At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

Oh…my…gosh!!!!!! Can you believe it????? In the morning there was an empty lot and by dusk half the building was up! The panels are cement and Styrofoam so they are as solid as rock, fireproof and incredibly insulated. They’re made in a factory in Selinsgrove and then shipped out when completed. It was so fascinating watching them be trucked in and then the set-up with the crane and then the crane lifting them up in the air as if they were matchsticks and then suddenly there were the walls! Good grief! It was so exciting I could barely sleep last night. The culmination of so many years of work and it happened so fast. And did you see how much green space there will be around the building? It’s so cool! (Can you tell how excited we are here about this?)

Okay. Bless your hearts - - the folks who called and begged for Twilight. You said you’d come to the Dietrich to see it and you did! In droves! We had one of the best weekends we’ve had in months! Bless you and the vampire boy – he will have a place in our hearts forever. I have to tell you this because I think it’s so endearing. Friday night the theater was filled, pretty much, with tweenie girls. I stayed and watched the first about fifteen minutes of the film and it was actually extremely well done. The young heroine, Bella, is completely believable as a nice kid who has gone to live with her father and has to break into a whole new school with all new people. She’s sweet but not cloying, smart without being a smarty, pretty but not drop-dead gorgeous. In other words, she’s a nice kid and you can identify with her.

The young man, on the other hand, is downright breathtaking. He is gorgeous, great bones, that sultry James Dean look (from my kidhood, ladies) and that messy hair that teens seem to love and older women would like to take a comb and brush to. But here’s the endearing part – in the first ten minutes or so he doesn’t make an appearance, and then, with a fair amount of fanfare, he does. And when he first comes on the screen, the girls gasped and squealed – sort of like we used to do for Elvis, only more polite. It was very, very dear and made me smile – the need to idolize a movie star never really changes – just the fashion of the stars move on. From James Dean to Paul Newman to Brad Pitt to Robert Pattinson. The names change, the squeals remain the same.

For Thanksgiving we have what looks to be a very funny comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. It’s a funny thought – a young couple who for years have managed to avoid Christmas with their crazy families (four since both sets of parents were divorced and remarried) and suddenly find themselves trapped with no way out. The trailers are funny and it looks to be a bit of fluffy diversion to sit back and relax with as the holiday rolls on.

And so, as you read this, the big dinner will be over and the Christmas rush will be on. Time to shop, shop, shop. Except this year most of us are going to try to avoid using plastic if we can, and we are going to have to cut back and try to be a little sensible (not too sensible, I hope, since the holidays call for grand gestures and excessive happiness). But please remember in your shopping frenzy, to spend a good deal of that Christmas money right here in T’town. Look, local merchants can’t discount the way the big chains can, but remember that it’s the shops that make this town so wonderful. Tourists come from miles around to go to the Dietrich, to eat in our restaurants, but imagine if when they came there we no shops, just boarded up windows. Main street would be a series of depressing, empty, boarded up stores. Sort of like It’s A Wonderful Life if George Bailey hadn’t lived. You get the picture. Remember, especially local shops, only go into the black in the fourth quarter. It’s your town – support it. The town needs the theater, the restaurants and the shops. Take any of those away and the formula doesn’t work and the tourists stop coming. And then we’re just another sad, deserted little town that no one cares about. (But we’re not going to let that happen, because we all care so much. Right? Right!)

See you at the Dietrich.

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

It was exciting to see so many little ones come out for a morning of children’s songs with Karl Williams last weekend. They were singing and dancing along in the aisles. My favorite song was “Big Fish Little Fish”. We would like to thank Karl for his wonderful music and for donating his time to do a show for us.

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is almost here which means that Tunkhannock’s Christmas in Our Hometown is just around the corner. On December 5th and 6th, please join us for a weekend of holiday celebration. On Friday, December 5th, the Dietrich Theater will be showing the favorite Jim Henson Christmas movie Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. This film about a poor otter family that risks everything for the chance to win the cash prize of a talent contest for Christmas is great for the entire family. There will be two free showings at 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Seating is first come, first serve.

The following day, Saturday, December 6th from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, the Dietrich will host its annual Holiday Workshop. Singer/guitarist Bill Frye will start things off with a sing-along, and then we will rotate through a Christmas cookie decorating station, an ornament making station, and Silly Sally will be on hand to make zany balloon creations. Admission is free. This is a fun and easy way to get into the holiday spirit.

On the afternoon of December 6th, the Dietrich will also be holding more auditions for “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder beginning at 2:00 pm. Auditions are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 570-996-1500. Auditioners may be asked to sing “Amazing Grace” a cappella and should be familiar with the script. Sides are available online at www.electrictheatre.org (Click on Now Playing, Auditions).

Then on Tuesday, December 16th at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, we will show “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It is so special to see this classic film on the big screen with a large crowd. I love when the audience sings along at the end of the movie. Admission, soda, and popcorn are free to “It’s a Wonderful Life”. You can’t beat that! We would like to thank P& G Mehoopany Employees Federal Credit Union for sponsoring this event.

And just a reminder, Dietrich Theater gift bags and poppers make perfect holiday gifts. They are great for film festival buffs, friends, co-workers, teenagers, or anyone who would enjoy a great night out at the movies. Gift bags contain two movie tickets, two popcorn bags for fill-up at the theater and two candy items. They can be purchased for adults or children at $20 and $17 respectively. Poppers contain one movie ticket, a popcorn bag, and a candy item and can be purchased for $11 for adults and $9 for children.

Have a happy and joyous Thanksgiving.

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. Dec. 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

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

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