ArtScene with Erika Funke

Thomas Putnam, Artistic Director of Hamilton-Gibson Productionsin Wellsboro, speaking about the musical"Big Fish," which he directs. The show will run from July 9through July 12, 2026, at the Straughn Auditoriumon the campus of Commonwealth University-Mansfield.Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm;matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30.www.hamiltongibson.org/

Sherry Emershaw, President of the 24th Connecticut MilitiaRegiment, and Jenn Ochman, new member of the 24thCMR,speaking about the Battle of Wyoming Event Weekendon July 11 and 12, 2026, in Nesbitt Park in Kingston, PA.Hours on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday from10 am to 3 pm. There will be cooking demonstrationsand exhibits of 18th century clothing; military music ofthe American Revolution; two "Shades of Death" walks,and the reenactment of the Battle of Wyoming Sundayat 2pm. www.24thcmr.org/or the Battle of Wyoming Event Weekend Facebookpage.

Rick Benjamin, founder and director of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra based in Lewisburg, PA, speaking about the background of the ensemble and the PRO's invitation to accept a residency at the Spanish Expo '92 in Seville in 1992. The conversation sets thestage for an hourlong special featuring highlights from the recording, "Meet Me at theFair: Sounds From the Great American World's Fairs," to mark America250 with wonderful stories told by Benjamin.The program airs on Friday, July 3rd at Noon on WVIA Radio.For more information: www.wvia.org/

Janet Gaglione, Executive Director of the Wayne County ArtsAlliance, speaking about the WCAA's 23rd Annual Artists'Studio Tour, July 10, 11 & 12, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pmeach day. 25 artists are featured in 21 different locationsthroughout Wayne County. The tour is free, and mapsare available online or at the WCAA Gallery, 959Main Street in Honesdale, where works by eachartist are on display now through that weekend.www.waynecountyartsalliance.org/570-228-2811

Adam Randis, director; actors Ciaran Burke who plays John Adams, & David Zimmermanwho takes the role of Ben Franklin, speaking about the PA Theatre of Performing Artsproduction of the award-winning musical 1776. The show will run two weekends inHazleton and one in Lehighton.July 3 & 4 at 7 pm; 7/5 at 2 pm; July 10 at 7pm; July 11 at 5:30 (dinner) & 7pm curtain;July 12 at 12:30 (dinner) & 2:00 pm curtain, at the JJ Ferrara Center,212 W. Broad Street in Hazleton. www.ptpashows.org/July 17 & 18 at 7:00 pm at the Lehighton Area High School, 1 Indian Lane.www.thepalemoonplayers.ludus.com/

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of theNortheastern PA Philharmonic, speaking aboutthe special America250 performances scheduledinto August 2026. There will be free concerts bythe full orchestra under Melisse Brunet atCourthouse Square in downtown Scrantonon Friday, July 3rd at 7:30, culminating ina complete display of fireworks. The sameprogram with the full orchestra will bepresented on Saturday, July 4th at 7:30 pmin Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre with fireworksat the conclusion. For a complete listingof all of the performances by the orchestra,check the website at www.nepaphil.org/or call the office at 570-270-4444

David McCourt and Julie McCourt, producers of the new PBS documentary titled, "Amerigo," asking the question of everyday Americans, "What does the American Dream mean today?""Amerigo" will be broadcast on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:00 pmon WVIA TV and it will be followed at 8:30 by, "Amerigo in NEPA:A Community Town Hall," recorded by WVIA at the GeisingerCommonwealth School of Medicine. For more information:www.wvia.org/To add comments on the American Dream to the dedicatedwebsite : www.AD250.com/

Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Founding Artistic Director;Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director and LizzieNewcomb Gumula, Director of Education, speakingabout the 15th Summer Season of the ScrantonShakespeare Festival, featuring performances in twodifferent locations this year: The Shakes Space atthe Marketplace at Steamtown, and Church of theGood Shepherd. The productions include:Carousel, Saint Joan; Henry V; Jesus ChristSuperstar; Much Ado About Nothing; & Alice ByHeart. The SSF will host a special gala onSunday, July 26th at Sergei's in Scranton at6:00 pm.For information: wwwscrantonshakes.com

Neil Prisco, Director of Marketing at the F.M.KirbyCenter for the Performing Arts in downtown Wilkes-Barre, speaking with Kara Washington, Director ofPromotion at WVIA Public Media. The 2026-2027season marks the Kirby's 40th anniversary, andthey have issued a special brochure to commemoratethe occasion. Prisco offered some history of thetheater and described some of the latest additions,such as a brand-new film projector. He describedhighlights of the educational programming that willbe part of the season as well as the musicians, thedance, movies and more. For information:www.kirbycenter.org/ or stop at the box office toreceive the souvenir 40th anniversary brochure.Prisco also announced the premiere of a newdocumentary about the Kirby Center, titled,"The Diamond of Downtown," scheduled forits initial screening on September 19, 2026at 7:00 pm. 570-826-1100

Sue Minsavage, alto with the Arcadia Chorale & Chair of itsDr. Steven Thomas Memorial Fund; and Dr. Joshua Harper, Director of Choral Activities at Wilkes University, Artistic Director of theChoral Society of Northeast PA and Guest Music Director of the 2026Summer Sing, to be presented by the Arcadia Chorale thisSaturday, June 20, 2026 at 7:00 pmat Covenant Presbyterian Church, 550 Madison Avenuein Scranton. The featured work is "The Armed Man: AMass for Peace" (Choral Suite) by Karl Jenkins.For more information: www.arcadiachorale.org