At The Dietrich

By
Hildy Morgan

Good grief! This being sixty-five can be a trip. Bill Chapla and his truly darling daughter Sarah had come into the office to get some material on this summer’s production of Romeo and Juliet and we got to talking, as we always do, about books and more books and even more books and then, just as he was leaving I tried to say something about my belief (sort of) of the sentience of everything around me including a rock or two and how that comes from watching Disney movies in my youth when the trees and the stones and the mice etc. etc. all spoke and danced and had their dreams too.

So, do you think I could think of the word I wanted? “Personification,” Bill said helpfully.

“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. Something else. I’m thinking it starts with an “A” but of course I can’t be entirely sure.

I looked it up on the computer – “What is the word for thinking all things are sentient?” I asked.

“Personification,” it answered.

I asked it another way. I got a grammar lesson centered on Shakespeare and Milton. (Who knows why?)

I asked again, another way. And another. “But it starts with an “A” I wailed.

Finally I asked the oh so literal computer – “What is the word for giving human characteristics to inanimate objects?”

Bingo! “Anthropomorphism” popped up! It started with an “A!” Far out!

And what has this got to do with age? Because even five years ago I wouldn’t have had to go on an internet search for a word that had slipped into the deep space that used to be my working brain. Sometimes it takes my sister and I a good five minutes to find the word we want to use.

I remember my mother, in her eightieth year, saying that the hardest part of growing old for her was not having words at her fingertips the way she always had. “Oh, Mamma,,” I said, “You have a great vocabulary. What difference does a word or two make.”

“Just you wait,” she said prophetically. “You’ll see.”

This then, is a cable straight to the hereafter. I get it now, Mamma. In spades. I’d rather have another wrinkle than not be able to find a word. Another instance of Mamma up there behind an anthropomorphic cloud, shaking her finger at me, eyes twinkling, “Ha!” she’s saying. “You could have been a little nicer, you think?” Yeah. I coulda.

So, change of subject. The trip to the CIA and Hyde Park was so fabulous! And for those of you who couldn’t make the bus trip, it would make a lovely day journey for you and your spouse. It’s a little over two hours and the CIA restaurants are open for customers – you don’t have to be part of a large group. The food was totally, completely divine and the place is fabulous.

Then the afternoon at the Roosevelt estate was so interesting – the only problem with this complete immersion in history was that three and a half hours wasn’t long enough to be there. There is so much to see that it really would take a day to catch it all. (I have to tell you, that we ate lunch with a lovely young couple from Factoryville. They were charming, funny and so dear with each other. They’d been married twenty years and still held hands when they walked around the grounds. In a sweet, shy sort of way. I love seeing couples who are still romantic after decades of togetherness. It gives me faith in all those love stories on the big screen. So maybe there are a million Bogey’s and Bacall’s. Cool thought, isn’t it?)

Come to the movies. Last week of X-Men. Good popcorn. Good fun. On schedule to razzle-dazzle you in just three weeks!

See you at the Dietrich.

Live at The Dietrich

By
Erica Rogler

What a lovely time we had at Hyde Park! Thirty-four of us hopped on a bus at the Dietrich and enjoyed our trip to the Hudson River Valley guided by Kim Glemboski. Her knowledge of the regions leading up to Hyde Park was amazing. Once in Hyde Park, we went to the impressive Culinary Institute of America (CIA). While there we were taken on a student-guided tour - the sights and smells were amazing. We were able to see students make chocolates, pastries, bread and more. To observe these students’ passion and love for food and creating food was inspiring. After the tour we ate lunch at one of the CIA’s five campus restaurants - St. Andrew’s Café. The restaurant was beautiful and completely run by students. We kept raving about how delicious the food was.

After lunch, we made our way to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s library, museum, and home. It felt like we stepped back in time and were able to see how the Roosevelts lived. His home, Springwood, felt so comfortable and lived in. You could tell that this four-term president had many interests by the number of collections he had displayed in his home. He collected birds, cartoons, pictures of naval ships, coins and stamps.

In Roosevelt’s presidential library, the nation’s first presidential library, they had a special exhibit on F.D.R.’s first hundred days in office. Much of what was going on in the nation at that time is very similar to what is going on now. I was so impressed by what Roosevelt was able to accomplish during that short period of time. Through the New Deal, he was able to help reform the banking system, provide aid for the unemployed, and help rebuild the economy.

I was also amazed to see how Roosevelt was able to inspire the nation during those difficult times through his radio addresses. It was like he was talking directly to the people and provided hope for the future in those dark days.

