Get into the holiday spirit with Electric Theatre Company’s word-for-word rendition of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” This is Dickens’ complete story with every word in place.

Three performances are scheduled on December 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. and December 14 at 3 p.m.

Ten actors portray more than 60 characters in this orchestration for voices by Electric Theatre’s producing artistic director, David Zarko.

The production features Ed Chemaly, Jodi Grochal, Eleanore Gwyn-Jones, James Langan, Conor McGuigan, Michaela Moore, Mary Ethel Schmidt, John Schugard, Heather Stuart and others.

For more information, visit the Electric Theatre Company site at www.electrictheatre.org.

Local art and music was on display at 18 galleries and businesses around Downtown Scranton during last week’s First Friday event.

Northern Light Espresso Bar hosted an exhibit by Jess Confer and Matt Artz. The artists’ work was on sale with proceeds going to the Panamanian Hacienda La Esmeralda social program. You can stop by Northern Light for the next few weeks, buy their work and benefit the program. It was also the opening night for the vegan cafe, Eden, at 344 Adams Ave. And the place was packed with locals ready to get a taste of what Eden has to offer.

Any artists or venues interested in taking part in the December event should visit the First Friday site and sign up today.

This week with our artist profile we take a closer look at one of the area’s up and coming artists with an eye for the issues.

Jess Confer, a Gouldsboro native, and current Scranton resident, is a Marywood University undergraduate. There at Marywood, this 2009 prospective graduate, is working towards a BFA in graphic design, and has resultantly enrolled in her senior capstone class, advanced graphics.

In this advanced graphics class the students were asked to design a flash piece which would support Buy Nothing Day (BND) 2008. For those of you who do not know, Buy Nothing Day is unofficial day of protest against consumerism, observed by social activists round the globe. It is typically celebrated the Friday after Thanksgiving in North America, and originated in Canada with the help of the Adbusters Magazine BND campaign.

Now Confer, being an advocate of Design Can Change, jumped right in with both feet. So it was no suprise when the ECR asked her about her enthusiam behind such a project, that we got this reply: “As a designer and a student I have the opportunity to create and promote visual ideas that can impact others.” And impact others she will with this video.

Impressive right! Well it does not end there. When asked about her future ambitions Confer says “I plan on teaching English overseas for a year prior to going to grad school where I will pursue a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) that concentrates on sustainability.”  And she went on to say “…I would like to visually communicate to the public the present problem and the potential future for the world we live in. Like the organization that has influenced my design and the concepts behind them, Design Can Change.”

If you are intersted in this video, and the mindset behind it, stop into Northern Light Espresso bar tomorrow for First Friday. There Jess Confer and Matt Artz, will be hosting a show titled, Beneath The Global Textures of Life. The show will feature their photography from around the world, and will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Panamanian Hacienda La Esmeralda social program, which provides yearly scholarships for children to attend school.

The November First Friday map is out with 18 local businesses and galleries hosting events this Friday.

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The Melberger Arts Center is preparing to open a new exhibit at the gallery on 123 Wyoming Ave., Scranton.

“Painted Faces,” featuring works by local artist Marylou Chibirka, will open on November 14 and run through February 6.

According to the artist’s statement: “I find when someone gets up close and ‘in your face’ something unique happens…my reaction and assessment of the subject
changes. As I study the face and proceed to paint my subject the painting takes on a life of it’s own…I feel my subject is watching me instead of me studying them.”

Opening night on Friday, November 14, will include an artist talk at 6 p.m. followed by a reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with music by the Tony Costa Trio. Regular hours at the gallery are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Scranton’s own Electric Theatre Company will host the world premiere of “The Men of Mah Jongg” written by Richard Atkins and directed by Tony Award winner Mark Medoff. See it in NEPA first. Following its Scranton premiere, the production moves directly into New York for a co-production with Queens Theatre in the Park.

