First Posted: 4/4/2012

Even though flowers and trees have been blooming for quite some time now due to the mild winter, it is hard for me to believe that we are already into April. The Dietrich’s Spring Film Festival is less than two weeks away and excitement is building. I know some of our patrons are already mapping out their schedules to fit in all of the movies they want to see. I am still in awe of the folks who manage to see all of the festival films.

I especially can’t wait for the opening night gala. It is so festive! We will be celebrating with wine by Nimble Hill Vineyard and Winery, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres by Epicurean Delight, Twigs Restaurant and Seasons Restaurant. There will also be spectacular desserts by Epicurean Delight including mini raspberry romanoffs, chocolate and mint mousse, fresh fruit tarts, tiny tiramisus and lemon curd pound cakes. Now let’s talk movies for opening night. We will be featuring “The Women on the Sixth Floor” and “The Kid With a Bike.” Dr Philip Mosley from Penn State Hazleton will be on hand to introduce the films, and by coincidence he will have a book published later this year about the directors of “The Kid With a Bike” entitled “The Cinema of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne: Responsible Realism.” It will be very interesting to get his take on the Dardenne brothers’ film. Tickets for opening night are $35 each and can be reserved by calling the Dietrich at 996.1500. For more information about the film festival movies and show times, visit our website at www.dietrichtheater.com or call us 996.1500 to request a festival brochure.

Another big event this spring will be the Dietrich’s Philadelphia Art & History Bus Trip Thursday, May 3. You are invited to join us on a day trip to Philadelphia to experience great art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a walking tour of Historic Philadelphia and dinner at the eighteenth century City Tavern. You will have an audio tour of the traveling exhibit “Van Gogh Up Close” and have time to explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The tour bus will then take you to Historic Philadelphia where you will take a 1.25 mile walk through history with the self-directed Constitutional Walking Tour. The day will end at the famous 1773 City Tavern where we will have dinner in an 18th century setting. The bus will depart from the Dietrich at 8 a.m. and will return at about 11 p.m. Admission is $ 110 and includes the bus and museum and special exhibit admission, and a map of the Constitution Walking Tour. It does not include lunch at the museum or dinner at the City Tavern. Sounds like fun. Right? Call the Dietrich at 996.1500 for reservations. Space is limited.

For children in April, Tom Knight and his puppets will be back for a fabulous puppet show Thursday, April 19 at 1:30 p.m. During the show we will be able to join Tom Knight and his puppets for a collection of songs and skits for children about the environment, animals, food and books. It’s a great show to get your little ones to dance and sing along to. Favorite songs include “Alligator Jump” and “Henry the Magician”. Admission is free thanks to funding from the Tunkhannock Junior Women’s Club. Call the Dietrich at 996-1500 for details.

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