Happy holidays to you and yours from all of us at the Dietrich Theater!

Friday, December 23, 2011

At The Dietrich

by
Hildy Morgan

Okay. I’ve started this column five times now and deleted it each

time. I’m not sure exactly why this is so hard to write, but apparently my

psyche is having a hard time of it so I am just going to type it out and

this is it. No more rewrites!

I am going to retire. Okay, not entirely. I am still going to book

the movies, plan the festivals, write my column, remain on the board, do

some work with live theater and help with Monday deposits. So, I guess you’

d call it a partial retirement. Still, I am leaving the position of

Executive Director and although I had planned this for months, I have to

admit it’s much harder than I thought it would be. Emotionally. It’s like

leaving your beloved child at college for the first day of semester. It’s

quite the accomplishment, getting the baby raised and ready to step out into

the world, yet, when driving away from that college dorm you want to throw

yourself on the ground kicking and crying. It’s just the way of it. It’s

hard to say goodbye even if it’s not a real goodbye. Change is hard.

Back to the matter at hand. I love this job! I love this theater and

this town. I love the staff here and I love the people I meet. I love the

folks who so faithfully read my column and stop me in the grocery store to

talk about it. There is nothing about what I do I don’t love. But the

thing is, when we started this project I was in my mid-fifties and so full

of energy it’s hard for me to even imagine anymore. And now I’m in my late

sixties, have survived (knock on wood) two bouts of cancer and just find

life more challenging than I used to. I tire more easily and for longer

periods. I don’t have the time nor the energy to do so many things I’d like

to do.

I want to get back to taking long walks with my dogs. A few years ago

I came so close to having a novel published and I want the time to rewrite

and try again. I want to go to New York City for a day or two to the

museums without having to come back to work, tired and cranky, the next day.

I want to plant a garden in the spring and can some tomatoes in the autumn.

All things I don’t have the energy to do while I still work.

And there is another reason, too. Probably the most important of all.

It’s simply time to turn this large, complex, rollicking operation over to

someone younger and with endless energy because this place has outgrown my

skill set. It is time for Erica to take over as Executive Director.

Erica has been with us for eight years. She knows every inch of this

building and every program and every grant. She is efficient, smart as a

whip and, generally spectacular. And when the flood came and we were almost

totally decimated, it was Erica who organized the clean-up. It was Erica

who understood what had happened and what needed to be done to repair us.

It was Erica who made daily lists for the volunteers to accomplish. It was

Erica who saw us through and here we are, back in the thick of it, having

survived the worst catastrophe of our lives.

And I did, for all intents and purposes, nothing. I was stunned and

disheartened at the floodwaters and the terrible vengeance they had wrought.

I was weepy and, frankly, mostly useless. All I could see was all our work

from so many years ago completely destroyed and I couldn’t stop crying.

But Erica, like those of us who took the abandoned Dietrich and rebuilt

it , did not see the theater as it was, she saw it as it would be when all

the lists were finally completed. She never wavered in her belief that we

would be fine. She led us through our darkest hour and she was magnificent.

We are all utterly devoted to this strong, brilliant, lovely young woman.

The theater is in fine hands. The torch has been passed and we old broads

are so very happy. Now, isn’t that a lovely Christmas present?
Merry Christmas and God bless us one and all.

See you at the Dietrich.

Now Showing

www.dietrichtheater.com/movie
or (570)836-1022 for times

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
January 1, 1900 -
January 5, 2012

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
December 16, 2011 -
January 5, 2012

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
December 20, 2011 -
January 5, 2012

