Artscene With Erika Funke

Canon Mark Laubach speaking in 2022 about Cesar Franck at the time of the200th anniversary of the composer's birth.Friday, January 2, 2026 is the 40thanniversary of Laubach's tenure asorganist and choirmaster at St. Stephen'sEpiscopal Church in Wilkes-Barre.There will be a special service to celebratethe occasion on Sunday, January 4th at9:30 am at St. Stephen's, 35 South FranklinStreet in downtown Wilkes-Barre.For more information:www.ststephenswb.org/

Bathsheba Monk, novelist, playwright, editor, publisher,& illustrator, speaking about her writing life and her recentgraphic novel, "Memories of the Year 2000," issued byBlue Heron Book Works, a small independent press in theLehigh Valley founded by Monk. For more information:www.bathshebamonk.com/ or www.blueheronbookworks.com/

John Cardoni; General Manager of the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple,speaking about the history of the building, its layout and the recent major restoration project that was funded by the Commonwealth of PA's Department of General Services.Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern PA has recently merged with the SCC, and the2025-2026 season of touring shows will continue in February with Kinky Boots; Chicago in March; Clue in April and The Music Man in June.For more information: www.scrantoculturalcenter.org/

Bob Eckstein, NY Times best-selling author; illustrator; cartoonist,speaking about "The Illustrated History of the Snowman"issued by Globe Pequot in 2018.For more information: www.bobeckstein.com/The interview first aired on WVIA on October 8, 2018.

Christine Gelineau, award-winning poet/author and faculty memberin the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at WilkesUniversity in Wilkes-Barre, speaking with us about her recentmemoir/poetic meditation, Almanac: A Murmuration, issued byExcelsior Editions, an imprint of the State Universityof NY Press. She also read from the opening chapter, "January."For more information: www.christinegelineau.com/

Dancers Ava Smith, Klara, & Charlotte Smith, Fritz,with photographer Jamie Smith, their father, speakingabout the 2025 production of The Nutcracker to be presentedby The Ballet Center at the Wilkes University Conservatory atthe Dorothy Dickson Darte Center on the Wilkes campus.Performances Friday, Dec. 19th at 7 pm; Saturday, Dec. 20that 7 pm, & Sunday, Dec. 21st at 2 pm.For information or to reserve tickets:570-408-4426 or email conservatory@wilkes.edu/

Joe McGurl, director/writer, and Kelly Jean Graham, actor/choreographer, speakingabout the 4th annual Panto presented by the Scranton Shakespeare Festival."Sleeping Beauty" will be offered Friday, December 19, 2025, at 6:00 pm;Saturday, December 20th at 6:00 pm; and Sunday, December 21st at 2:00 pm,at the Shakes Space at the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton.The production is family-friendly. www.scrantonshakes.com/

Chason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPA Philharmonic,speaking about the continuing success of the 2025-26 seasonand "The Snowman in Concert" program on Saturday, December 20that 7 pm at the FM Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre.Two animated short films--The Snowman & The Snowman and theSnowdog--will be shown on the big screen while the NEPA Philharmonicperforms the score under the direction of Melisse Brunet.There will be guest soloists from Marywood University and dancersfrom the Scranton Civic Ballet. www.nepaphil.org/ or 570-270-4444

Ali Basalyga, Manager of Social Media atNAC Entertainment, speaking about the 2025-2026 Broadway in Scranton season that willcontinue December 19 through the 21 with"The Book of Mormon"--shows 12/19 @ 7:30 pm;12/20 @ 2:00 & 7:30 pm; 12/21 @ 1:00 & 6:30 pm.Other shows in the series include: "Kinky Boots";"Chicago"; "Clue"; and "The Music Man". Performances are held at the Scranton CulturalCenter. Tickets are available at the SCC Box Officeand at www.NACentertainment.com/

Christopher Gallo, Musical Director of the Lyric Consort, speaking about the ensemble's2025 holiday concert, "A Lyric Consort Christmas," to be presented Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 pm, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. A free will donation will be accepted. For more information:www.lyricconsort.org/

Dr. Alan Hack, Founder, Music Director & Conductor of the Jubilate Choir & Orchestra,and Dr. David Hamilton, President of the Board, speaking about the 20th Anniversary Christmas Concert, "Christmas Through the Years," on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 pm, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 Market Street in Bloomsburg. Admission is free, and for more information: www.stmatthewbloomsburg.org/ or 570-784-4515.

