ArtScene with Erika Funke

Angelica Nowak and Jenna Wright, students at Bucknell University in Lewisburg,speaking about a course titled, "Film Exhibition and Programming," taught byRebecca Meyers, lecturer in film/media studies. The resulting 2026 BucknellIntercollegiate Film Festival will be held on Friday, May 1st at 7:00 pm atthe Campus Theatre, 413 Market Street in Lewisburg. BIFF will featurea program of curated short films by collegiate filmmakers from across Pennsylvania.The event is free and open to the public. www.bucknell.edu/

Jeannine Luby, stand-up comedian, wellness advocate focusing on thetherapeutic power of laughter, & founder of Laugh to Live, speaking aboutcomedy in NEPA in anticipation of "Punchlines & Pretzels," theshow she is presenting on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm,at the Downtown Deli, 300 Biden Street in Scranton. Shewill be marking World Laughter Day on Sunday, May 3rd, byleading sessions of Laughter Yoga on her Facebook pageat 9:30 & 11:30 am. And she will be in Kingston at the community gardendeveloped by the Green Neighbors Network on Frederick Street at2:00 pm. She will lead a session of Laughter Yoga and thereis no charge. For more information,Facebook.com/jeannine.luby

Composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg; Dr. Rick Hoffenberg,Director of the Marywood University Concert Choir; andChason Goldschmitz, Executive Director of the NEPAPhilharmonic, speaking about a concert titled, "Planets,Moons and Star Wars" to be presented on Friday, May 1.2026 at the Scranton Cultural Center at 7:00 pm.The program will feature the world premiere of theMoons Choral Suite by Amanda Lee Falkenberg withthe Marywood Concert Choir; also The Planets byGustav Holst with the Choral Society of NEPA underDr. Joshua Harper; and music by John Williams fromthe Star Wars films. There will be special multimediaprojections to enhance the performance & a visit fromNASA astronaut Nicole Stott. www.nepaphil.org/Thursday, April 30th at 5:30, there will be a paneldiscussion in conjunction with the concert and theEverhart Museum exhibition, "Hubble Space Telescope: NewViews of the Universe." The Everhart is located atNay Aug Park in Scranton. www.everhart-museum.org/On Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 am, at the LackawannaCounty Children's Library, the Philharmonic will present a freeevent as part of their Once Upon an Orchestra series,featuring NASA astronaut Nicole Stott narratingBrian Greene's children's book, "Icarus at the Edgeof Time," accompanied by Philharmonic musiciansperforming music by Philip Glass.www.nepaphil.org/

Seth Golden, director, and Marcie Riebe, publicity coordinator,speaking about "Extremities" by William Mastrosimone in aproduction presented by Diva Theater, Friday & Saturday,May 1 & 2 at 7:30 pm; and Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 2:00 pm.The performances will take place at the Olde Brick Theatre,126 W. Market Street in Scranton. For reservations: 570-209-7766.You can find more on Facebook: facebook.com/DivaTheaterScrantonThe interview was first broadcast in October 2024

Artist Charley Rude of Lackawanna County speaking about herwork in connection with an exhibition titled, "Streets of NEPA"that will open with a reception on Friday, April 24, 2026 andrun through June 12th at the Circle Centre for the Arts,130 Rear South Franklin Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre.The reception will be held from 5pm to 8pm, and the publicis invited to attend. www.wyomingvalleyartleague.org/Charley Rude will open a new gallery--Strange Birds-- onCapouse Avenue in Scranton on May 8th with a showtitled, "Strange Birds Take Flight." For more informationcheck Strange Birds NEPA on Instagram & Facebook.

Dr. Brandon M. Terry, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Social Sciences & Co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration & Public Safety at theHutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. Dr. Terry is the Sondra & Morey Myers 2026 DistinguishedFellow in the Humanities & Civic Engagement at the University of Scranton, and he will deliver a lecture titled, "Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope" on Thursday, April 23rdat 5:30 in Brennan Hall. The public is invited to attend, and a reception will follow.Dr. Terry's critically-acclaimed study recently issued by Harvard University Press is titled,Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope: A Tragic Vision of the Civil Rights Movement.For information: www.scranton.edu/ and https://aaas.fas.harvard.edu/people/brandon-terry

Thomas Putnam, Artistic Director of Hamilton-Gibson Productions inWellsboro, PA, speaking about "Leading Ladies," a comedy by KenLudwig that he directs. The show will run from April 17 throughApril 26, 2026, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 with Sundaymatinees at 2:30, at the Warehouse Theatre, 3 Central Avenuein Wellsboro.For more information: www.hamiltongibson.org

Carl Ruck, Minister of Music at the Church of Christ Unitingin Kingston, PA, and Dr. Alan Hack,Director of Music Ministry at St. Matthew Lutheran Churchin Bloomsburg, speaking about their concert of keyboard duetson Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2 pm. The program will featuremusic by Saint-Saens, Mascagni, Widor, as well as arrangementsof The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Simple Gifts, and a number ofhymns, with audience participation.Carl Ruck will perform at the organ, and Dr. Hack at the piano,at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 Market Street in Bloomsburg.For more information: www.stmatthewbloomsburg.org/

Violinist & Conductor Scott Yoo, Host & Executive Producer of the PBS series,"Now Hear This," presented by Great Performances,speaking about Season 7 that premieres on Friday, April 10, 2026 at9:00 pm on WVIA-TV with an episode titled, "Brahms: FreeBut Alone." The second episode, "Everyone Loves Joplin" will airon Friday, April 17th and feature Rick Benjamin, founder &music director of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra based inLewisburg, PA. Episode 3 on April 24th is titled, "The Call ofIstanbul" & Episode 4 on Friday, May 1st will be "The IcelandSound." All of the shows will be aired Friday nights at9:00 on WVIA-TV. For more information wvia.org/www.pbs.org/