Kathryn Morgan of the New York City Ballet
Scranton, PA, a short drive from both New York City and Philadelphia, is an odd mix of evergreen rolling hills, silvery lakes, abandoned railroad tracks, pot-holed roads, twangy thick loud accents, cigarette smokers, hunters, yogis, artists, ballerinas and lawyers. Back when I was in college one of the jokes about Scranton was that the town featured a bar and a funeral home on every corner. Today it seems like bars and funeral homes have been replaced by dance studios and law offices. A visitor to the town might deduce that Scrantonians are a litigious, dance-loving people.On Sunday, I attended a performance of the Scranton Civic Ballet and was blown away by the choreography, the symphony that accompanied the final piece, "Stars & Stripes," and also the venue: the auditorium of my former high school. All those years in high school and I never realized the 101-year-old historic building is gorgeous. Back in high school, it just seemed, well, old. As did all the other buildings, which I'm currently rediscovering. It's an odd feeling, like deja vu. I know all of these places so well, but until now I never actually looked at them. But, I digress. The point of this blog post is to brag about the performing arts scene in Scranton and the surrounding Pocono Northeast.
Scranton Cultural Center
The Scranton Cultural Center, housed in the magnificent Masonic Temple, considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the country (swear to God), hosts tons of performances and events, including Broadway Theatre League of Northeast Pennsylvania, original and classic works by Ballet Theatre of Scranton, the Northeastern Philharmonic and up-and-coming comedians. And lest the beer-swilling, cigarette-smoking masses feel alienated, last weekend the Cultural Center hosted the first ever Electric City (a nickname Scranton dubbed itself; God knows why) beer festival.
An exquisite example of Neo-Gothic architecture designed by noted architect Raymond Hood, Scranton's Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This summer the Dave Matthews Band will perform at Scranton's Toyota Pavilion on Montage "Mountain." So will REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent and Styx. Interesting aside: that feeling of deja vu all over again. The same songs that were playing on Rock 107 when I graduated from high school are still playing on the station, which I guess explains Styx.
During my 34-year absence from Scranton, it's become a college town and college towns are almost always cool. Scranton is no exception. We have a vegan cafe, a splattering of art galleries and a real estate developer from Philadelphia who is turning several of the abandoned historic buildings into Manhattan-esque lofts. I happen to live in one and I love it, although I could do without the cadre of twenty-something year olds partying loudly most weekends. But, to be hip, a town needs youth and youth does tend to be noisy, even when they're in medical school and should be spending more time pulling all-nighters at work like all those folks on Grey's Anatomy. But I digress. Besides its new medical school, Scranton is home to long-established colleges, Marywood University, the University of Scranton and Lackawanna College (which now owns my former high school), all of which feature theater departments with numerous performances throughout the year, many of which are free.
Right now, in a nearby town in the Endless Mountains, Tunkannock, an international film festival is taking place. Summer breezes through the area with jazz festivals and other outdoor concerts. When I was in high school, I saw Harry Chapin at the old Rocky Glen at least four times. Sadly, neither Harry nor Rocky Glen are alive today. And getting back to my main performing arts interest, dance, Christmas heralds a host of Nutcrackers performed by Ballet Theatre of Scranton and the Civic Ballet.
And here's something really great about Scranton—so close to New York. But say you are, like me, totally underpaid by your job and in order to take in a Broadway show you'd have to go without eating for a week or two, maybe you'd look for a more affordable dramatic experience. Voila! The Poconos have a solution. Featuring Shakespeare, new, classic and Pulitzer-Prize winning plays, musicals, operas and an Original Playwright Series, The Shawnee Playhouse brings Broadway quality shows to the Pocono region. Professional actors, auditioned in New York City, fill the bill. Nestled in the verdant splendor of the Delaware Water Gap, Shawnee Playhouse's mission is to provide affordable, year-round entertainment and to serve as a training ground for young theater performers and technicians.
Jim Thorpe, formerly called Mauch Chunk, boasts two great venues for live music and other performances: Mauch Chunk Opera House and Penn's Peak. A historic 1882 Vaudeville theater, Mauch Chunk Opera House features acoustics that rival those of Carnegie Hall. (I have no idea if that previous statement is true, but I write it so often for my job as the editor of a silly little publication that I actually believe it.) This I know is true: friends who've attended performances at Penn's Peak have been delighted with their experience. Later this week Glen Campbell will appear there, a stop on his farewell tour. I used to love Glen Campbell. When I was seven years old and my parents bought their first stereo they played Glen Campbell albums; I'd lie awake in bed and listen to his smooth, soft voice. This was decades before Rhinestone Cowboy.
Other nationally known performers appear in the Poconos. Scheduled for this summer: Howie Mandell, Ziggy Marley, The Charlie Daniels Band and The Guess Who. I'm not suggesting anyone plan a trip here specifically to see one of these acts. But if you do happen to be in the area, it's good to know you can find quality entertainment and still be able to afford to eat.