At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

What a fabulous weekend! Gala night was superb! It was simply wonderful to have Epicurean back with us. Their food is edible art, plentiful and gorgeous. (And it tastes every bit as good as it looks – a rarity!) Twigs had the most delicious fare – just superb (what would you expect?) and then our newcomer, Tom St. Claire and his partner offered, from their new catering business Simply Savory, some pulled pork that everyone has been raving about ever since (and the kielbasa was pretty darn good, too.) It’s hard to start up a new business, and Tom told me over the phone yesterday that when he and his partner first walked in and saw the magnificent cruise ship display of food he thought “Uh-oh, maybe we’re not right for this evening.” But he was wrong. It was terrific! (They’re not listed in the phone book, by the way, so Simply Savory can be reached by calling836-5782 or 965-2412.)

Now, we have conquered the dessert line and pretty much made it disappear, but not the food line. So this fall we are going to try something entirely different with the food and we are going to get rid of that line! We are determined! So, just stay tuned for fall festival and you’ll see the great changes we’re going to make!

And, by the way, thank you to all our wonderful sponsors for making the gala night possible! Remember them when it comes time to shop – they support the arts in your community. It counts!

I have seen nine films since Friday night! Nine films! (At this point I’m having trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality!) So I thought I’d give you a quick rundown on the films I saw – maybe it will help you decide what you want to see.

Diving Bell is a true French art film. The filmmaking is superb – the director puts you right in the body that has suddenly become a steel trap. To watch it requires nerves of steel! (I’m telling Jeffrey next fall that we need a little lighter for opening night.) It is beautifully done and it is an inspirational story, but it’s tough to watch. I’d give it an A for filmmaking and a B for watchability. The Savages is one of the best films ever! Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are both superb as the wounded brother and sister who now must take care of an ailing father who terrorized their childhood. Their goodness and decency shine through this film, which is both extremely realistic and very, very funny. And a great ending, too! A+ ! Caramel reminds us that people are people, that all Mideastern countries are not burka-clad and throwing bombs, that the stresses on women in a culture are pretty much universal, and that we can’t control who we love. Another A. I loved it! Rape of Europa is the best documentary I think I’ve ever seen. Do try to see this one, folks. I knew nothing about the pillage of the art world by the Nazis, and this one explains exactly what they did and how and why. You know, when young people decide that Nazism and Hitler were some kind of heroic, they should be made to watch films like this. Millions and millions of people dead, cities destroyed, incredible cruelty and carnage, all brought about by a group of psychotic thugs – vicious, no-good, miserable excuses for human beings! It will make you sick, but it is so interesting and so well done! A+++++!!!!!

I’m Not There is a great film if you are a Bob Dylan follower and know his life. I didn’t know a thing about him, so it didn’t make much sense to me, but the music is great, and later I looked up his life in Wickipedia and then it made sense. C+. In Bruges is a bloody riot – quite literally! It is as bloody as a picture gets and the humor is as black as the night, but I loved it. Funny, funny, funny! A! The Singing Revolution is a very, very interesting history of a quirky little country which sits, unfortunately for it, on the Baltic Sea. So everyone wants to crush it, and the Soviets almost did. But in the end, their sweet voices and indomitable spirits prevailed! B. Miss Pettigrew is a delight! Costumes, settings, and best of all, the magnificent Francis McDormand! B. And Lars and the Real Girl is so much fun I intend to see it again. Good, clean fun even if the plot does revolve around a blow-up sex doll! Another A+

Don’t miss these, folks. They’ll have your brain churning for a long time to come. Oh, yeah – we have Leatherheads for you this week, too.

See you at the Dietrich!

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

Joyous and pure fun, that is the only way to describe last Thursday at the Dietrich. Over four hundred children and families came out for our two puppet shows with Tom Knight. To hear the children’s peels of laughter was simply delightful. Parents and children alike loved the show. People came from all over to see Tom Knight. We had students from Camptown Elementary in the audience as well as the Scranton Moms Club. Tom had us all in the palm of his hand as he sang about the environment, libraries, recycling and more! We can’t wait to have him back next year!

We will have another musical event coming up at the end of the month. On Sunday, April 27th at 3:00 pm, join us for an afternoon of classical music with the Wargo - Stevesky Flute and Guitar Concert. They play such beautiful music. It is so great that we are able to bring in such talented musicians. Margie and I have been looking forward to this event ever since we heard them play at the La Voce’s pre-show concert before “Trial by Jury” at the Wyoming County Courthouse. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 570-996-1500.

Speaking of talent, the National Steamtown Historic Site’s photographer, Kenny Ganz, will be teaching a photography workshop at the Dietrich in May. Each week students will meet at the Dietrich and then proceed to a variety of locations to photograph. Students will gain practical shooting experience along with personalized instruction. Classes will be held on Wednesdays in May from 7:00 – 9:00 pm and on Saturday, June 7th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Admission is $75. What a great class to take before your summer vacation!

