At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

Oooooh. Do we have a goodie at the movies for you! This is the perfect kick-off to the holidays (yes, I know it seems early for that sort of thing, but at the movies we are always a few weeks ahead of ourselves) and one terrific family film. Of course, you know I’m talking about Madagascar 2! Those crazy critters find themselves in Africa and the laughs really are a mile a minute. This is a great movie to bring the kids to just to sort of lay back and not only enjoy it yourself, but enjoy hearing the laughter of the children as the silliness of the movie causes wee one giggles in surround sound.. Do bring your young-uns and just have fun. Won’t it be good to take some time off from the heaviness of the world and just have a good laugh with your kids?

One more week of High School Musical, so if you haven’t seen it yet, or if you’ve seen it but would like to see it one more time, you have a few days left to catch it.

Chairs, chairs, chairs! Just a reminder that we have 300 chairs that will be plaqued (is that even a word????) This is a grand opportunity to put your name or the name of your family or any loved one on a plaque on the back of a chair. Most naming opportunities require more money than you or I could ever do. But the chairs are only $350.00 (and you can make payments on them if you need to) and for that the plaque goes on the chair for as long as the Dietrich stands. (And that just better be forever, by gosh.) Give Erica a call at 996-1509, leave your name and number and Nancy Aiello will be in touch to make all the arrangements for you.

And keep in mind that a seat plaque makes a really terrific Christmas present. What lovelier thing could you give someone than a permanent memoriam in a theater everyone loves to come to? Jennie and I got one for our Mom and Dad when we opened the theater, even though our parents were gone long before the Dietrich reopened. It just seemed nice to have their names included in the theater where we spend so much time. And I think we might even buy another one in their names for one of the new theaters, just because. Just because is good enough when you miss folks and would like to see them again but you know that’s not going to happen so seeing their names is a comfort of sorts and makes one feel good. Or something. Well, you know what I mean. Sigh.

So, I thought I’d lost a cat this week. Big black and white we dubbed Sylvester because he looks just like the cat from the old Tom and Jerry cartoons. He actually didn’t start out as our cat. He belonged to our neighbor, but then one day about two years ago he came to our house, and thinking he was a stray, I gave him a dish of food. He never left. (Although the neighbor had fed him very well indeedy, so that isn’t the reason he came. He came because they had gotten a dog he didn’t appreciate, so, in true independent kitty fashion, he changed his address.)

I told him if he stayed with us I was going to get him neutered. He stayed. He got neutered. (As his former owner said, it’s not as if we didn’t warn him!) Now he lives on the front porch, sleeps on the wicker chair and hunts occasionally, if he feels like a snack. On cold nights he comes inside, otherwise he prefers the openness of the porch. The past two days he got himself locked in the barn. I called and called, fearful that he was lost to us. My husband came outside and heard him cry, walked up to the barn and let him out. Sylvester talked and swished his tail all the way back to the house, telling us his troubles, telling us he was soooo mad, as if it was our fault he’d gotten himself locked in.

When we were voting this morning we told Tina Carlin how Sylvester got locked in her barn. She said he is a very curious cat. When I get home I’m going to tell him about what curiosity can do to cats. I want him around for a long, long time -- -he’s so funny and independent and beautiful. I spoil him a lot. After all, if I don’t, he might go to the next farm over. You never can tell with such an independent critter.

See you at the Dietrich.

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

Beautiful music filled the Dietrich’s Murray Theater for our Sweeny - Steveskey Classical Guitar Duo concert last Sunday. They played some of my favorite pieces including Manuel de Fall’s “The Miller’s Dance”. What made their concert so unique is that the teacher, Paul Sweeny, performed with his former student, Jay Steveskey. What a pair! We hope to have them back next year.

Speaking of performances, the Dietrich Theater’s Radio Players will be back to perform on Wednesday, November 11th at 7:00 pm. This group of thirteen radio actors will present two favorite radio dramas of the ‘30s and ‘40s including The Shadow: The Silent Avenger, which originally aired on March 13, 1938, and First Nighter: The Chinese Gong, which aired on March 29, 1944. It will be a great evening of radio. I can’t wait to see what sound effects the group has come up with for this production. Admission is free.

For those of you who love to act, the Dietrich will be holding auditions for Thorton Wilder’s Our Town this Saturday, November 8th starting at 12:30 pm. Auditions are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling (570)-996-1500. Those who plan on auditioning are asked to be familiar with the script. Sides are available online at www.electrictheatre.org (Click on Now Playing, Auditions). You may also be asked to sing “Amazing Grace” a cappella. Up to twenty-five non-union, community actors will be cast. All interested actors are encouraged to audition. For more information about auditions, please visit www.dietrichtheater.com and click on Cultural Events.

