Scranton Edition arts

Retro Television Network shows to air on WNEP2

Kristie Grier — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:52:02 GMT

The A Team, Marcus Welby, MD, and Magnum P.I – just a few of the shows that will premier on the Retro Television Network (RTV) on WNEP2 starting Monday, November 9.

Noting Mozart, Tchaikovsky

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:21:40 GMT

When people hear him perform Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto tonight, Pascal Archer hopes, it will spark memories of some of the best moments of their lives.

Pretend you’re Canadian: Enjoy a mysterious Thanksgiving in October. With Jane Julius Honchell

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The chance discovery of Louise Penny’s utterly charming mystery series has caused me to give thanks early this year. Getting a jump on Thanksgiving is entirely appropriate, since Penny’s first book in the series, “Still Life,” takes place during the Canadian Thanksgiving, which falls on the second Monday in October.

Forest City author shares story in ‘Pick Up the Pennies’

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

From childhood in poverty to coming-of-age during the Great Depression and World War II, Forest City author Michael T. Goskowski has experienced unique challenges. He shares his story in his new book releasing nationwide, “Pick Up the Pennies: In Every Season of Life.” The philosophy of this story may seem very simple and practical; but for the author, it became a light that guided his life.

Keystone Players dabble with danger in ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The amiable spookiness of Joseph Kesselring’s Arsenic and Old Lace will be a perfect match for playgoers who want to have a good laugh Halloween weekend. The Keystone Players will present this classic comedy Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Brooks Theatre at Keystone College. The play focuses on two sweet, generous and kind elderly sisters, Abby and Martha Brewster, played by Laura Hughes and Kelly Langan, who, unbeknownst to their admirers, share a penchant for “helping” lonely old men by putting them out of their misery with the help of a little arsenic laced wine. Struggling to deal with his nutty aunts and even crazier brothers, one of whom thinks he’s Theodore Roosevelt, and the other who is a homicidal maniac that looks like Boris Karloff, is the only sane Brewster, Mortimer, played by Robert Eskra. Mortimer’s peculiar brothers will be brought to life by Alphonse Baldino as Teddy and Justin Kraky as Jonathan. Jonathan’s accomplice, Dr. Einstein, will be played by Adam Barndt. Rounding out the cast are Erin Kaercher, as Elaine, Mortimer’s fianc�e, Gary Bisignani, Heather Bixby, Stephen Keating, and Harry Powell as police officers, Bill Zeranski as Elaine’s father, the Rev. Dr. Harper; Bill Honchell as Mr. Gibbs, and Brandon Nadeau as Mr. Witherspoon, director of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Tickets are $6 and $3 for students and senior citizens. They may be purchased at the door. Performing in Arsenic and Old Lace, from left are Laura Hughes as Abby Brewster, Brandon Nadeau as Mr. Witherspoon and Kelly Langan as Martha Brewster

Fine Arts & ENtertainment

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Night Terrors. Thrills, chills and screams await within the dark halls of this quarter-mile indoor walk through climate-controlled twists and turns. East End Center, 815 Kidder St., Wilkes-Barre. Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 11 p.m.; Sundays, 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday is last day. $10. Handicapped accessible. 237-5062.

African Children’s Choir performing in Scranton Friday

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The internationally acclaimed African Children’s Choir will perform a free community concert on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at Hickory Street United Presbyterian Church, 435 Hickory St., Scranton.

‘A Dinner Journey through Time’

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Erie Lackawanna Dinning Car Preservation Society presents “A Dinner Journey through Time” on Sunday, Nov. 1, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton. The evening includes offerings inspired by the menus of both the Erie and the Lackawanna Railroads of the 1940s and 1950s. The proceeds from this dinner will be used in the restoration of the Society’s two dining cars, Erie Lackawanna No. 741 and Lackawanna Railroad No. 470. The events begin at 4:30 p.m. with a private tour of the Scranton Cultural Center follow by a cocktail hour and buffet Dinner. The cost is $50. Reservations will be accepted, through Oct. 28. Tickets can be purchased online at www.eldcps.org or call 570.575.9202. Shown, from left: Barbara Colangelo, Executive Director; Standing: Richard Suraci, Publicity and Brian Clark, Patron Book Coordinator.

Children’s Choir in Scranton Nov. 6

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The internationally acclaimed African Children’s Choir has returned Pennsylvania and will be performing a free community concert in Scranton on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., Friday, at Hickory Street United Presbyterian Church, 435 Hickory Street, Scranton.

Coffeehouse at The Music Studio

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Local piano students entertained friends and family at an informal Coffeehouse held at The Music Studio on Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit, Friday evening. The performers played and sang popular selections by Billy Joel, Bob Marley, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and the Beatles as well as classical selections by Eric Satie and Martha Meier. Also on the program was an original composition by pianist Jillian Gratz. Performing were Caitlyn Dittmeier, Madeline Belknap, Gaby Puteri, Mariah Hawley, Jillian Gratz and Alyssa Termini.

Classic guitarists put an end to musical misconceptions

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

TUNKHANNOCK - When most people think of classical music, they think of violins, flutes and piano. Jay Steveskey and Paul Sweeny hope to change that perception at their classical guitar concert at Tunkhannock’s Dietrich Theater on Nov. 1 at 7. Tickets cost $10.

