At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

Okay. So, you know how I can tell it’s really really spring? Because they poured concrete in the new building! We have actual floors!!! And they had to wait until the temperature had modified to do that. So, since we have floors it must be spring! And of course there is that geese flying overhead thing. And the return of the redwing blackbirds. And the fields starting to take on the slightest hint of green. And won’t it be so, so welcome this year? Maybe it’s because, as we grow older we get colder (I doubt that is a proven medical fact) but the fact is that the cold seems so much colder. It heads straight for the marrow of the bones. And somehow, it seems to take longer to get those old bones warm again. So the return of spring is greeted by old bones clattering “Halooooo! Good to see you again!” Or something.

Some cute movies for you this week. We held over Hotel for Dogs one final week for you since you all seemed to like it so much. And Race to Witch Mountain is with us for another two weeks (at least) so that’s great for the kids and the families, too. And then for the ladies (just because we likes ya so much) we’ve brought in a little chick-flick to remind us what it was like in the good old days (like…uh…about a year or two ago) when we could just shop and shop and run up charge cards and the world wasn’t going to come to an end. (Well…actually…I never did do that shop and shop thing, but I have no problem with those who did.) So we have Confessions of a Shopaholic for you and it’s light and silly and a very entertaining piece of fluff which Entertainment Weekly gave an A+ to. So come to the theater, buy a bit of popcorn, and kick back and just enjoy something fun and silly and forget your troubles for a couple of hours. Worth the price of admission, don’t you think?

Plus, those cultural people are at it again. They are going to have an open house next Saturday, March 28, from 11:00 to 12:30 so you can meet the instructors and explore some of the neat things we do - - yoga, decorative painting, theater arts, quilting, visual arts classes and more. Do come and see all the grand things we offer your children and you – our classes are the most fun in the world! (Yeah - - they are.)

It’s so hard to be serious now, on this gorgeous day. But my next topic is deadly serious and it saddens me that year after year we have to talk about the same thing. On the other hand it makes me happy to think that we are actually talking, because there was a time that everything on this subject was shrouded in silence. I’m talking about drugs and alcohol, of course, and the C.A.R.E.S. Forum that will be held at the theater next Wednesday, March 25th, at 6:00 p.m.., the subject of which will be “Treatment Works.” Because it does! We know so much more than we used to about addiction. We know that there are things that work and things that are really marginal at best. We are coming to see that addictions can’t be solved by putting all our eggs in the law enforcement basket. Then again, sometimes counseling doesn’t seem to work so hot either. But what does seem to work beautifully most of the time is Drug Court. It’s a pretty simple carrot and stick philosophy. If you’ve been picked up on a drug or alcohol charge, you can choose drug court instead of jail. You’ll be frequently drug tested, you’ll have to find work, you’ll need to get to meetings. Lots of stuff. And if you slip up once, well…that’s figured into the system. Twice and you might end up doing your time in jail, costing the taxpayers mucho dollars and not helping you out all that much. Judge Shurteff has been one of the pioneers in local Drug Court and he will be speaking that night and answering your questions. The folks from A Better Today will also be there as will other experts in drug and alcohol recovery. Remember this – drugs and alcohol abuse are not character issues, they are medical issues. Please come to the forum. Even if you only learn one new thing, just think about how wonderful that one new thing will be if you can use it to help someone. The D and A boat is a big one, and one way or the other, we are all passengers. Come find out what you can do to help.

See you at the Dietrich.

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

Time goes by so quickly! Can you believe that in just a month the Dietrich’s Spring 2009 Film Festival will be here? That’s right, on Friday, April 17 through Thursday, April 30, the theater will celebrate fourteen days of fifteen foreign, independent and art films. Our movie booker, Jeffery Jacobs, and Hildy worked ever so hard to pick the finest films out. The selection of movies include Beauty in Trouble, A Christmas Tale, Defiance, Everlasting Moments, Frost/Nixon, How About You, Ice People, Last Chance Harvey, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, A Secret, Stranded: I Have Come From a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains, Trouble the Water, Two Lovers, and The Wrestler. Good line up, right? I think I want to see almost all of them. Visit www.dietrichtheater.com for a complete listing of movie summaries and showtimes.

