Now you can support the Dietrich in even more ways

Would you like to honor your grads by showcasing their accomplishment on the marquee of the Dietrich Theater? In this unprecedented year you can.

We are now shouting out our congratulations to our wonderful grads who work at the Dietrich including Hanalee Nichols, Brydan Huff, Paul Binner and Alex Yadlosky. We are so proud of you! Your loved ones can be up there, too. Or do you have a special birthday coming up? Or do you have a milestone anniversary? How about celebrating them with their names in lights?

The Dietrich Theater is now offering one side of our marquee for rental to make these occasions extra special. For just $75 for 3 days, you can rent one side of our marquee with any message you want. (Must be appropriate and get approval). All you have to do is call 570-836-1022 ext. 6 and pick your date and pay over the phone. It’s that simple, and your message will be up for everyone to see.

Another way you can treat yourselves and help the Dietrich is to Raise a Fork for the Dietrich. Our wonderful neighbor next door, Samario’s, is having this fundraiser for the Dietrich, because Trish and Sam Parlopiano, owners of Samario’s, say, “We wanted to do this for the Dietrich, because the theater is the heart and soul of our area.” So mark your calendar for Sunday, June 14 from 3 to 7 p.m. Dinners are $9 each. Order at www.dietrichtheater.com. You will find the fundraiser under Events.

You can experience Samario’s traditional Italian fare and support the Dietrich — 100% of the proceeds benefit the Dietrich. The dinners include penne pasta with Samario’s signature sauce, two meatballs and a dinner roll. Dinners will be packaged and ready for you to pick up at the theater. Ticket time denotes pickup time. Tickets are limited. Pickup will be on the Dietrich’s greenspace. Park in the front or the rear of the theater. All you need to do is warm up your delicious dinner at home and enjoy! Eat for your favorite movie theater and cultural center — the Dietrich Theater! For more information or if you unable to order online, please contact the Dietrich at 570-836-1022 ext. 2. Tickets are limited.

Another way you can help the Dietrich when our screens are dark is to download a movie from our website. These 16 movies can be your own little Film Festival and the Dietrich receives a portion of the profits. All of them were considerations for our summer film festival. I had watched seven of them and just watched my eighth, an extraordinary film from Russia called “Beanpole.” There were several moments during the two-hour-and-17-minute film when I was tempted to stop watching due to violence both intended and unintended, but the beauty of filming kept drawing me back.

The film focuses on bleak depictions of post-World War II Russia and the horrors faced by two women who became friends on the battlefield and now are coping with PTSD and new challenges. I watched this film the day after Memorial Day when we celebrated the glory of war, the victories and the heroes. This film shows the other side of war, the destruction and lives shattered. The complex characters, the use of color and what it symbolizes, and the extraordinary acting and directing bring a new understanding of a war that for most of us was long ago and far away.

All of these ways to support the Dietrich help us pay the bills that did not stop when we had to close. And remember — when Wyoming County goes green our movies will return to our screens. Until then we thank you for all the support and encouragement that are getting us through this. We are humbled and feeling confident we can do it.