For kids of all ages, Amy and Steve Colley will be teaching All About Pottery and Sculpture this month. Students will create hand thrown bowls on potter’s wheels, and design other objects out of clay including whistles and birdhouses. Students ages 5 -8 will meet Friday afternoons from 4:00 - 5:30 pm, and students ages 9 - 12 will have class on Thursday afternoons at the same time. For little ones ages 3 to 5, there are two class series - preschoolers will meet on Thursdays from noon -12:45 pm, and children and their moms, dads, or grandparents will have a Mommy and Me class on Friday from 10:30 - 11:15 am. Call the theater at (570)-996-1500 for more information.

We will be having a big event for children and families on Saturday, November 15th at 11:00 am. Tunkhannock resident and singer/songwriter/guitarist Karl Williams will be at the theater for a morning of children’s songs from his two acclaimed CD’s including Big Fish Little Fish and Uncle Robot: Songs for Young Families. Admission is free. It will be a great time of singing and dancing.

And this weekend, the Dietrich will have An Afternoon of Argentine Tango on Sunday, November 9th starting at 12:30 pm. See the film Tango that is subtitled and beautifully filmed in Buenos Aires, home of the Argentine tango. Then try the dance at Father Nallin Hall. Wear or bring shoes with leader bottoms. Catherine Julius, an Argentine tango instructor, will guide you through basic tango postures, embrace and walking steps. No experience is required. Tickets are $10 per person, which includes the movie and dancing. This event has been sponsored by NEPA Tango Connection. Milonga will follow the lesson from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. Call the theater for more information.

More than the Movies at the Dietrich Theater

All About Pottery for Mommy & Me

Create your own hand thrown bowls on a potter's wheel, design your own whistles and birdhouses in this pottery class for all levels of experience.

Fridays, November 14, 21, Dec. 5, 12 at 10:30 - 11:15 am.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Amy Colley

All About Pottery for Preschoolers

Create your own hand thrown bowls on a potter's wheel, design your own whistles and birdhouses in this pottery class for all levels of experience.

Thursdays, November 13, 20, Dec. 4, 11 from noon - 12:45 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Amy Colley

All About Pottery, ages 5 - 8

Create your own hand thrown bowls on a potter's wheel, design your own whistles and birdhouses in this pottery class for all levels of experience.

Fridays, November 14, 21, Dec. 5, 12 at 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Amy Colley

All About Pottery, ages 9 - 12

Create your own hand thrown bowls on a potter's wheel, design your own whistles and birdhouses in this pottery class for all levels of experience.

Thursdays, November 6, 13, 20, Dec. 4 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Steve Colley

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. November 12, 19, 26. Dec. 3, 10, 17.

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

Instructor: Eileen Balboa

Holiday Camp, for ages 5 - 12

Young artists will become familiar with pottery, drawing and painting as well as famous artists in this camp.

Monday - Wednesday, December 29, 30, and 31 from 9:30 -11:00 am

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Amy Colley

Intergenerational Quilting, ages 13 to adult

"Medallion Quilt" - Develop quilting skills with our easy board sampler class. Learn how to make border variations with simple basic templates while designing a Medallion Style Quilt.

Wednesdays through December 10 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6 per class, materials provided.

Instructors: Ingrid Rogler, Peggy Lane, and Terry Keller

Jewelery Making: Introduction to Metal Working

Students will learn the first steps necessary for anyone who wants to do their own metal work in jewelry fabrication. Students will learn to use a jewelers saw, cut, form and polish. Everyone will leave with a finished pendant.

Thursday, November 6 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $50, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

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!

Friday, November 7th from 4:00 - 6;00 pm.

Admission: $25, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

Mehoopany All Abot Pottery, ages 5 -12

Create your own hand thrown bowls on a potter's wheel, design your own whistles and birdhouses in this pottery class for all levels of experience. At the Mehoopany Outreach Studio located at 87 Main Street; Mehoopany, PA. Call 570-996-1500 to sign up.

Wednesdays, November 5, 12, 19, Dec. 3 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Open Studio for Painting, Drawing & Pottery - Nights

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 November 4, 11, 18, 25.

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

Instructor: Steve Colley

Open Studio for Painting, Drawing, & Pottery - Days

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.

Mondays from 9:30 am - 11:00 am. November 3, 10, 17, 24.

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

Instructor: Steve Colley

Painting Glass Ornaments

Learn the process of glass painting - paint glass ornaments.

Wednesday, November 19 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $15.

Instructor: Sarah Sidorek

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. November 3, 10, 17, 24.

Admission: $50, materials provided.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Quilting for Kids, ages 6 and up

"Kaleidoscope Magic" - Learn quilting techniques as you create a quilt with mirrors. Spin and twirl your quilt blocks to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece full of color and movement.

Wednesdays through December 10 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $6 per class

Instructors: Peggy Lane, Terry Keller and Ingrid Rogler

Writers' Group

Come and read your work or listen and be inspired. Learn the craft of writing as you write towards a goal of publication. 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 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