We had such a great day that I would definitely recommend to anyone that they take a trip to Hyde Park, New York. Besides the CIA, Springwood and F.D.R.’s library museum, there are many other places to visit in Hyde Park including the Vanderbilt Mansion, Eleanor Roosevelt’s cottage, Val-Kill, and more!

In other Dietrich news, we would like to invite you to join us for the Dietrich Radio Players live performance later this month. On Tuesday, May 26 at 7:00 pm, the radio players will perform a comedy and drama radio play at the Dietrich’s Peg Fassett Performance Studio. Under the direction of Valerie Paulus, they will bring the favorite plays “My Friend Irma - The Boss Buys a Race Horse” and “Escape: Evening Primrose” to live with the sound effects and commercials of that time. Admission is free. We hope to see you there.

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

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

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 6 to 8

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. May 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

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

Fossils, Rocks, Dirt and More!

Join us as you dig up some creativity with fossils, rocks, and dinosaurs! Discover, draw, create, and excavate great things found in the ground in our new series based on the Everhart's exhibit, Ancient Microworlds. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 to sign up.

Mondays, July 6 - 27. Ages 5 - 8: 10:00 - 11:00 am. Ages 9 - 12: 11:30 - 12:30 pm.

Admission: Free

Instructor: Everhart Museum Educator

Golden Days of Radio Players Group

Do you remember 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 villian? Or to use your voice to sound very old or very young? Join us and you will learn and experience 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?

Tuesdays through May 26 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: Free

Director: Valerie Paulus

Intergenerational Quilting - Spring 2009

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

Wednesdays through June 3 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6.00 per class, materials provided.

Instructors: Ingrid Rogler, Peggy Lane, & Terry Keller

Intergenerational Quilting - Summer 2009

"Star Twister: - Learn quilting techniques as you create a quilt with triangles. Learn how to create movement with fabric. Make this quilt with two fabric selections or many.

Wednesdays, June 10 - July 29 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.

Admission: $6.00 per class, materials provided.

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

Intro to Knitting - Make a Scarf & Hat

Learn how to knit a scarf and hat set. Students will learn how to use straight and round knitting needles. No experience is required. These hand knitted scarfs and hats make perfect Christmas gifts.

Wednesdays, August 12 and 26 at 7:00 pm.

Admission: $35, materials included.

Instructor: Sarah Sidorek

Introduction to Twined Basketry, for ages 16 and up

Learn the skills of basic twining while creating a small square or round basket of natural materials. Students may want to incorporate items they have collected themselves in advance of this session. Each basket will be unique.

Saturday, June 6 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $60

Instructor: Susi Nuss

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

Jammin' in a Jugband, ages 5-12

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

Jewelry Making: Introduction to Glass Fusing, ages 16 and up

Learn the basics of small piece fused glass work. Each student will create a fused glass item which will be finished, polished and wire wrapped.

Series 1 - Tuesdays, June 2 & 16 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm Series 2 - Tuesdays, July 28 & August 11 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $60 per series, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

Jewelry Making: Introduction to Metal Working, ages 16 and up

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, June 11 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $50, materials provided.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

Jewelry Making: Introduction to Stained Glass

Learn the first steps of working with glass to create stained glass pieces. Students will learn to work with a design, cut glass, polish, foil wrap, and solder. Each student will leave with a finished item in each session. All glass supplies and equipment will be provided.

Session 1 - Thursday, June 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Session 2 - Tuesday, August 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Admission: $55 per session.

Instructor: Esther Harmatz

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

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 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. Session 3 - May 4, 11, 18, June 1.

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

Instructor: Steve Colley

Photography Workshop

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

Wednesdays, May 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Saturday, June 13 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Admission: $75

Instructor: Kenny Ganz, Steamtown Historic Site Photographer.

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. Session 2 - May 4, 11, 18, June 1. Session 3 - June 8, 15, 22, 29. Session 4 - July 6, 13, 20, 27. Session 5 - August 3, 17, 24, 31.

Admission: $50 for four classes.

Instructor: Steve Colley

Quilting for Kids, ages 6 and up - Spring 2009

"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 through June 3 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Admission: $6 per class

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

Quilting for Kids, ages 6 and up - Summer 2009

"Sky Gardens" - Create a bold butterfly quilt as you learn quilting techniques.

Wednesdays, June 10 - July 29 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm.

Admission: $6 per class, materials provided.

Instructors: Ingrid Rogler, Terry Keller, and Peggy Lane

Shadow Mask Theatre, ages 9 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

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