PNC Foundation donates $10,000 to Philharmonic

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A $10,000 grant from The PNC Foundation was recently awarded to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic to assist with its 2009-10 season.

African Children’s Choir coming to Scranton Nov. 6

Kristie Grier — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:58:33 GMT

For the past 25 years, the African Children’s Choir has entertained millions at community concerts and special events around the world, raising awareness of the plight of Africa’s most vulnerable, but also showing the beauty, dignity and potential of each African child. Focusing on education, the Choir currently cares for over 7,000 children in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria and Ghana.

County sponsors ‘Wake up with the Arts’ breakfast

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Department and Council on Arts, Culture and Education recently sponsored “Wake up with the Arts: A Breakfast Workshop at the Electric City Trolley Museum.” The Electric Theater Company opened the program with a performance by actors Conor McGuigan and Heather Stuart. Kim Plyler, director of marketing and public relations for Bethlehem-based ArtsQuest, a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating arts and culture in the Lehigh Valley, was speaker. Attendees worked in small groups to brainstorm ideas around six topics: communications/collaboration, projects/programming, funding, marketing/audience development, the built environment and individual artist. Participating in the event, from left, were: Alicia Grega, Alysia Scazafabo and Nada Gilmartin, Lackawanna County Arts, Culture and Education Council; County Commissioner Michael J. Washo; Maureen McGuigan, deputy director of county arts and culture; Roya Fahmy and Bob Savakinus, Arts, Culture and Education Council. Participants also included: County Commissioner Corey D. O’Brien, Lynne Shedlock, Jessica Gilhooley, Nicole Sawicki, Joanne Benson, Cristin Powers, Justin Taylor, Charlotte Ravaioli, Stephanie Bresslar, Sid Michaels, Andrea Talarico, Ashley Fetterman, Lisa Sauder, Mark Montella, Bill Teitsworth, Renee Emmanuel, Walter Mitchell, Sally Wiener-Grotta, Sharon Burke, Tony Nicosia, Cara Sutherland, Deborah Pann, J.P. McGowan, Sara Hailstone, Jim Williams, Dr. Catherine Richmond-Cullen, Mary Garm, Richard Stanislus, Maria Wilson, Earl Lehman, Leigh Pawling, Lorraine Daniels, Bridget Fitzpatrick, Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, Paul Nardone, Annmarie Ciccarelli, Lea Doherty, Mark DeStefano, Karen Belli, Gwen Harleman, Laura Sardoni, Erin Dougherty, Elizabeth Straub, Joanne Arduino, Christopher Calvey, Wayne Evans, Mandy Welman, Diana Shahein, Terra Steele, Liz Feller, Jessica Meoni, April Holgate, Mary Lou Heffers, Mary Ann Paulukonis, Jay Paulukonis, Bernie McGurl, Katie Gilmartin, Mike Muller and Conor O’Brien.

'Adams Family' haunted house, juggler to highlight Halloween at the Waverly Comm

Kristie Grier — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:21:19 GMT

This year's Halloween at the Waverly Community House Saturday, Oct. 31 from 2 to 4 p.m. will have a Fall Harvest theme.

Jewish Film Festival brings lessons of faith and a West Coast great to Scranton

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:59:25 GMT

A few months before she became a nun in 1933, Dr. Edith Stein wrote to Pope Pius XI, begging him to speak out against Nazi persecution of the Jews in Germany.

Patron wins book at Everything Natural open house and health fair

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

During Everything Natural’s Be Your Best Open House and Health Fair, attendees entered to win two copies of Dr. Michael Murray’s book, “What the Drug Companies Won’t Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn’t Know.” The winner kept one copy, and the second was donated to the Abington Community Library for everyone to enjoy. Shown at the presentation are, from left: Giveaway winner Pat Hughes; Barry Kaplan, a partner in Everything Natural and Theresa Figlow of Abington Community Library.

Performances launch Unico Chorus

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The newly formed Unico Scranton Chorus recently performed the National Anthem at the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees baseball game.

Learning from Lockerbie

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Baptist Bible College will present “The Women of Lockerbie,” a play loosely based on the true story of a mother of a student killed in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Performances will take place Oct. 22 to 24, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Phelps Student Center.

‘Emerald Isle’ comedy coming to Cultural Center

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Irish Comedy Tour will bring the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub coupled with a boisterous, belly-laugh trio to the Scranton Cultural Center’s Shopland Hall, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $26 to $31 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000. The comedians, whose ancestors hail from the “Emerald Isle,” include Northeastern Pennsylvania native Pat Godwin, Derek Richards of Detroit and New Yorker Jim Paquette. Guitar-wielding Godwin, a Dallas High School graduate and a former King’s College student, has performed on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and “The Howard Stern Show.” Known for his send-up of U2’s Bono, Godwin also pokes fun at the plight of Irish parents like his own. His song, “Circle City,” was broadcast on 98.5 KRZ. Richards has appeared on The Bob & Tom Show, XM and Sirius, and The Weather Channel’s Top 10. Paquette, who has fine-tuned his comedy chops across the country as a dueling piano performer, opens the show with original songs that inspire audiences to clap along. The trio recently released a DVD titled “Dublin’ Over” and has performed at venues across the country, including the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For video clips and more information, visit www.theirishcomedytour.com. From left are Godwin, Richards and Paquette.