In May, artist-in-residence Amy Colley will show little ones how to make soft sculptures in her Cuddly Characters class. Students ages 3 – 5 will have the opportunity to sculpt soft materials to bring to life their own cuddly characters. I am always amazed with what Amy comes up with. You should see the student sculptures we have in our Earnshaw Gallery! Students from Amy’s Trash to Treasures class have sculpted “shoe characters” out of old shoes and recycled items. What creativity! To learn more about Cuddly Characters, call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.

For those who love old time radio, the Dietrich’s Radio Players will perform in our Peg Fassett Performance Studio on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00 pm. Directed by Valerie Paulus, this group of twelve is busily preparing for their live performance. Bob Kulow, the group’s sound engineer, is picking out the plays’ perfect sound effects, and each player is practicing bringing their part to life for their production of “the theatre of the mind”. We hope you join us for their special performance. Admission is free.

And we still have a few seats left for our Ellis Island bus trip on Wednesday, April 30th. I look forward to seeing all of the exhibits and learning more about our country’s history. Bus trip participants will also have the opportunity to see the Statue of Liberty. To make reservations for this trip, please call us at 570-996-1500.

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 each week.

Camp 1: Monday - Friday, June 23 - 27 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Camp 2: Monday - Friday, August 11 - 15 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm.

Admission: $50

Instructor: Michaela Moore, All About Theatre

All About Pottery & Sculpture, ages 5 -12

Students will learn hand building techniques including coil and slab construction, glazing techniques, and experience using the potter's wheel.

Thursdays, May 8, 15, 22, 29 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Admission: $35

Instructor: Steve Colley

All Kinds of Sculpture Camp

Create sculptures using an assortment of media including string, paper, clay & recyclables.

Monday - Friday, July 21 - 25. Ages 5 -8: 10:00 - 11:30 am. Preschoolers: 12:00 - 12:45.

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

Amy Colley

Ballroom Dancing for Beginners

Learn how to waltz and fox trot in this introductory ballroom dancing class for adults.

Saturdays, April 5 - May 3 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $30 per person

Instructor: Connie Kintner

Cuddly Characters for Mommy & Me

Little ones will use soft materials to bring to life their own chuddly characters in the company of their moms, dads, or grandparents. For ages 3 - 5.

Fridays, May 2, 9, 16, 23 from 10:30 -11:15 am.

Cost: $30

Instructor: Amy Colley

Cuddly Characters for Preschoolers

Preschoolers will use soft materials to bring to life their own cuddly characters. For ages 3 - 5.

Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 from noon - 12:45 pm.

Admission: $30

Instructor: Amy Colley

Dance! Dance! Dance!, ages 2 - 17

Learn different styles of dance with Judy Weist of Stage Door Dance Studio. No dance experience is required. Special needs students invited. Call for info.

July 7, 8, 9. Ages 2 - 4: 9:00 - 10:00 am. Ages 5 -7: 10:30 - 11:30 am. Ages 8+: noon - 1:00 pm.

Admission: Free

Instructor: Judy Weist, Stage Door Dance Studio

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. April 16, 23, 30. May 14, 21, 28. June 11, 18, 25. July 16, 23, 30. August 13, 20, 27.

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

Instructor: Eileen Balboa

Dig Art!

Create and explore seeds, leaves, bugs, and more! Investigate the world around you this July at the Dietrich. Based on the Everhart’s exhibit, Art of the Land, learn about and be inspired by the plants, animals, ground, and sky that make up our Pennsylvania terrain.

Mondays, July 7, 14, 21, 28. Ages 5 - 8: 10 - 11 am. Ages 9 - 12: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Admission: Free

Instructor: Everhart Museum Educator

Digital Arts Camp, ages 8 - 13

Explore the arts through claymation, robotics, and special effects.

Monday - Friday, July 14 - 18 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

Admission: $50

Instructor: Rand Whipple of Box of Light Theatre.

Exploring Patterns and Textures for Mommy & Me

Little artists will explore everyday patterns and textures by creating masterpieces using collage and printmaking techniques with their moms, dads, or grandparents. For ages 3 - 5.

Fridays, April 4, 11, 18, 25 from 10:30 - 11:15 am.

Admission: $30.

Instructor: Amy Colley

Exploring Patterns and Textures for Preschoolers

Little artists will explore everyday patterns and textures by creating masterpieces using collage and printmaking techniques. For ages 3 - 5.

Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17, 24 from noon - 12:45 pm.

Admission: $30.

Instructor: Amy Colley

Fantastical Inventamania Camp

Join us as we go on a Dr. Suess-like adventure where we learn all about inventions. We will create characters, stories and amazing inventions! We will learn about innovations that have changed our world and talk about what wonderful inventions we would like to invent in the future!

Monday - Friday, July 14 - 18 from 10:00 to noon

$50

Amy Colley and Michaela Moore

Far Out Fairy Tales Theatre and Arts Camp

Enter the world of fantasy and storytelling! Become a hero, a fairy, a sea monster or a mythical creature of your very own invention while we make up characters and myths! We will create sets, costumes, and tons of art projects that are all about fantasy and imagination!

