At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

Ooooooh Yeah! I saw Mamma Mia Friday night and it is spectacular! I mean it. This is the most fun movie I’ve seen in years. My sister and I went to see it and my brother-in-law tagged along and at the end he said he was just coming with us to “be nice” but he had a great time! The singing, the dancing, the Greek Isle – Lordy! It just doesn’t get better. No doubt it’s not War and Peace, and it’s not some intricate, complicated thought-provoking uber-film, but it is plain fun and it keeps your toes a-tappin’. I have to say that I was never a real big Abba fan, but I am now! I could hear Dancing Queen about every other minute and be just fine with it. And there is the sweetest scene that takes place the night before the daughter’s wedding, when Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfreid (who plays the daughter) curl up together on a chair and Streep recalls the little girl she so loved and if your eyes don’t get a little moist during that scene, well…then you didn’t raise a daughter.

Come see it. Bring your sister or daughter or girlfriends. Come see it again. (I intend to.) And again. It’s that much fun! And isn’t it nice to be seeing a movie that leaves you feeling like dancing in the streets for a change? Isn’t there enough tension and stress in the world right now? Come to the Dietrich, sit in the cool air-conditioning and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

So, obviously this is ladies week. Finally, finally we have Sex and the City! (What a perfect double feature for you “chickies” out there. A little Sex and the City and then Mamma Mia? My, oh my. Just the sorts of movies I simply adore. I am soooo looking forward to seeing those wonderful gals from the City – I never missed it on HBO, so I’m looking forward to seeing them all again. But if you’ve never seen the series that’s okay, too. The movie stands alone, so you don’t even have to know the names of the stars, you’ll enjoy it just as much!

And then, just in case you think it’s all about the “girls” this week, we have to say…well…yeah. Maybe it is. And for the little girls, we are bringing in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. G rated, from the popular American Girl series, Kitt is about a young girl who wants to be a reporter during the Great Depression. It’s a sensitive, accurate snapshot of life in those bleak times and the portrayal of Kitt by Little Miss Sunshine’s Abigail Breslin is simply excellent. So, ladies, bring your little girls (and little boys who might be interested in what life was like during that segment of American history) and come to enjoy. The fact that the heroine is young doesn’t mean we all can’t enjoy this movie. I look forward to seeing it myself.

Okay – now don’t forget River Day on Saturday. Great food, great music, our beautiful river and the park. Such a perfect family day. And we got a lovely surprise the other day when BPAmerica/BP Alternative Energy agreed to be the major sponsor for the event. (Waste Management is our other sponsor.) We are very grateful to both sponsors since sometimes it’s a real stretch for us to underwrite these free events. So, we all know about Waste Management, but let me tell you a little about BP Alternative Energy. This company is about BP’s interest in low and zero-carbon power generation – in other words, wind, solar, hydrogen etc. It is one of the country’s leading wind developers in the U.S. and it has now come to Wyoming County. Coool.

One final thing for the writers out there. We are going to do a series of three writer’s workshops in the next three months starting with Jennie Pitkus talking (and teaching) about how to get published in Woman’s World or similar mags. She has published four stories in WW in the past year and will help those who wish to try perfect their style. She’ll also talk about improving one’s writing in general. I’ll tell you more about it next week. That workshop will be in the Fassett Studio August 9. If you’re a writer, save the date! Call 996-1509 to reserve your space. $10.00 for Pennwriter’s, $15.00 for non-Pennwriter’s. Join us. It will be such fun!

See you at the Dietrich.

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

Pure fun was had by all in the camps we offered at the Dietrich last week. Students in our Fantastical Inventamania Theatre and Visual Arts Camp made the most creative costumes and props out of all kinds of materials. In this camp, which was all about inventions, they attached CDs and floppy disks to the costumes and made all kind of cool props and mini robots that their characters used in the play “Computer Kingdom”. I loved some of the imaginary inventions they came up with such as the “shrinking machine”, “fire and flying costumes”, and hypnotizing machine.”

In our Digital Arts Camp that week, Rand Whipple taught students how to use technology and art as they learned how to do claymation, make special effects and create Lego robots. It was fun to watch these students’ ideas come to life and each student had a different favorite part of the class. One young girl enjoyed creating songs for her claymation movie and doing claymation because she never did it before. An older boy, who has come to Digital Arts Camp for the past four years, enjoyed making all different kinds of robots and working with the computers and building things. Another little boy laughed as he told me he liked making clay monkeys the best. Another child enjoyed creating storylines for his films. All of their work was so unique.

Looking to this weekend, the Dietrich Theater in conjunction with Tunkhannock’s Riverside Park Commission will host an outdoor event for the entire family at Celebrate Our River Day. On Saturday, July 26th from 3:00 - 8:00 pm at Tunkhannock’s Riverside Park, please join us as we celebrate one of our greatest resources, the Susquehanna River. Included in the day’s festivities will be displays by environmental organizations, boat demos, a river float, and kayak sprint races by Endless Mountain Outfitters (Call 746-9140 for more information), nature walks, and live music! The music line up for River Day this year includes Sadie Green Sales Jugband, FiddleKicks, percussive dance and music with clog dancing; Lorne Clarke, folk artist; and the bluegrass group Hickory Project. Hillside Farms ice cream and food will be available. Admission is free. Celebrate our River Day has been sponsored by BP Alternative Energy.

