction with special guests including French jazzvocalist Ilona Knopfler & jazz trumpeter Carl Fischer, beginningat 6:00 pm. There will be more than 80 musicians in venuesthroughout downtown Scranton with the Jazz Walk on Friday & Saturdaynights and Jazz Brunches on Sunday. For information: www.scrantonjazzfestival.org/

Actors Britt Demming & Jessi Teevan speaking about theirproduction of "Gutenberg: The Musical!" at ProvidencePlayhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton.They were joined by director Mark Fryer & sounddesigner Jason Narcoonis.Presented by Actors Circle and It's Curtains for You,there are shows July 17 through July 20, 2025--Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:00 pm;Sunday at 2:00. www.actorscircle.com/

Dr. David Mazza, Founder and President Emeritus ofthe Pocono Mountains Music Festival; Kelli Rabke,Camp Director & Vocal Coach; & Arwen Cameronand Judianne Meredith, former camp participants,speaking about, "The Room Where It Happens,"the two-week performing arts camp presented bythe PMMF from July 14 through July 25, 2025,and the culminating showcase performanceon Friday, July 25th at 6:00 pm at the BarrettAdministrative & Recreational Center in Cresco.There is no admission fee.For information about the camp and the 2025festival concerts: www.poconofest.org/

Artist Paul Plumadore and Sculptor David Greenspeaking about their work in connection with ajoint exhibition at the Circle Center for theArts, 130 Rear S. Franklin Street in downtownWilkes-Barre. "Fractured & Natural Forms" willrun through August 7, 2025.www.wyomingvalleyartleague.org/570-288-1020

Cory Baney, Founder of the River Valley Film Festival,speaking about RVFF's partnership with Lycoming Artsand the launch of the Festival on Friday, July 18, 2025,with a First Friday-style event, "Red Carpet Friday," at 5:00,followed by the opening night film, "Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball"at 8 pm. Film screenings get underway at 10:30 am on Saturdayand 11:00 am on Sunday atAMC CLASSIC Williamsport 11 Movie Theater Downtown.www.lycomingarts.org/rvff

Neil Prisco, Director of Marketing at the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the 39th Season andofferings during the Summer & Fall of 2025.There will be a Big Screen Summer Series for children along with 2 other film series through the summer months, and many shows by comedians,great musicians, ballet companies, Broadway touring productions to come, with Celtic Thunder in September. For information: www.kirbycenter.org/

Andrew Waggoner, violinist, composer and artistic co-directorwith cellist Caroline Stinson of the Weekend of ChamberMusic, speaking about WCM 2025 and composer-in-residenceAugusta Read Thomas. The festival takes place in SullivanCounty NY from July 14th through July 26th and will featureintimate concerts, discussions, open rehearsals and moreat the Catskill Art Space in Livingston Manor as well asthe Eddie Adams Barn in Jeffersonville NY.www.wcmconcerts.org/

Ronnie Harvey, General Manager and Film Booker at the DietrichTheater, speaking about Summer Fest 2025--a film festival with18 movies to be screened in 21 days, from July 11 throughJuly 31st at the Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga Street inTunkhannock, PA . www.dietrichtheater.com/

BTE resident actor Amy Rene Byrne, who directs the summerfamily production, speaking about Sideways Stories from WaysideSchool that will run from July 12 through July 27, 2025, at theAlvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center Street in downtownBloomsburg. There will be 2 low price previews on July 10 & 11at 7 pm, and a free Sensory Friendly Performance on Saturday,July 12 at 2 pm. The show opens July 12 at 7 pm.There are shows Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 & Sundays at 3 pm.Also, matinees on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 1:00.www.bte.org/ 570-784-8181

Jessie Thompson, Director, speaking about the musical"Annie"— to be presented by Hamilton-Gibson Productionsat Straughn Auditorium at Commonwealth University-MansfieldJuly 10 through July 13, 2025. There are shows Thursday, Friday &Saturday evenings at 7:30, and matinees at 2:30 on Saturday &Sunday. For more information: www.hamiltongibson.org/

Janet Gaglione, Executive Director of the Wayne County Arts Alliance,speaking about the organization and the 2025 Artists StudioTour to be held July 11, 12 and 13 at 18 studio locations throughoutthe county and also the WCCA Gallery at 959 Main Street in Honesdale.The event is free and there are brochures/maps available at variousbusinesses and online.For more information: www.waynecountyartsalliance.com/

Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Spenner, Assistant Director of the United States Coast Guard Band, speaking about his life in music in anticipation of leading the NEPA Philharmonic on Thursday, July 3, 2025, on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton as part of the Scrantastic Spectacular, beginning at 7:30 and culminating in the annual fireworksdisplay. There will be music by Sousa, Ives, Leroy Anderson, Tchaikovsky and more.For information about all of the orchestra's performances through the Fourth of July weekend: www.nepaphil.org/

Lewis Flinn, composer and co-owner with Douglas Carter Beane of theOld Carter Barn at Lake Carey in Wyoming County, speaking about"Summer Sessions 2025," a concert series running now throughAugust 16th. There will be a wide variety of musical ensembles,a food truck on hand for each performance and much more.For information and tickets: www.summersessionspa.com/

Adelaide Ferguson, Co-chair of the Board of the Eagles MereFriends of the Arts, speaking about the 50th AnniversarySeason that begins with a special event, "The 50 x 50Art Exhibit and Reception" at the David Dewire Center onWednesday, July 2, 2025, from 4 to 6 pm. The show opensJuly 1st and runs through July 3rd. The concerts begin onJuly 4th at 5:00 with the Repasz Band performing holidayfavorites on the Eagles Mere Green.For information about the whole summer season ofperformances, art classes and more:www.emfoa.org/

Jason Stein, Principal Trombone, Music Librarian & Personnel Managerof the NEPA Philharmonic, speaking about the series ofconcerts to be presented by the orchestra to celebrateIndependence Day in 2025. July 3--The full Philharmonic onCourthouse Square in downtown Scranton with fireworks at 7:30. Free.July 4--Philharmonic Brass & Percussion musicians at KirbyPark in Wilkes-Barre with fireworks at 8:00. Free.July 5--The Philharmonic Brass Quintet in a program titled,"Americana Brass" at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA at6:00 pm. For more information: www.nepaphil.org/