We Bought a Zoo
December 23, 2011 -
January 5, 2012

Coming Soon

www.dietrichtheater.com/preview
or (570)836-1022 for times

Events

www.dietrichtheater.com/event
or (570)996-1500 to reserve

Audition Notice
January 28, 2012 - January 29, 2012

Classes

www.dietrichtheater.com/class
or (570)996-1500 to enroll

Holiday Camp, ages 6 to 12
December 27, 2011 - December 29, 2011

Live at The Dietrich

by
Erica Rogler

Live at the Dietrich December 21, 2011

Christmas is just a couple of days away, and excitement surrounding the big day is definitely mounting, especially for my family. You see, my little niece Audrey Elizabeth will be celebrating her first Christmas with us here in Tunkhannock. And I can’t wait. It will be a joyous time. When she gets older, you can count on the fact that her uncle and I will be taking her to the Dietrich during holiday visits for a movie or two. If she were old enough now, we would definitely have to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked". I know, I know, kids’ movies are not for everyone, but don’t fear, Hildy and Jeffrey have brought in three other movies for the holidays. You can watch Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law on the big screen as Holmes and Watson in the new flick Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Another thriller that we are actually opening today is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I have read all of the books in the Stieg Larsson trilogy and am looking forward to seeing the American movie version of the first book. Did I mention Daniel Craig plays the role of Mikael Blomkvist? For some folks, myself included, that is reason enough to see a movie. We will also be bringing in We Bought a Zoo starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson this Friday. This movie looks super family-friendly and heart-warming. So you see, there are lots of movie options at the Dietrich for Christmas.

And if you are still looking for a present for almost anyone on your Christmas list, Dietrich movie bags make great gifts. Each bag is beautifully wrapped and contains two movie tickets, two bags to bring in for the Dietrich’s famous popcorn and two bags of candy. They make wonderful presents for employees, teenagers, families, etc., and there is nothing quite like an evening at the movies spent together. Gift bags can be purchased at the theater during movie show times. Please call the theater at 570-996-1507 for more information about movie bags or to purchase bags during our office hours.

During Christmas break, our artists-in-residence Amy and Steve Colley will be offering a Holiday Camp for young artists ages five to twelve. From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on December 27, 28, 29, students will create works of art as they draw, paint, and create pottery and sculptures. Admission is $35. There are only a couple of spaces remaining in this popular camp, so call 570-996-1500 to register now.

Oh, and if you have a child that is in middle school or high school and is interested in acting, the Dietrich will be offering a new all encompassing theatre arts program this January. During this class, students will create their own scripts, props and costumes; learn about movement, lighting and sound, and perform for a live audience. The theme for the show is Life on Mars. Classes will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, January 4th through February 25th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Dietrich. The performance will be held on the Dietrich stage on Saturday, February 25 at 11 a.m. Admission to the class is free and no experience is needed. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 to register.

From all of us at the Dietrich, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!