Of course the film festival will kick off in grand fashion with our Opening Night Gala on Friday, April 17 at 6:00 pm. Join us for an extraordinary evening of hors d’oeuvres and wine by Twigs, Epicurean Delight, Seasons Restaurant, and Nimble Hill Winery. The featured films of the night will be “Everlasting Moments”, a Swedish film about a poor housewife and mother who takes up photography allowing her artistic passion to be expressed, and “How About You”, an Irish comedy about a young woman who is left in charge of an eccentric group of elderly residents in a retirement home. Between the films, sumptuous desserts will be provided by Epicurean Delight. Admission is $40 per person and reservations are required. You can make your reservations by calling the theater at 570-996-1500.

The Dietrich also has a big event coming up at the end of the month, our Arts for Everyone Open House on Saturday, March 28 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm. This will be a fun time for families to come out and get a taste of the arts as they get a chance to meet Dietrich Theater instructors and attend Make It/Take It art sessions. Participants will be able to explore yoga, decorative painting, theatre arts, quilting, writers’ group and visual arts classes. Admission is free. We hope to see you there.

For little ones, Tom Knight will be back in April for his annual puppet show at the theater. On Thursday, April 16th at 1:00 pm, Tom Knight and his puppets will perform a collection of songs and skits for children of all ages about animals, the environment, food and books. Favorites include “Alligator Jump” and “Henry the Magician”. Tom Knight has the little ones and their caregivers completely entertained as they dance and sing. It is such an upbeat event. Admission is free.

More than the Movies at the Dietrich Theater

Acting Camp for Kids, ages 6 to 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 22 -26 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm. Camp 2: Monday - Friday, July 13 to 17 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm.

Admission: $50.

Instructor: Michaela Moore, All About Theatre.

African Safari: Theatre & Visual Arts Camp, ages 5 to 12

You can catch a tiger or become an elephant in this camp all about Africa and your imagination. Create African art and props for your characters and help us make up a play all about this fun land.

Monday - Friday, July 13 -17 from 10:00 am - noon.

Admission: $50

Instructors: Amy Colley and Michaela Moore

All About Pottery & Sculpture, ages 5 to 12

Students will learn hand-building techniques (coil & slab construction), glazing techniques and experience using a potter's wheel as they create their own pots, masks and musical instruments.

Monday - Friday, June 22 to 26 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.

Admission: $50

Instructor: Steve Colley

All About Pottery & Sculpture, ages 9 -12

Students will learn hand building techniques (coil and slab construction, glazing techniques, and experience using potter's wheels.

Thursdays, March 12, 19, 26, March 5 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Admission: $35

Instructor: Steve Colley

An Artist a Day

Young artists will learn about a differnt artist each day of this multi media camp as they create their own colorful cut outs and collages, wall reliefs, carvings, and more!

Monday - Friday, July 27 to 31 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.

Admission: $50

Instructor: Steve Colley

Animal Totems, ages 5 to 12

Choose your own animal totem from the American Indian zodiac and learn how each animal embodies certain strengths and attributes as you create your own animal totem using a variety of household items.

Monday - Friday, July 13 to 17 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.

Admission: $50

Instructor: Steve Colley

Ballroom Dancing for Beginners

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

Saturdays, May 2 to June 6 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.

Admission: $30 per person.

Instructor: Connie Kintner

Basketmakers' Woods Walk, for ages16 and up

Take a walk in the woods to identify, harvest and process a variety of wild plant materials used in natural basketry. Participants will gather at Tunkhannock's Riverside Park Willow Dome and then travel to a local wooded site to try their hand at locating, harvesting, and processing a variety of barks, shoots, and other plant materials useful in basketmaking.

Saturday, May 16 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.

Admisison: $10

Instructor: Susi Nuss

Chinese Dragon, ages 7 to 9

Learn all about Chinese culture, folk art and shadow puppet theatre. Students will study the mythology of Chinese dragons and their origin. Students will draw and make small Chinese dragons and learn the Dragon Dance. They will also make a shadow puppet and perform a short play on a small shadow screen.

Mondays through Fridays, June 29 to July 10 from 10:30 am to noon.

Admission: Free

Instructor: Hua Hua Zhang.

Create a Felted Handbag, for ages 16 and up

Learn how to create your own felted hand bag. All that is required to attend this class is how to make a knit stitch! All material is provided.

