Excitement is building for the Dietrich Children's Theatre's upcoming production of "Balto: A True Story of the Bravest Dog in America".  Please join us on Friday, October 26 at 10 a.m. or Saturday, October 27 at 11 a.m. to see this amazing story come to life on the Dietrich Stage.  Admission is free.  Children and families will just love how interactive this show is.  For reservations, please call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.  We would like to thank the Pennsylvania Humanities Council for providing grant funds for this production. 

Another children's event that is just around the corner is "Songs and Games for Tots".  On Saturday, November 3 at 11 a.m., we invite you to enjoy a morning of songs and games with Bill Frye and his supercharged guitar.  Children are encouraged to bring their own instruments to this fast paced musical experience.  Last time Bill was here children were singing and dancing together as Bill played with his trademark zest.  Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.  For more information, please contact the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.

In addition to "Songs and Games for Tots", there will also be a history lecture coming up in November.  Join us on Wednesday, November 14 at 7 p.m. for "Northeastern Pennsylvania in American History". During this talk, Dr. Sheldon Spear will discuss a variety of historically significant events that occurred in our region throughout history including frontier warfare around the time of the American Revolution, the growth of the labor movement and anthracite-based industrialization.  He will show us how these events fit into American history as a whole.  Admission is free to this event.  We hope to see you there. 

There are also a great variety of classes and events on the horizon.  For those of you who would like to make jewelry, the Dietrich's own Esther Harmatz will be teaching a few workshops over the next month.  In Jewelry Making: Expressions in Fused Glass, students ages 16 and up will learn the basics of small piece fused glasswork as they create their own glass "expressions".  These unique pieces will then be turned into pendants, earrings and pins.  This class will be held on Mondays, October 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and November 12 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Admission is $60 and that includes the cost of materials. 

Esther will also be teaching Jewelry Making: Introduction to Silver Clay on Monday, November 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. In this 3-hour workshop, students will learn the basics of working with silver clay to create pieces of silver jewelry.  Each student will fabricate their choice of pendants, rings, earrings or pins.  Admission is $65 and all materials will be supplied. 

If you are more interested in the fine arts, instructor Steve Colley will be offering Painting From Life on Mondays, November 5 through 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  In this class series students will learn the fundamentals of oil painting in this intergenerational studio class.  Steve will cover composition, style, mark making, light and other fundamental techniques.  During this class, students will also look at the work of famous painters for inspiration.  Admission is $60 per series and students are asked to bring their own supplies.  For more information or to register for Painting From Life or any Dietrich Theater class, please call us at 570-996-1500.