At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

Oh, my! How I wish you all could have been with us at the beautiful Riverside Park to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was spectacular! And 190 folks braved the iffy weather to come sit on the lawn and watch one of the best performances of Midsummer that I’ve ever seen. This troupe of actors were screamingly funny. They added just enough modernity to make it even funnier – something I think would have tickled the Bard himself. In his day his plays were performed on makeshift stages, in barrooms and other sundry locations as well as in the Globe Theater. But there we were, surrounded by the lush green of the lawn and trees, the faint mist rising from the water, and the inimitable Bill Chapla (who was so, so good at explaining to us what we were about to see!) saying he was speaking at “Tunkhannock on the Susquehanna.” What beauty surrounded us – the best of God and Man. All the natural beauty and one of the world’s greatest plays and they melded to make it a perfect , dare I say? – midsummer night’s dream.

We have great movies for you for the holiday! We have G rated Wall E for the kids (and really, it’s Pixar, so it’s all right to come if you don’t have any of your own and you can’t rent one). This is an experimental film for Pixar in the fact that there is very little dialogue, but trust me, you know exactly what the robot is saying. And Pixar hasn’t hit a sour note yet, so it’s perfect for the kids for the holiday weekend.

And for more grown-up fare (well, that is if you still believe in Superheroes) we have Will Smith in the PG-13 Hancock about a superhero who has not been so heroic and needs to get his groove back. Smith is always worth the price of admission, so come, buy some popcorn, kick back and have a few good holiday laughs. With the price of everything going up up up, (but not at the Dietrich) couldn’t you stand a good laugh or two?

Film-wise, please remember Iraq: Land of Confusion which we are showing on July 16th at 7:00. Remember these are local men and women in this film, so take time out of your busy schedule to come see it and hear first-hand what these young people have been going through. The director will be on hand to answer questions. Please save the date.

So, even though my mother died over a decade ago, I spent a good deal of the weekend with her. My dear cousin John and his equally dear wife Harriet were coming to Jennie’s for a brief visit and I volunteered to make Mamma’s spaghetti and meatballs, because that’s what Johnny would always ask for when we were kids and he’d come to visit. It’s a time-intensive sauce – needs to cook all day. Then be refrigerated at night and heated up for serving the next day. As I was chopping the garlic and the onions, forming the meatballs with my own aging hands, I saw hers, pinching off the meat mixture, rolling between her palms and popping it into the sauce. When I stirred the pot, I heard her say –“taste it, see if it needs more salt – did you remember the bay leaf?, mmmm I think this is going to be a good one.”

And when I rolled out the sugar cookies and cut them with her clubs and diamonds and hearts cookie cutters with the little red handles (apparently the rage in the 1930’s) once again I saw her hands rolling the dough, sugaring the cookies as they sat on the tray and then I saw her standing there, watching approvingly as I popped them into the oven.

Women’s hands are amazing things – what they teach us, what they hand down. And of course, young hands are so lovely, so without line or blemish. But it’s old hands, spotty and crinkled and full of history, that I love to see. Hands that tell stories, hands that stir the pot, hands that cut the cookie dough, hands that held our small ones when we were tots, hands that pressed a cool cloth to fevered brows, hands that held our pudgy cheeks between theirs before planting a kiss. And oh, I do miss my mother’s hands. But for the weekend, she was with me, and her hands and mine were the same, and that was a good thing.

Have a grand Fourth of July. Enjoy your family.

See you at the Dietrich.

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

In July, the Dietrich will be brimming over with activity. Children will be able to explore the arts in so many ways this month. Little ones to teenagers are invited to join Judy Weist of Stage Door Dance Studio for three days of Dance! Dance! Dance! on July 7, 8 and 10. In this fun workshop, children will get a taste of several different dance styles. There will be three sessions; children ages 2 to 4 will dance from 9:00 - 10:00 am, ages 5 - 7 will dance from 10:30 - 11:30 am, and students ages 8+ will meet from noon - 1:00 pm. No experience is required and admission is free.

The following week, July 14 to 18, Rand Whipple of Box of Light Theatre will be back at the Dietrich for Digital Arts Camp and Move Over Mr. Spielberg. In Digital Arts Camp, campers ages 8 -13 work together to create claymation movies, computer special effects, and Lego robots. It is so interesting to see kids develop claymation movies. They create the set and cast of characters out of clay and construction paper and then bring their film ideas to life by moving objects in the scene just a fraction of an inch, filming the scene, and then repeating until they have created a thirty second movie.

Rand will also be teaching Move Over, Mr. Spielberg: Digital Film Making Workshop for students ages 13 and up that week. Teams of three to four students will learn how to shoot, edit and score their own films. To prepare for this camp, the Dietrich will be offering a free Script Writing Workshop taught by Ann Vitale the week before.

Then on July 21, 22, 23 and 25, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts rostered artists Timothy Walker and David Driskell of Sadie Green Sales Jugband will be at the Dietrich for Jammin in a Jugband. Students ages 6 to 12 and 13 and up will learn how to make jugband instruments such as the washtub bass and make music in a jugband with spoons, saws, whistles and more! Admission is free. Students will then be invited to perform with Sadie Green Sales on Saturday July 26th at 3:00 pm at Celebrate Our River Day in Tunkhannock’s Riverside Park. Sadie Green Sales is a musical experience that will make you laugh, sing, and dance. They carry on the tradition of Jug Band Music, and add several wondrous aspects to this type of music.

Classically trained clarinet player, David Driskell of Sadie Green Sales will also be teaching a Woodwinds Master class on Tuesday, July 21 from 2:30 - 3:30 pm. Admission is free.

In July, we will also Dig Art, go on an invention adventure in Fantastical Inventamania Theater and Visual Arts Camp, and create All Kinds of Sculptures! For more information on any of these offerings, call the Dietrich 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 the week.

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

Admission: $50

Instructor: Michaela Moore, All About Theatre

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

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, 10. 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. 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.

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

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 through 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 - Filled

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

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

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 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. 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 - 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 through 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