.Jason Alfano, director; Dane Bower, actor, speaking about the 2025 Gaslight Theatre Holiday production of "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) that will runfrom December 11th through December 14th at the Maffei Theatre at King's College in Wilkes-Barre. Shows the 11th, 12th & 13th at 7:30 pm; with at Sunday matinee. For more information: www.gaslight-theatre.org/

Amy Casimir, Founder & Artistic Director of StrictlyBallet, and Trey Casimir, Producer, speaking about"A Lewisburg Victorian Nutcracker" in its 8th seasonas a co-production of Strictly Ballet and RiverstageCommunity Theatre. There will be performanceson Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 2:00 & 7:00 pm,at the Greenspace Center, 815 Market Street in Lewisburg.For more information and tickets, www.riverstagetheatre.org/

Claire Joelle, Director, speaking about the 2025 holiday production of "A Christmas Carol"adapted by Romulus Linney, to be presented by the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre fromDecember 12th through 21st. Showtimes Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 pm,Sundays at 3:00 pm. The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is located at 537 N. Main Street.www.ltwb.org/ 570-823-1875

Maureen McGuigan, Director of Arts & Culture forLackawanna County, and Chris McClatchy, Scranton Recycling &Safety Coordinator, speaking about the Repurposed FashionShow on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Everhart Museum inScranton, from 6 to 9 pm. The event is a benefit for Swap Scranton& Friends of the Poor & Catherine McAuley Center. Artist LizTilley will take part in the fashion show, and she described heroriginal creation, "Earth Angel." There will also be a visualarts exhibition featuring works created from cardboard andother recycled materials by local artists. That exhibit willrun through the end of December in the Main Gallery atthe Everhart, 1901 Mulberry Street at Nay Aug Park inScranton. www.everhart-musuem.org/

Jack Swersie, co-founder & committee member of theGallery at 530 Mainspeaking about the historyof the initiative on the occasion of the FirstAnniversary Exhibition taking place fromDecember 13, 2025 to February 14, 2026.There will be an opening reception on Friday,December 13th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.Facebook.com/Gallery-at-530-Mainwww.shermantheater.com/

Maureen McGuigan, Director of Arts and Culture for LackawannaCounty, speaking about the 2025 Winter Market taking place onCourthouse Square in downtown Scranton on December 5th, 6thand 7th. There will be over 50 venders, music throughout theevent, theater presented by Scranton Fringe, and many activitiesfor children. There is no admission fee.On Thursday, December 11th, the Arts & Culture Department willhost its 17th annual Wake Up With the Arts Breakfast at the ScrantonCultural Center. Breakfast/networking begins at 8:30 and the program will start at 9:00. The theme is "The Place We Call Home".Admission is free and to register: arts-lackawannacounty.org or570.496.1724

William Chickillo, award-winning artist from NEPA, speaking about hiswork in connection with the exhibition titled, "Watershed,"running now through December 19, 2025, at the Circle Center for the Arts,30 Rear South Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.www.wyomingvalleyartleague.org/ www.skylakegallery.com/.

Tim Keller, Music Director of the Grammy Award-winning vocalensemble Chanticleer, speaking about the group's new holidayalbum, "Joy to the World," on the Delos label, in anticipationof a concert on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 7:30 pm,at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg in Haas Centerfor the Arts, Mitrani Hall. The ensemble will performselections from its new holiday recording.www.commonwealthu.edu/arts-in-bloomwww.chanticleer.org/Dr. Steven Sametz was heard in an excerpt from anArtScene interview in October 2023.

Matthew Rupcich, Music Director & Conductor of the Arcadia Chorale, speaking aboutthe 2025 Holiday Concerts: "The Coming of the King: Sacred Songs for Hanukkah, Advent & Christmas." There will be performances December 6th at 3pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre; December 7th at 3 pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Scranton; and on December 12th at Hawley Winterfest at 8 pm at the Hawley United Methodist Church.Also the Annual Messiah Sing-Along will take place on December 21st at 3 pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton www.arcadiachorale.org/