ArtScene with Erika Funke

Tannis Kowalchuk, Founder & Artistic Director of the Farm Arts Collectiveat Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Damascus, PA. FAC will present the7th original production in their annual "Dream on the Farm" series:"Johnny Appleseed: An Historical Fantasia," from July 30to August 9, 2026. Shows are Thursdays to Sundays--doors openat 6:30 pm to explore The Museum of Curious History.Showtime is 7:00 pm. There will be a reception with farm-fresh foodfollowing the performance. The production is part of America 250National Endowment for the Arts programming.Farm Arts Collective, 38 Hickory Lane in Damascus in WayneCounty, PAwww.farmartscollective.org/ 570.798.9530

Marko Marcinko, co-founder and artistic director of the Scranton Jazz Festival & music director of the Scranton Jazz Festival BigBand, speaking about the 21st annual Festival taking placeAugust 7, 8 & 9, 2026, featuring at least 80 different musiciansperforming over the weekend. It's the traditional Jazz Walkthroughout downtown Scranton with venues of all kinds hostingjazz performers on Friday until 1:00 am. Saturday, August 8thwill feature The Dirty Dozen Brass Band coming from NewOrleans to play at The Theater at North, 1539 N. Main Avenuein Scranton at 7:00 pm.It's a host of jazz brunches throughout Scranton during the dayon Sunday, August 9th, building to the headlining performanceby NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter who'll join the SJF Big Bandat the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Avenueat 6:45 pm. The PA Jazz Institute Misericordia UniversityStudent Ensemble will open the show at 6:00 pm.For a complete schedule and more information:www.scrantonjazzfestival.org. Follow them onFacebook and Instagram as well.For information about the PA Jazz Institute StudentMusic Camp that begins on July 27th,www.pajazzinstitute.com/We heard from Dr. Michael Geib, Professor ofDouble Bass at the School of Music at theUniversity of Central Oklahoma and founder of theDyberry Creek Music Festival in Wayne County, PA.

Conor Kelly O'Brien, co-founder of the Scranton Fringe Festival & leading adapter of Ulysses by James Joyce, and Simone Daniels,actor, SFF youth theatre director & costume designer for theupcoming production, speaking about "Ulysses in Scranton"that will be presented on July 24 & 25, 2026 at the SanctuaryTheater, 1735 North Main Avenue in Scranton at 7:30 eachevening. Following the hometown performances, ScrantonFringe will take the show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festivalin Scotland in August. For tickets and more information:www.scrantonfringe.org/

Ronnie Harvey, General Theater Manager and Film Booker at theDietrich Theater in Tunkhannock, speaking about Summer FilmFest 2026 that opens July 17th and runs through August 6th,screening 20 different films in 21 days. There will be a postfestival film discussion on Friday, August 7th at 1:00 andadmission is free. The Theater is located at 60 E. TiogaStreet in Tunkhannock. www.dietrichtheater.com/

Jason Smeltzer, musician, a founder of The Olde Stories and the ensembleGUZHGUITREMIN, and Mark Reinhart, of the Three Pure Rivers Studio forthe Arts in Conyngham, PA, & author of Thunder Over Wind...Another DoorwayInto the Wisdom of the Yijing, speaking in anticipation of an event on Saturday,July 18, 2026, at 3:00 pm, at the Albright Memorial Library, 500 Vine Streetin Scranton titled, "Thunder Over Wind." There will be a book signing forthe third edition of Thunder Over Wind, music and readings.For information about Mark Reinhart's book and more:www.threepurerivers.com/

Kimie Muroya, ensemble member, and Jacob Challenger,guest artist, speaking about the Bloomsburg TheatreEnsemble production of Elephant and Piggie's'We Are in a Play,' a musical based on books byMo Willems, directed by ensemble member AaronWhite. The show has two preview performances:Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17, 2026 at 7:00,opening on Saturday, July 18th with shows at2:00 and 7:00 pm. The run continues throughAugust 2nd at the Alvina Krause Theatre,226 Center Street in downtown Bloomsburg.For the complete schedule and more information:www.bte.org/

Heather Sincavage, Associate Professor of Art andDirector of the Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes Universityin Wilkes-Barre, speaking about the summer exhibitionthat explores, "Remembrance, Resistance, Resilience."The show features John Gutoskey's project, "PulseNightclub: 49 Elegies," a series of monoprintsthat will be on display through August 1, 2026.There will be a "Last Look" gallery talk andbrunch with Gutoskey on July 25th at noon.There is a companion exhibit titled,"Out Loud," a community show.And a series of events of Wednesday, July 15thfeaturing Mrs. Kasha Davis, a native of Scranton.Members reception at 5 pm; Lecture (registrationis closed); performance at 7pm.For more information:www.wilkes.edu/sordoniartgallery.org/

Andrew Waggoner, violinist, composer and co-artisticdirector with Caroline Stinsonof the Weekend of Chamber Music, marking its33rd season in 2026. The theme is "My Brother'sKeeper?" And there will be works from thebaroque right up to the present day.Trevor Weston is the composer-in-residence.There will be Music Talks, Open Rehearsals,a Children's Concert and two main Saturdayevening performances.For more information: www.wcmconcerts.org/

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 4:00 pm.https://shermantheater.com/venue/gallery-at-530-main

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.dyberrycreekmusicfest.org/