Movie Times: (570)836-1022

General Information: (570)996-1500

	Happy holidays to you and yours from all of us at the Dietrich Theater!
www.DietrichTheater.com Friday, December 23, 2011
At The Dietrich by Hildy Morgan Okay. I’ve started this column five times now and deleted it each time. I’m not sure exactly why this is so hard to write, but apparently my psyche is having a hard time of it so I am just going to type it out and this is it. No more rewrites! I am going to retire. Okay, not entirely. I am still going to book the movies, plan the festivals, write my column, remain on the board, do some work with live theater and help with Monday deposits. So, I guess you’ d call it a partial retirement. Still, I am leaving the position of Executive Director and although I had planned this for months, I have to admit it’s much harder than I thought it would be. Emotionally. It’s like leaving your beloved child at college for the first day of semester. It’s quite the accomplishment, getting the baby raised and ready to step out into the world, yet, when driving away from that college dorm you want to throw yourself on the ground kicking and crying. It’s just the way of it. It’s hard to say goodbye even if it’s not a real goodbye. Change is hard. Back to the matter at hand. I love this job! I love this theater and this town. I love the staff here and I love the people I meet. I love the folks who so faithfully read my column and stop me in the grocery store to talk about it. There is nothing about what I do I don’t love. But the thing is, when we started this project I was in my mid-fifties and so full of energy it’s hard for me to even imagine anymore. And now I’m in my late sixties, have survived (knock on wood) two bouts of cancer and just find life more challenging than I used to. I tire more easily and for longer periods. I don’t have the time nor the energy to do so many things I’d like to do. I want to get back to taking long walks with my dogs. A few years ago I came so close to having a novel published and I want the time to rewrite and try again. I want to go to New York City for a day or two to the museums without having to come back to work, tired and cranky, the next day. I want to plant a garden in the spring and can some tomatoes in the autumn. All things I don’t have the energy to do while I still work. And there is another reason, too. Probably the most important of all. It’s simply time to turn this large, complex, rollicking operation over to someone younger and with endless energy because this place has outgrown my skill set. It is time for Erica to take over as Executive Director. Erica has been with us for eight years. She knows every inch of this building and every program and every grant. She is efficient, smart as a whip and, generally spectacular. And when the flood came and we were almost totally decimated, it was Erica who organized the clean-up. It was Erica who understood what had happened and what needed to be done to repair us. It was Erica who made daily lists for the volunteers to accomplish. It was Erica who saw us through and here we are, back in the thick of it, having survived the worst catastrophe of our lives. And I did, for all intents and purposes, nothing. I was stunned and disheartened at the floodwaters and the terrible vengeance they had wrought. I was weepy and, frankly, mostly useless. All I could see was all our work from so many years ago completely destroyed and I couldn’t stop crying. But Erica, like those of us who took the abandoned Dietrich and rebuilt it , did not see the theater as it was, she saw it as it would be when all the lists were finally completed. She never wavered in her belief that we would be fine. She led us through our darkest hour and she was magnificent. We are all utterly devoted to this strong, brilliant, lovely young woman. The theater is in fine hands. The torch has been passed and we old broads are so very happy. Now, isn’t that a lovely Christmas present? Merry Christmas and God bless us one and all. See you at the Dietrich.	Now Showing www.dietrichtheater.com/movie or (570)836-1022 for times Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked January 1, 1900 - January 5, 2012 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows December 16, 2011 - January 5, 2012 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo December 20, 2011 - January 5, 2012 We Bought a Zoo December 23, 2011 - January 5, 2012 Coming Soon www.dietrichtheater.com/preview or (570)836-1022 for times Events www.dietrichtheater.com/event or (570)996-1500 to reserve Audition Notice January 28, 2012 - January 29, 2012 Classes www.dietrichtheater.com/class or (570)996-1500 to enroll Holiday Camp, ages 6 to 12 December 27, 2011 - December 29, 2011	Live at The Dietrich by Erica Rogler Live at the Dietrich December 21, 2011 Christmas is just a couple of days away, and excitement surrounding the big day is definitely mounting, especially for my family. You see, my little niece Audrey Elizabeth will be celebrating her first Christmas with us here in Tunkhannock. And I can’t wait. It will be a joyous time. When she gets older, you can count on the fact that her uncle and I will be taking her to the Dietrich during holiday visits for a movie or two. If she were old enough now, we would definitely have to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked". I know, I know, kids’ movies are not for everyone, but don’t fear, Hildy and Jeffrey have brought in three other movies for the holidays. You can watch Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law on the big screen as Holmes and Watson in the new flick Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Another thriller that we are actually opening today is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I have read all of the books in the Stieg Larsson trilogy and am looking forward to seeing the American movie version of the first book. Did I mention Daniel Craig plays the role of Mikael Blomkvist? For some folks, myself included, that is reason enough to see a movie. We will also be bringing in We Bought a Zoo starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson this Friday. This movie looks super family-friendly and heart-warming. So you see, there are lots of movie options at the Dietrich for Christmas. And if you are still looking for a present for almost anyone on your Christmas list, Dietrich movie bags make great gifts. Each bag is beautifully wrapped and contains two movie tickets, two bags to bring in for the Dietrich’s famous popcorn and two bags of candy. They make wonderful presents for employees, teenagers, families, etc., and there is nothing quite like an evening at the movies spent together. Gift bags can be purchased at the theater during movie show times. Please call the theater at 570-996-1507 for more information about movie bags or to purchase bags during our office hours. During Christmas break, our artists-in-residence Amy and Steve Colley will be offering a Holiday Camp for young artists ages five to twelve. From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on December 27, 28, 29, students will create works of art as they draw, paint, and create pottery and sculptures. Admission is $35. There are only a couple of spaces remaining in this popular camp, so call 570-996-1500 to register now. Oh, and if you have a child that is in middle school or high school and is interested in acting, the Dietrich will be offering a new all encompassing theatre arts program this January. During this class, students will create their own scripts, props and costumes; learn about movement, lighting and sound, and perform for a live audience. The theme for the show is Life on Mars. Classes will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, January 4th through February 25th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Dietrich. The performance will be held on the Dietrich stage on Saturday, February 25 at 11 a.m. Admission to the class is free and no experience is needed. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 to register. From all of us at the Dietrich, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!
Movie Times: (570)836-1022 General Information: (570)996-1500