First Posted: 8/29/2014

Over the past several years, naturalist and WNEP Pennsylvania Outdoor Life personality Rick Koval has been educating us about the amazing creatures and plants native to Northeastern Pennsylvania. After listening to his presentations, I am always fascinated by the variety of critters that live in our backyard.

Koval will return to the Dietrich at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 with a presentation called Snakes Alive! During this PowerPoint presentation, he will share his knowledge with us about the many wild snakes that reside in our region. Then audience members will have a chance to meet some of these snakes up close and personal. Koval will have a garter snake, a timber rattlesnake, a northern copperhead, black rat snake and many more. Kids and adults alike enjoy the program.

Admission is free and tickets can be reserved by calling the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 or picked up at the door.

Another free event coming up at the Dietrich is the Jimmy Welch Jazz Band Concert. Join us at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7 for an afternoon of music. With Chuck Pirone on drums, Joe Weldon on keyboards, John Stellabat on bass and Jimmy Welch on trumpet, concert-goers will be able to experience a variety of Big Band Dixieland favorites and jazz numbers.

This will be the second year in a row that the band will grace the Dietrich stage and we are grateful. Admission is free and donations will be accepted. Following the concert, audience members are invited to stay for a cookie reception. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Dietrich or picked up at the ticket booth.

Live entertainment will continue the following weekend at the Dietrich with the Civil War drama “The Bridegroom of Blowing Rock,” a play by Catherine Trieschmann.

Directed by Jennifer Jenkins, this moving and beautiful play was performed two years ago at Lazybrook Park in Tunkhannock to very appreciative audiences. You will have the opportunity to experience it again or for the first time at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 or 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14 on the Dietrich stage. This play is part of Tunkhannock’s events to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Tickets are $10 each and can be reserved by calling the theater and will also be available at the door.

For those interested in hands-on activities, I invite you to take a class at the Dietrich this fall.

For adults, the theater will offer a new class series, Drumming 101. This series is for anyone who has ever wanted to play the drums or be a part of a drumming circle. Taught by Al Cabral, students will learn basic rhythmic skills, followed by group drumming. Classes will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays, Sept. 18 and 25 and Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Admission is free.

For children, Amy and Steve Colley will start All About Pottery and Sculpture classes this month. Students will explore the medium of clay as they work on potter’s wheels and learn hand-building and sculpture techniques. Classes will be held for students ages 5 to 8 years old from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, Sept 12, 19 and 26 and Oct. 3. Children ages 9 to 12 years old will meet for pottery class from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25 and Oct. 2. Admission is $40 for a four-class series. Call the Dietrich for more information or to register.

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