ArtScene with Erika Funke

Margo Azzarelli and Marnie Azzarelli speaking about their originaladaptation for the stage of "The Fall of the House of Usher," byEdgar Allen Poe. The production is dedicated to DomenickAzzarelli, who passed away in August of 2025.The show runs from April 30 through May 10, 2026 atProvidence Playhouse, Providence Road in Scranton,presented by Actors Circle.There are shows Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 pm, withSunday matinees at 3:00.There will be a special talkback after the May 8thperformance and on Mother's Day there willbe a discount for mothers who attend.www.actorscirclescranton.com/

Jeannine Luby, stand-up comedian, wellness advocate focusing on thetherapeutic power of laughter, & founder of Laugh to Live, speaking aboutcomedy in NEPA in anticipation of "Punchlines & Pretzels," theshow she is presenting on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm,at the Downtown Deli, 300 Biden Street in Scranton. Shewill be marking World Laughter Day on Sunday, May 3rd, byleading sessions of Laughter Yoga on her Facebook pageat 9:30 & 11:30 am. And she will be in Kingston at the community gardendeveloped by the Green Neighbors Network on Frederick Street at2:00 pm. She will lead a session of Laughter Yoga and thereis no charge. For more information,Facebook.com/jeannine.luby

Ryan Keberle, jazz trombonist, composer and educator,speaking about his instrument and his ensembleCatharsis. The trio will return to the Cooperage Project,1030 Main Street in Honesdale, PA, on Saturday,May 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm.The trio includes Camila Meza, guitarist & vocalist,and Jorge Roeder, bass.For more information: www.thecooperageproject.org/ryankeberle.com/

Composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg; Dr. Rick Hoffenberg,Director of the Marywood University Concert Choir; andChason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPAPhilharmonic, speaking about a concert titled, "Planets,Moons and Star Wars" to be presented on Friday, May 1.2026 at the Scranton Cultural Center at 7:00 pm.The program will feature the world premiere of theMoons Choral Suite by Amanda Lee Falkenberg withthe Marywood Concert Choir; also The Planets byGustav Holst with the Choral Society of NEPA underDr. Joshua Harper; and music by John Williams fromthe Star Wars films. There will be special multimediaprojections to enhance the performance & a visit fromNASA astronaut Nicole Stott. www.nepaphil.org/Thursday, April 30th at 5:30, there will be a paneldiscussion in conjunction with the concert and theEverhart Museum exhibition, "Hubble Space Telescope: NewViews of the Universe." The Everhart is located atNay Aug Park in Scranton. www.everhart-museum.org/On Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 am, at the LackawannaCounty Children's Library, the Philharmonic will present a freeevent as part of their Once Upon an Orchestra series,featuring NASA astronaut Nicole Stott narratingBrian Greene's children's book, "Icarus at the Edgeof Time," accompanied by Philharmonic musiciansperforming music by Philip Glass.www.nepaphil.org/

William Payn, composer & music director and conductor of theSusquehanna Valley Chorale, speaking about his 30-year tenurewith ensemble, as he prepares to conduct his final performancein that role. The Pops Concert, "The Best of 30 Years (Part 2!)"will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:30 pm at SusquehannaUniversity's Weber Auditorium in Selinsgrove. The SVC will be joinedby the SVC Stage Band and soloists for favorites including ABBA Forever,It's A Grand Night for Singing and more.For tickets and information: www.svcmusic.org/

Seth Golden, director, and Marcie Riebe, publicity coordinator,speaking about "Extremities" by William Mastrosimone in aproduction presented by Diva Theater, Friday & Saturday,May 1 & 2 at 7:30 pm; and Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 2:00 pm.The performances will take place at the Olde Brick Theatre,126 W. Market Street in Scranton. For reservations: 570-209-7766.You can find more on Facebook: facebook.com/DivaTheaterScrantonThe interview was first broadcast in October 2024

Dr. Lalaine Little, Gallery Director, and Curlee Raven Holton, noted painter, master printmaker & founder of Raven Fine ArtEditions in Easton, PA, speaking about his work in connectionwith the current exhibition, "We Have Something to Say: Works byCurlee Raven Holton & Fellow Artists" at the Pauly Friedman ArtGallery at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. The show will rununtil June 19, 2026, and there will be a Gallery Talk & Receptionon Friday, April 24th from 12pm to 1:30pm with the artist on hand.Admission is free. www.misericordia.edu/ www.ravenfinearteditions.com/The Pauly Friedman Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of Insalaco Hall,301 Lake Street in Dallas.

Artist Charley Rude of Lackawanna County speaking about herwork in connection with an exhibition titled, "Streets of NEPA"that will open with a reception on Friday, April 24, 2026 andrun through June 12th at the Circle Centre for the Arts,130 Rear South Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.The reception will be held from 5pm to 8pm, and the publicis invited to attend. www.wyomingvalleyartleague.org/Charley Rude will open a new gallery--Strange Birds-- onCapouse Avenue in Scranton on May 8th with a showtitled, "Strange Birds Take Flight." For more informationcheck Strange Birds NEPA on Instagram & Facebook.

Melisse Brunet, Music Director & Conductor of the NEPA Philharmonic, and Chason Goldschmitz, the Orchestra's Executive Director, speakingabout a concert titled, "Planets, Moons & Star Wars" to be held at the ScrantonCultural Center on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 7:00 pm. The program will featureThe Planets by Gustav Holst; music by John Williams for the Star Wars films,and the premiere of the Moons Choral Suite by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, whowill be on hand. The Choral Society of NEPA will be conducted by JoshuaHarper, & the Marywood University Concert Choir will be under the directionRick Hoffenberg. Also featured will be NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott.Specially designed projections will accompany the music.On Thursday, April 30th, there will be a panel discussion at the EverhartMuseum in Scranton at 5:30 with all of the special guests who will bediscussing the concert program & the Everhart Museum's currentexhibit, "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe."On Saturday, May 2nd, at 10 am, the Lackawanna County Children'sLibrary will host NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott as she reads a children'sbook by astrophysicist Brian Greene, accompanied by a trio of NEPAPhilharmonic musicians performing music by Philip Glass.For ages 2 - 6 and above. Admission is free.For more information: www.nepaphil.org/

Dr. Brandon M. Terry, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Social Sciences & Co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration & Public Safety at theHutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. Dr. Terry is the Sondra & Morey Myers 2026 DistinguishedFellow in the Humanities & Civic Engagement at the University of Scranton, and he will deliver a lecture titled, "Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope" on Thursday, April 23rdat 5:30 in Brennan Hall. The public is invited to attend, and a reception will follow.Dr. Terry's critically-acclaimed study recently issued by Harvard University Press is titled,Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope: A Tragic Vision of the Civil Rights Movement.For information: www.scranton.edu/ and https://aaas.fas.harvard.edu/people/brandon-terry