Have you been reading or rereading “To Kill a Mockingbird” for Wyoming County Reads? If so, or even if you haven’t, join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evenings throughout February at the Tunkhannock Public Library for book discussions about this classic novel by Harper Lee. We will also be looking into her newly released novel “Go Set A Watchman,” so I am sure there is bound to be lively discussion.
Local scholar Bill Chapla will facilitate the first three discussions. Topics will include “Coming of Age Novels,” “Heroes and Humans: A Study of Atticus Finch” and “Mockingbird to Watchman: You Can’t Go Home Again or Can You?” Chapla brings great enthusiasm to the evenings and makes everyone feel comfortable to share their views with the group. For the fourth discussion, Misericordia University professors Dr. Marnie Hiester and Dr. Jim Calderone will talk about “Hatred, Prejudice and Ignorance vs. the Human Capacity for Goodness,” a major theme of the novel.
Light refreshments will be provided at each discussion and admission is free.
I remember when we read “To Kill a Mockingbird” for our first Wyoming County Reads project, one of our local authors, Isabel Wilner, who has since passed, shared with the group that she thought this novel is something that could be read every year and you would glean something new from it. I agree with her and can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say at this year’s discussions. We hope you can join us, and, remember, you don’t have to be a resident of Wyoming County to take part.
In addition to Wyoming County Reads, the Dietrich will be kicking off its first ever Winter Fest this month. Thanks to the generosity of the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau and PS Bank, we will be bringing in 14 acclaimed foreign, independent and art films over fourteen days. They all look so good. I especially can’t wait to see “Room,” “Grandma,” “Learning to Drive,” “Suffragette,” and “Taxi.” For a full listing of all Winter Fest movies and their synopses and showtimes, visit dietrichtheater.com.
We will start Winter Fest off with opening night festivities, including the films “Grandma” and “Meet the Patels,” plus popcorn, beer, wine, cheese and crackers. In between films, there will be a decadent brownie a la mode dessert. Tickets to opening night are $25 each. You can’t beat that for a fun night out in February! For reservations, call us at 570-996-1500.
If you are looking for activities for your children, the Dietrich has plenty of offerings for kids this month. Our artists-in-residence Amy and Steve Colley will be teaching Mixed Media for students ages five to 12 years old from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday afternoons. During these classes, young artists will learn about working with a variety of materials to create masterpieces. Along the way they will discover drawing and painting techniques, will learn how to create a 3-D collage out of common household items and they will even explore pottery and sculpture. Classes will run from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 5 through 26. Admission is $40 for the four-class series.
We also will offer a similar class series for preschoolers from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursdays, Feb. 4-25. Admission is free. For more information or to register, call the theater.
As you can see the Dietrich is so much more than the movies!
