First Posted: 9/8/2014

There is nothing quite like live theatre. Through this art form, audience members are able to connect to the actors and the story they are telling in such a personal way.

This weekend the Dietrich will celebrate live theatre with two performances of “The Bridegroom of Blowing Rock” by Catherine Trieschmann. This play is set in the final days of the Civil War and follows a lost soldier and blind young woman who fall in love even though one is Confederate and one is Union.

This beautiful story covers issues of prejudices, rivalries and the challenges of following one’s heart. There are also some light-hearted and comedic moments in the play.

Directed by Jennifer Jenkins, the cast includes David Swanson, Owen Frazier, Tony Moran, Brenda Wenner, Jila Rusavage, Laurel Radzieski and Mary Van Vliet. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14 on the Dietrich stage. Tickets are $10 each and can be reserved by calling the theater at 570-996-1500. Tickets will also be available at the door.

After the Civil War drama, the next event at the Dietrich will be the 12th Annual Fall Film Festival. We can’t wait! Our film bookers – Hildy, Ronnie and Jeffrey – have outdone themselves and picked 25 films for us to enjoy and extended the festival an extra week so we can fit them all in.

I am looking forward to seeing the two opening night selections, “Magic in the Moonlight” and “The Trip to Italy.” I also want to see the documentary “Alive Inside,” about music’s ability to combat memory loss; “Boyhood,” which was filmed over 12 years with the same cast, “Chef;” “Life Itself,” about Roger Ebert; “Philip Seymour;” Hoffman’s last film “A Most Wanted Man;” “Words and Pictures” and “Yves Saint Laurent.”

The festival will run from Sep. 19 through Oct. 9. There are still a few tickets remaining for the Opening Night Gala. On Sept. 19, join us for two films, amazing hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine by Nimble Hill, and Epicurean Delight’s sumptuous spread of desserts. Tickets for Opening Night are $35 and reservations can be made by calling the theater. All other festival films are $8.50 each and can be purchased at the Dietrich ticket booth or at www.dietrichtheater.com.

Also be sure to check out the theater’s new class schedule. There is something for everyone from Plein Air Sketching and Watercolor, Pottery and Sculpture for Kids, Drumming 101, Half Pint Poets and more. Visit www.dietrichtheater.com for a full listing.

The Dietrich will also host Open Mic Night this month. Storytellers, poets, musicians, comedians and other performers are invited to come out and performat 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26 at the theater. Or if you are like me, enjoy the show.

After the open mic portion of the evening, singer/songwriter Wolf Critton will perform some his original acoustic rock music. This will be his second time performing for Open Mic. Wolf is an amazing musician. Doors open for seating and open mic sign-ups at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call the Dietrich.

As you can see, the Dietrich is so much more than the movies!