Mondays - Fridays, June 23 - 27. Ages 5-12: 10:00-noon. Ages 3-5: 1:30-2:30

Ages 5-12: $50, Preschoolers: $35

Amy Colley and Michaela Moore

Golden Days of Radio Players Group

Do you remeber old time radio? Did you always wonder how all the sound effects were made...like a door opening and closing or someone walking on gravel? Or wonder how it would feel to stand in front of a microphone and read the lines of the characters you are playing? Or to act like a hero or a villiam? Or use your voice to sound very old or very young? Join us and you will learn and experince all of this and more. Oh, did I mention that we always have a lot of fun putting a show together to be played for an audience? Laughter is expected.

Tuesdays, April 1 - May 13 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: Free

Instructor: Valerie Paulus

Intergenerational Quilting - Spring

"Reflections" - Learn quilting techniques as you experiment by designing a quilt with mirrors. This bold quilt design will add a dose of kaleidoscope magic with its sense of excitement and movement.

Wednesdays through May 28 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6 per class, materials provided.

Instructors: Peggy Lane, Terry Keller, and Ingrid Rogler

Intergenerational Quilting - Summer

"Tea Gardens" - Learn quilting techniques as you create a charming tea cup quilt that will bring back memories of clinking cups and giggles of childhood friendships. Learn how to use fabrics to create different effects. For ages 13 and up.

Wednesdays, June 11 - July 30 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6 per class; materials provided.

Instructors: Ingrid Rogler, Peggy Lane, and Terry Keller

Jammin' in a Jugband, ages 13 - adult

Join Timothy Walker and David Driskell, PCA rostered artists, as you create and make music with homemade instruments such as a washboard, washtub bass, spoons, whistles, saws, and a jug, as well as the conventional guitar, banjo, clarinet and saxophone. Find out that music is fun!

July 21, 22, 23, 25 from 1:00 - 2:15 at the Dietrich. Tuesday, July 22 from 3:00 - 4:00 pm at Tunkhannock's Senior Center

Admission: Free

Timothy Walker and David Driskel, PCA rostered artists

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

Jewelry for Kids - Glass Fusing

Students will learn about glass fusing as they design and create two glass pieces which can be turned into jewelry - pendants or pins!

Tuesday, July 8th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

Admission: $25, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

Jewelry Making - Glass Fusing, ages 16 and up - filled up

This class will be a very basic introduction to the process of small piece fused glass work. Each student will create a fused glass item which will be finished, polished, and wire wrapped.

Mondays, May 5 and 12 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $60, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

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 Mixed Media, ages 5 -12

Students will learn about famous artists and create their own works using materials including clay, tempera, watercolors, collage, etc at the Mehoopany Outreach Studio (87 Main Street; Mehoopany, PA)

Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:30 pm. Session 1 - April 9, 16, 23, 30. Session 2 - May 7, 14, 21,28.

Admission $35 for each session of four classes.

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.

Move Over Mr. Spielberg: Digital Film Making

Learn how to create your own digital films using a digital camera and a computer. Using everything from clay actors to human ones, the class will edit, score, and output a short film in the course of a week. Script Writing Workshop - July 7, 8, 10 at 6:00 - 7:30 pm.Instructor: Ann Vitale. Admission: Free.Write a script for your digital film and be ready to start filming in your Move Over Mr. Spielberg project.

Monday - Friday, July 14 -18 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm.

Admission: $50.

Instructor: Rand Whipple, Box of Light Theatre

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 Session 2 - April 1, 8, 15, 22. Session 3 - April 29, May 6, 13, 20. Session 4 - June 3, 10, 17, 24. Session 5 - August 5, 12, 19, 26.

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

Instructor: Steve Colley

Photography Workshop

Improve your photogrpahy skills with an experienced instructor. Students will meet a the Dietrich each week and then proceed to a variety of locations to photograph. Gain practical shooting experience along with personalized instruction.

Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Saturday, June 7 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

$75

Instructor: Kenny Ganz, Steamtown Historic Site Photographer

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. Session 2 - March 31, April 7, 14, 21. Session 3 - April 28, May 5, 12, 19. Session 4 - June 2, 9, 16, 23. Session 5 - June 30, July 14, 21, 28. Session 6 - August 4, 11, 18, 25.

Admission: $50, materials provided.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Quilting for Kids - Spring

"Mamma Kitty" - Learn quilting techniques as you create a cat quilt. These quilted scrap cats hanve one orange ear, the other purple. For ages 6 and up

Wednesdays through May 28 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $6 per class, materials provided.

Instructors: Terry Keller, Peggy Lane and Ingrid Rogler.

Quilting for Kids - Summer

"Tea for Two" - Learn quilting techniques as you create a charming teac cup quilt. Come with a friend, be a mom and me team, or bring any family member. Work on a quilt together or make your own. We'll end the class with a tea party.

Wednesdays, June 11 - July 30 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $6 per class.

Instructors: Terry Keller, Peggy Lane, and Ingrid Rogler.

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