Thursdays, July 23 and August 13 at 7:00 pm.

Admission: $55

Instructor: Sarah Sidorek

Creepy Crawly Critters: Theatre & Visual Arts Camp, ages 5 to 12

Did you know that if a honey bee went into the Dietrich, its special eyes would be able to see movie being played...at once! Come to this great camp and learn more interesting facts about insects of all kinds! Create costumes, plays, pottery, jewelry, and more that is all about some of the smallest and most interesting creatures on our planet.

Monday to Friday, June 22 to 26 from 10:00 am - noon.

Admission: $50

Instructors: Michaela Moore & Amy Colley

Decorative Painting

Learn decorative painting techniques while creating decorative pieces for your home or to give as gifts. Preregistration is required. For ages 16 and up

Wednesdays from noon - 3:00 pm. March 18, 25. April 15, 22, 29. May 13, 20, 27. June 10, 17, 24. July 15, 22, 29. August 12, 19, 26.

Admission: $20 per class + cost of painting surface.

Instructor: Eileen Balboa

Decorative Painting - Clay Pots, for ages 16 and up

Learn decorative painting techniques as you paint clay pots to use as decorations or to give as gifts.

Thursdays, June 4 at 7:00 pm.

Admission: $15 includes materials.

Instructor: Sarah Sidorek

Explore and Create Fairy Tales, ages 5 -12

Go on a journey through magical lands, creative characters, and suprise endings! Write, draw, create and explore fairy tales from around the world based on the Everhart's special exhibit, Fairy Tale Art. Visit the exhibit with your family on April 4th.

Tuesdays, March 17, 24 from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Bus Trip: Saturday, April 4 from 12:30 - 4:30 pm.

Admission: Free

Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Exploring Color, for ages 3 to 5

In this class, little ones will explore the arts as they create color related projects that will provide a solid foundation of art experiences.

Preschoolers: Thursdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28 from noon - 12:45 pm. Mommy & Me: Fridays, May 8, 15, 22, 29 from 10:30 - 11:15 am.

Admission: $35

Instructor: Amy Colley

Intergenerational Quilting - Spring 2009

"Mystery Wheel" - Learn quilting techniques as you experiment with color and design while making your own quilt.

Wednesdays, April 1 to June 3 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6.00 per class, materials provided.

Instructors: Ingrid Rogler, Peggy Lane, & Terry Keller

Intergenerational Quilting, ages 13 and up

"Peaks & Valleys" - Develop quilting skills with this variation on the classic log cabin pattern. Students will learn the use of color and value and explore creating variations in their designs.

Wednesdays through March 25 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6 per class

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

Jammin' in a Jugband

Join Timothy Walker and David Driskell, PCA rostered artists, as you create and make music with homemade instruments such as the 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 20, 21, 22, 24 from 10:00 - 11:15 am.

Admission: Free

Instructors: Timothy Walker and David Driskell

Jammin' in a Jugband, ages 13 to 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 jug as well as the conventional guitar, banjo, clarinet and saxophone. Find out that music is fun!

July 20, 21, 22, 24 from 1:00 - 2:15 pm.

Admission: Free

Instructors: David Driskell and Timothy Walker

Jewelry Making: Art Clay Silver, for ages 16 and up

Have fun learning the basics of working with silver clay to create pieces of silver jewelry! Silver clay is made up of real silver particles, organic binder and water. After drying, the clay binder is burned off with a torch and what remains is 99.9% pure silver. Students will fabricate choice of rings, earring or pins!

Monday, March 30 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $60, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

Little People & Nature, for ages 3 to 5

Rebecca Lesko of the Endless Mountains Nature Center will teach little ones about Porcupines & 'Possums, Owls, Black Bears, and more of nature's wonders. These classes are sponsored by the Overlook Estate Foundation.

Series 1 - Tuesdays, March 17, 24 from 10:00 - 11:00 am. Series 2 - Wednesdays, March 18, 25 from 10:00 - 11:00 am.

Admission: Free

Instructor: Rebecca Lesko

Mamma Mia!: Theatre & Visual Arts Camp, ages 5 to 12

Oh, the beautiful art and wondrous acting you will do in this fantastic camp! Learn all about the fascinating land of Italia! Make Roman pottery and create a play about pizza and Michelangelo! Feast your mind on art and theatre.