Next week, the Dietrich Theater will start its new Yoga for Kids series with certified yoga ed. Instructor Melissa Russo. Our Yoga for You classes for adults are so popular at the theater that we thought we would offer classes for children ages eight and up. Students will learn fun yoga poses and relaxation and breathing techniques. Classes will be held on Wednesdays, July 30, August 6, 13, and 20 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Admission is $35. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 to register.

More than the Movies at the Dietrich Theater

Acting Camp for Kids, ages 6 -11

Use your imagination and learn all about acting through theater games, improvisation, storytelling, play making, character creation and more! Students will create their own characters and stories while learning how to act and how much fun theater is. A casual performance will end the week.

Monday - Friday, August 11 - 15 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm.

Admission: $50

Instructor: Michaela Moore, All About Theatre

Decorative Painting, ages 16 and up

Learn decorative painting techniques while creating decorative pieces for your home or to give as gifts. Preregistration required. Call 570-996-1500 to sign up.

Wednesdays from noon - 3:00 pm. July 30. August 13, 20, 27.

Admission: $20/class plus the cost of painting surfaces

Instructor: Eileen Balboa

Finding Yourself in Short Romantic Fiction

Jennie Pitkus, who has been published four times in WOMAN'S WORLD, will lead an interactive workshop which will explore the structure of short, romantic fiction; development of character, plot and setting within 800 words; and ways to make writing precise and interesting.Participants are encouraged to bring a story to be critiqued. Presented by the Wyoming County Cultural Center/Dietrich Theater in conjunction with Penn Writers.

Saturday, August 9th from 9:00 am - noon.

General Admission: $15; Penn Writers Member Admission: $10. Call 570-996-1500 to register. Space is limited.

Instructor: Jennie Pitkus

Jammin' in a Jugband, ages 6 - 12

Join our jugband as you create and make music with homemade instruments such as a washboard, washtub bass, spoons, whistles, saws and jug, as well as the conventional guitar, banjo, clarinet, and saxophone. Find out that music is fun!

July 21, 22, 23, 25 from 10:00 - 11:15 am.

Admission: Free

Instructors: David Driskell and Timothy Walker

Knit a Hat, ages 10 through adult

Learn how to knit a hat using round knitting needles. Choose from three hat styles. All materials are included.

Tuesdays, July 29 & August 12 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $20.

Instructor: Sarah Sidorek

Mehoopany All Kinds of Sculpture Camp

Create all kinds of sculpture using an assortment of media including string, paper, clay, and recyclables at the Mehoopany Outreach Stuido. Call the Dietrich Theater at 570-996-1500 to sign up.

Monday - Friday, August 11 - 15 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Mount Olympic Theater & Visual Arts Camp

Learn all about the Olympics, its orgins in ancient Greece and Beiing China in this unique camp that arrives just in time for the summer Olympics. Become an Olympic hero or super talented gymnast while creating a fabulous play! Plus make medals, trophies, laurel wreaths, togas, torches, and flags to celebrate this wonderful tradition and our fantastic country! Tons of fun and lots of learning! For ages 5 -12

Monday - Friday, August 11 - 15. Ages 5 -12: 10 am - noon. Preschoolers: 1:30 - 2:30 pm.

Admission: Ages 5 - 12: $50. Preschoolers: $35.

Instructors: Amy Colley & Michaela Moore.

Open Studio for Painting, Drawing & Pottery

Students of all ages and levels of experience will have the opportunity to work at their own pace and with the medium of their choice.

Tuesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 pm August 5, 12, 19, 26.

Admission: $15 per class or $50 for four classes.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Pottery & Sculpture, ages 13 to adult

This class is designed for students of all levels of experience. Students will work on pottery wheels and learn hand-building and sculpture techniques.

Mondays from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. August 4, 11, 18, 25.

Admission: $50, materials provided.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Woodwinds Master Class

David Driskell, a classically trained clarinet player, will conduct a woodwinds master class for all ages. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 to register.

Monday, July 21 from 2:30 - 3:30 pm.

Admission: Free

Instructor: David Driskell

Writers' Group

Come and read your work or listen and be inspired. Learn the craft of writing as you write. All genres and levels of writing are welcome.

Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Meetings are ongoing.

Admission is free.

group format - no instructor

Yoga for Kids, ages 8 and up

Explore yoga postures, relaxation, and breathing techniques with Melissa Russo, certified yoga Ed. instructor, that will help calm the body, strengthen muscles, and stretch your mind. Bring a yoga mat or beach towel.

Wednesdays, July 30, August 6, 13, 20 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Melissa Russo

Yoga for You

This class will teach and reinforce the basic yoga poses (asanas)which gently stretch and strengthen the body. Attention will be given to breathing and alignment in postures. Call 570-996-1500 to confirm dates. Please bring yoga mat or beach towel.

Wednesdays, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Call 570-996-1500 for class dates.

Cost: $10 per lesson. Children are free.

Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor: Melissa Russo