Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater 

(Click on Movie Posters for Showtimes and Synopses.)

Upcoming Events at the Dietrich 

At the Dietrich by Hildy Morgan     

  So here I am, the non-traveler, once again far from home, sitting in a hotel room writing my column. I have traveled more this year than the past ten years combined, hours away from all that I hold dear, and nut that I am, waaaay outside of my comfort zone.  And it’s all my sweet nephew’s fault. He got married this past weekend in a place called Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, which is a little bit like heaven south of the border. All palm trees and crashing waves, it’s an ocean lovers dream, and the wedding was lovely with the bride and groom exchanging vows on a beautiful green lawn with the sounds of the surf in the background. My niece and her husband flew in from Los Angeles so it was a grand reunion for all of us and we had a wonderful time walking on the beach and just catching up. And on the day of the ceremony, the bride looked splendid (our Amy said that Ashley had on the most beautiful gown she had ever seen) and the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky. How much better could it be?

    So we started home this morning (Monday) at nine and stopped in Winchester Virginia for the night. We were on the road over eight hours and it’s exhausting! My sister drove (with Jerry navigating) and, God bless her, she did a great job, although if I were her I’d go to bed for a week when we finally see the green hills of home once again.

    Oh yeah. And I want to say this: The south may have beaches and palm trees, but it’s flat. It’s totally, totally flat! When we finally saw the mountains of Virginia outlined against the sky, we let out a hearty cheer.  I know, there are some who love those great expanses of flat land, and a palm tree is enough to keep ‘em happy. But Jennie and I grew up nestled snugly in the protective arms of the Pocono Mountains, and we’re never really comfortable if a mountain isn’t in sight somewhere.

    Besides which, as you all know, I get homesick about ten  minutes after I leave and have to keep calling home to make sure everyone is okay in my absence. “Well,” my husband said as he heard my anxious queries about dogs, cats and the state of the old house I’d left behind, “Thatcher is doing okay, but she’s sitting by the front door waiting for you. She won’t come upstairs to bed. She’s fixated on the door. So I put a blanket down there for her.” Sigh. How can you ever be truly happy when you know a wee dog is waiting by the door and you won’t be walking through it for five days? You see why it’s tough for some of us to go away?????

    But, I have to tell you, while at the beach I did what every beach person needs to do – I went to the movies!!! In only my third movie not-at-the-Dietrich in fourteen years, I went to see Godzilla with Amy’s husband Adam. (My sister doesn’t do monster movies and besides, she and Amy needed Mum and wonderful daughter time.) It was a small four screen theater about five minutes from the hotel. Nothing fancy, but totally adequate. Except for the popcorn – made in advance (apparently about three years ago!!!), soggy and tasteless. I really wanted to say, “Young man – do you want to know how to make really excellent popcorn? Because you’re not doing it. Really, you’re not.” But, of course, I didn’t.  I do feel sorry for all the people down there who are going to be subjected to tasteless, stale popcorn. But I can’t solve all the world’s problems, right? However, popcorn aside, Godzilla was incredible!!!! Wow! It’s so good! Give it a try if you haven’t already. I’m going to see it again it’s so good. Best movie monster ever!!!!!

    And with that, I am closing my computer and packing my bags and hope to be home by this afternoon. Hold on, Thatcher – mummy’s on the way! And mountains and old house and fields and pond and cats and porch and hubby. I’m coming home! It’ll be so good to see you!

    And Dietrich. And good popcorn. And everybody! See you at the Dietrich! Sigh!!!!!

Live at the Dietrich by Erica Rogler 

Last Wednesday over 150 people came out to the Dietrich for the movie event “The Anonymous People”.  I thought the film was excellent. It gave a voice to the 23 million people who are living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.   The documentary also gave me hope and opened my eyes to how we need to respond to the public health crisis of addiction.  After the movie, panel members Vincent Carolan, Nicholas Colangelo, Michael Donahue and Barb Landon answered questions from the audience. They also shared information about the resources that are available for individuals and families facing addiction issues including A Better Today, A.A. meetings, Alanon Meetings, Families Helping Families, and Wyoming County CARES.  We would like to thank the panel members for sharing their time and knowledge with us, and we would also like to extend our appreciation to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation and Wyoming County CARES for sponsoring the film.

Our next live event at the Dietrich is Open Mic Night.  Join us this Friday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. as poets, musicians, storytellers and other talented performers are invited to take the Dietrich stage.  All ages and abilities are welcome.  Following the open mic portion of the evening, short story writer Kevin McDonough will share his work.  Kevin earned an M.A. in Creative Writing from Wilkes and is a full-time Assistant Professor at Lackawanna College and an Adjunct Professor at Marywood University.  This is the first time a short story writer will be featured for Open Mic Night at the Dietrich, and we can’t wait.  Admission is free. 

Since we are approaching the end of May and the school year is starting to wind down, I thought I would take a moment to alert you to the variety of summer camps the Dietrich is presenting.  At the end of June we are offering a Fashion Mag Jr. Camp where kids will have the opportunity to design clothing, create jewelry, and do a fashion photo shoots all while publishing their own fashion magazine! 

The Dietrich will also be presenting All About Pottery & Sculpture Camps, an Art Explorer Camp and a Mask Making Camp with artists-in-residence Amy and Steve Colley.  In these camps students will have an opportunity to explore the arts whether they are throwing pots on potter’s wheels, developing three dimensional masks or learning new drawing and painting techniques. 

In Acting Camps for Kids, campers will use their imaginations as they learn about acting through theatre games, improvisation, storytelling and more.  They will create their own characters and as a group develop a play which will be performed for family and friends at the end of each camp.

Combining visual arts and theatre arts, Amy Colley and Michaela Moore are teaming up to teach Traveling Through Time Theatre & Visual Arts Camp and Where the Wild Things Are Theatre & Visual Arts Camp this summer.  In each of these camps students will venture to imaginary worlds as they make their own costumes, props and sets, develop characters and create a play which they will perform at the end of the week. 

The Dietrich will also be offering a Jammin’ in a Jugband Camp, dance classes and preschool mask making classes.  These camps are a great way for children to develop creative skills and stay engaged and learning over the summer months.  For more information about these offerings, please call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 or visit www.dietrichtheater.com.