Monday - Friday, July 27 to 31 from 10:00 am - noon.

Admission: $50

Instructors: Amy Colley & Michaela Moore

Mixed Media, ages 5 - 8

Students will express themselves using different types of clay, paints, and drawing materials as they create their own masterpieces.

Fridays from 4:00 - 5:30 pm. March 13, 20, 27, April 3.

Admission: $35

Instructor: Amy Colley

Mommy & Me Mixed Media, ages 3 to 5

Young artists and their moms, dads, or grandparents will create works of art using an assortment of materials including clay, tempera, watercolor and collage.

Fridays from 10:30 - 11:15 am. March 13, 20, 27, April 3.

Admission: $35

Instructor: Amy Colley

Open Studio: 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. Session 1 - March 10, 17, 24, 31. Session 2 - April 7, 14, 21, 28. Session 3 - May 5, 12, 19, 26. Session 4 - June 2, 9, 16, 23. Session 5 - June 30, July 7,14, 21. Session 6 - July 28, August 4, 18, 25.

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

Instructor: Steve Colley

Open Studio: 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 - 11:00 am. March 9, 16, 23, 30.

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

Instructor: Steve Colley

Paint on Glass, ages 16 and up

Learn decorative painting techniques as you create a patio candle holder for your home or to give as a gift. All materials are supplied. No experience is required.

Tuesday, March 31 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $12

Instructor: Sarah Sidorek

Planes, Trains, Automobiles, ages 3 to 5

Create your own real and imaginary things that go vroom using clay slab construction technique.

Preschoolers: Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30 from noon - 12:45 pm. Mommy & Me: Fridays, April 10, 17, 24, May 1 from 10:30 - 11:15 am.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Amy Colley

Pottery & Sculpture, ages 13 and up

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. March 9, 16, 23, 30.

Admission: $50 for four classes.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Preschool Art, ages 3 to 5

Preschool students will explore the arts as they work with a variety of materials such as clay, tempera, watercolors, collage and more.

Thursdays from noon - 12:45. March 12, 19, 26, April 2.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Amy Colley

Quilting for Kids, ages 6 and up

"Underground Railroad" - Go on an adventure and learn techniques of quilting and stories behind this Civil War period quilt. Use reproduction time period fabrics as you create this quilt out of four patches.

Wednesdays through March 25 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $6.00/class

Instructors: Terry Keller, Peggy Lane, and Ingrid Rogler

Quilting for Kids, ages 6 and up

"Dancing with the Stars" - Learn quilting techniques as you take a simple design, make many quilt blocks, turn them in all sorts of directions and you get a tumbling dancing star quilt.

Wednesdays, April 1 to June 3 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Admission: $6 per class

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

Shadow Mask Theatre, ages 10 to 14

Learn all about Chinese literature, culture, language, and writing as you explore Shadow Mask Theatre. Design and create scenery as you adapt the famous Chinese novel "Journey to the West" to create a show called Monkey King's Adventure.

Mondays to Fridays, June 29 to July 10 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm.

Admission: Free.

Instructor: Hua Hua Zhang

Spanish for Adults, ages 16 and up

Students will learn basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary using a variety of teaching methods. Hispanic culture will also be explored. The class will be tailored to individuals' personal language learning goals.

Wednesdays through April 15 from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.

Admission: $30.

Instructor: Victoria Romero

Tile Making, for ages 5 to 12

Create your own handmade art tiles as you learn to carve, press, and make molds of your original designs.

Fridays, April 10, 17, 24, May 1 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Admission: $35.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Trash to Treasures Camp, ages 5 to 12

Turn an old pile of junk into an artistic treasure. Explore how to create this 3-D form of collage as you learn about the environment and recycling.

Monday - Friday, August 3 to 7 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm.

Admision: $50

Instructor: Steve Colley.

Trash to Treasures, ages 5 to 12

Turn an old pile of junk into an artistic treasure. Explore how to create this 3-D form of collage as you learn about the environment and recycling.

Fridays, May 8, 15, 22, 20 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Cost: $35

Instructor: Steve Colley

Woodwinds Master Class, for all ages

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

Monday, July 20 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 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