ArtScene with Erika Funke

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 of the Lewisburg fireworks display.Sunday matinees will be held at 2:30 pm.The production is made possible, in part, by a grant fromthe Amer250PAFoundation. For more information:www.riverstagetheatre.org/

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.ltwb.org/

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 Streetin Stroudsburg.There will be a special Juneteenth Opening NightExperience from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pmwith a featured art showcase in collaboration withCreate & Be Studio; complimentary wine & lightrefreshments and entertainment as part of thecommunity gathering.For more information: facebook.com/rebelstagesand www.schoolofvisualandperformingarts.org

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 School, 1401 Fellows Streetin Scranton. Performance times are Fridays & Saturdaysat 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00. There is also a performanceon Thursday, June 25th at 7:30 pm.For information: 570-209-7766 facebook.com/DivaTheaterScrantonwww.actorscirclescranton.com/

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/To view the national documentary film, "Amerigo," that features Carbondale,WVIA TV will broadcast this exploration of the American Dream in our timeon Thursday, June 25th at 7:00. At 8:30 there will be an airing of the regional town hall meeting featuring Mayor Bannon and others fromthe documentary. For more information: www.wvia.org/

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.unl.edu

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.unl.edu

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 Living" by AaronCopland and more. Admission is free. For information:www.bloomsburgsingers.org/

Ali Basalyga of NAC Entertainment speaking about thefinal show in the Broadway in Scranton 2025-2026season: Meredith Willson's "The Music Man."There will be shows June 12, 13 & 14th at the ScrantonCultural Center, 420 North Washington Avenue.Performances Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 2:00and 7:30 pm; and Sunday at 1:00.For more information: www.broadwayinscranton.com/Tickets are available online or at the Scranton CulturalCenter Box Office.

Award-winning guitarist Bill Frisell speaking with WVIA's George Graham about his life in musicin anticipation of his visit to NEPA to headlinethe 2026 Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz with aperformance by the Bill Frisell Trio on Saturday,June 6th at 6:30 pm at the FM Kirby Center onPublic Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre.The festival runs from June 5th through 7thwith an opening ceremony on Fridayat 5:00 with a performance by the IndigoMoon Brass Band and a tribute to GeorgeGraham as "Champion of Jazz."A Jazz Walk follows with many venueshosting music. Saturday opens withJava & Jazz at the Abide Coffee House,with much music to follow, leading up to theBill Frisell Trio at 6:30. On Sunday, therewill be a Jazz Brunch at the Stegmaier Mansion.All the musical performances are free exceptfor the Frisell concert.www.wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org/