Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater 

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Weekend Events at the Dietrich 

At the Dietrich by Hildy Morgan     

          So. Travel back in time with me (think of the voice of Rod Serling) to another time and another place. Okay. So it is another time, but it still is Tunkhannock. (What did you expect form me? I never go anyplace.) I am merely trying to set the stage for you for an upcoming event those cultural folks have put together that is sooo neat and sooo reminiscent of times past.

     Alright, in our journey through time, if not space, it is summer, and we have all gathered on the courthouse square to hear some cool jazz on a hot night, the music reflective of the million stars that will dapple the oncoming night sky. It is twilight and the mighty trees on the square are beginning to cast their fearsome shadows and people spread out blankets if they haven’t brought a chair. The crowd, replete with children dashing about and the occasional well-behaved dog, set up a low murmur of voices and everyone waits.

     And then, all of a sudden, the silence is broken as a clear, sweet note wails into the waiting sky, and that’s Jimmy Welch on the clarinet, joined a second later by the sweet, sweet notes of Sid Daniels saxophone and then Chuck Pirone on the drums, and, of course, Joe Weldon on the keyboard. And then we weren’t a group of small-town folks sitting in the square, nope, we weren’t. We were traveling through time and space on our way to the big Apple, and Paris (yeah, the one in France!) and a little New Orleans and, oh those saints, how they did come marching in!

     And still, to this very day, when I think of those wonderful concerts, my heart hurts for all the music the world lost when Sid died. And even as good as Jimmy Welch’s band is today (and they are, they are!) and even though they had a wonderful crowd here at the theater when they performed here, still, when I see them, it makes my heart hurt, because that saxophone and that clarinet would wail into the starry night and up, and up, and up those notes would go, until they were enveloped by the pure silence of deep space. And I wish that the notes of that saxophone hadn’t been silenced. But then, I’m terrible at goodbyes.

     And now, back to the present, and the whole point of this little exercise. So on Sunday, May 18th,  (SAVE THE DATE!!!!) we have a jazz concert here at the Dietrich. And no, it’s not Jimmy and the gang, but it’s a terrific group of very accomplished jazz musicians – Dennis Jeter, vocalist, Joseph Lepore, bass, Luca Santaniello, drums and Joe Cohn on guitar. You have to trust me on this, these guys make beautiful music! And the music they’re making is the music of the late, great Ned Washington, who brought us such huge hits as When You Wish Upon a Star, High Noon, The Nearness of You, A Ghost of a Chance (Oooh, I LOVE that one!), I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, and so many others I don’t have room to write them all,

     And, to add to our afternoon’s enjoyment, Dr. Phillip Mosley is  going to tell us all about Ned Washington, show us some movie clips and let the music speak for itself. For those of you who love jazz, (and isn’t that almost everybody???) this is a must afternoon. Again, May 18th, save the date!!! Oh yeah, and the best part??? Absolutely free. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. So, if you love jazz, come – what a great afternoon! If you know nothing about jazz, what better way to find out?  It’s  free, it’s educational, and I promise you (I really do!) that you will have a grand time!

     And don’t forget to come to the movies. The best popcorn in the northern hemisphere awaits! (That was a trick, by the way, because I have it on good authority that they don’t even eat popcorn in the southern hemisphere. No matter what they say,. Heh heh.)

     See you at the Dietrich.

Live at the Dietrich by Erica Rogler 

Live at the Dietrich for April 30, 2014

Did you know that a daily one-mile walk reduces the likelihood of dementia by 50 percent? According to George Washington University neurology professor Richard Restak, MD., it’s true.  This was one of the statistics I learned from a recent Nutrition for Women class I took at the Dietrich with Donna Fetzko.  Talk about an incentive to get moving! Right?  I also learned that only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week. 

Lack of physical activity is not only a problem for adults, but for children as well.  According to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, children now spend more than seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen (e.g., TV, videogames, computer), and only one in three children are physically active every day. These findings are shocking.  Aren’t they?  On Saturdays, May 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., the Dietrich will be offering a free nutrition class for children and families.  Join us and learn that making healthy food choices and staying physically active, is a fun, family affair.  You will learn how to make healthy snacks and balanced nutritional meals.  Plus you will participate in fun family activities.  This class is recommended for families with children ages 6 and up.  And like I said, admission is free.  For more information or to register, please call us at 570-996-1500.  We would like to thank the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation for sponsoring this program.

The Dietrich is also offering a couple of musical events that will feed your soul in May.  Join us on Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m. for Classical Guitar Music from Cuba.  Performed by master guitarist Jay Steveskey, audience members will experience sizzling Afro-Cuban rhythms and smooth, exotic harmonies.  Jay will feature compositions by Leo Brouwer and some of his younger contemporaries.   This free event is sponsored by John P. Keker in memory of Jessie Reppy Keker and is also sponsored by Sarah Sidorek.  Jessie was a valued board member of the Dietrich’s board of directors and also served on the theater’s Gallery Committee.  She had such a gift for bringing beauty and history to our exhibits.  Jessie was also an appreciator of Jay Steveskey’s classical guitar concerts.  She used to say that his performances were so peaceful and that they allowed you to become fully immersed in the music.  The concert will be followed by a light reception.  Please join us for this special event.  Tickets will be available at the door or they can be reserved by calling 570-996-1500.

Then on Sunday, May 18, join us for another concert event featuring the music of Ned Washington.  Who is that you may be asking? I was not aware of his name before, but I am familiar with his contributions.  Scranton-native Ned Washington wrote the lyrics to a host of music from vaudeville to Broadway to Hollywood and TV.  He penned the lyrics to “High Noon”, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Rawhide” just to name a few.  Dr. Philip Mosley will help us trace his life in songwriting.   Dr. Mosley will be joined by a live band featuring vocalist and band leader Dennis Jeter, Joseph Lepore on bass, Luca Santaniello on drums and Joe Cohn on guitar.   Admission is free.  We would like to thank the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for helping sponsor this program.  Tickets can be reserved by calling 570-996-1500 and will be available at the door as long as they last. 

And don’t forget to join us this Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. for a free showing of Happy Feet on the big screen.  Admission, popcorn and soda are free.  Sponsored in memory of “Jeeterbug” from the Kintner Family, this movie is perfect for all ages.  Tickets can be reserved by calling 570-996-1500 or at the door while they last.