“The Men of Mah Jongg” is a charming tale of four elderly men who secretly take up the traditionally female game of mah jongg. The playwright, Richard Atkins, is also an accomplished pianist (formerly with Guy Lombardo), actor and composer; he is working on a screenplay based on the book Child of the Twentieth Convoy. Director Mark Medoff is a Tony award winning playwright and Oscar nominated screenwriter; this is his fourth project with Electric Theatre Company.

Pay-What-You-Can previews run Nov. 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Saturday, November 8, at 8 p.m. at the theatre, 326 Spruce St., 2nd Floor, Scranton; a party to celebrate the premiere will immediately follow the show. The play runs Nov. 9-23 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Special events are planned for Nov. 13 and 20. November 13 will be include a “Green Thursday” post-show presentation on how to think green organized by Everything Natural of Clarks Summit; and November 20, Electric Theatre Company will host “The Body Electric” at 6 p.m., a singles’ night at the theatre, with pre-show mixer, post-show party and dancing in The Ballroom.

For tickets and more information, call 570-558-1515 or visit www.electrictheatre.org.

Opening November 7, the Bracken Theatre Company will present David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” at the Phoenix Performing Arts Centre, 409 Main St., Duryea.

The play tells the story of real estate agents under the tremendous pressure of being top dog in 1980s Chicago. When the office is robbed and he highly prized Glengarry leads are stolen, tempers flare, suspicions are raised and a ferocious battle of wills is set in motion.

The Bracken Theatre production will be directed by veteran actress and director Dawn Winarski, and will star local actors Greg Korin as Shelly “The Machine” Levene, a well worn salesman down on his luck; Alex DeVirgilis as the slick and successful Ricky Roma; John Hornung as office manager John Williamson; Paul Winarski as the disgruntled David Moss; and WYOU’s Sid Michaels as the hapless George Arranow.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” opens November 7 and runs November 8, 9,14 and 15. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be reserved at 570-457-3589. The play contains strong language and is recommended for mature audiences.

The Endless Mountains Theatre will host a night of short films produced by local filmmakers and shot entirely in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 1, at 7 p.m.

Four films created by Community Film Project members will be shown: “Get Pumped!” by Jeff Fowler; “First Semester” by Tony DelRegno; “A Night On The Moon” by Bob Sweeney; and “A Witness Carol” by Danielle Wells and Kevin Malone.

“Get Pumped!” - A documentary that details the operations of a consulting firm named Pumped Associates. The mission of Pumped Associates is to improve the well being of clients by utilizing energetic chants to get people fired up.

“First Semester” - During Beth’s first semester of college she is living in a party house. Her very-religious mother and swinging grandmother surprise her for a visit. Beth must try to hide the truth about her roommates: a lesbian in love with her, and two perverted males who make dirty movies.

“A Night On The Moon” - Strange and Wonderful things can happen on the moon. Set in the early 20th century and filmed in the fashion of an old silent film, the story centers on Scott who tries to impress, Harriet, by taking her on a date to the moon.

“A Witness Carol” - Raymond Barber had everything; a best friend, a supportive mother and a religion to call upon when things got to be too much. But when he delves into the under belly of a specific Christian holiday, his whole world turns upside down. Stuck between an ultimatum and devotion, Raymond must decide what’s most important. Should he follow his faith, or his heart?

Admission is just $5. And a dvd featuring films from local filmmaker Jeff Fowler will be on sale for $10 with over two hours of short films.

It was another great First Friday event last Friday in downtown Scranton with crowds of art-lovers at each venue enjoying local music and art.

This month’s event also featured the grand opening of Greenbeing, an eco-friendly boutique, at 334 Adams Ave.; and Scranton residents turned out to support the new business. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hosted a lively event with dancing dogs, paper mache animal sculptures and more.

Any artists or venues interested in taking part in the November event should visit the First Friday site and sign up today.

The Scranton area’s art community continues to support bigger and better First Friday events each month. This month’s Oktoberfest-themed First Friday includes 26 venues across the downtown area.

And it’s not just the number of venues - several venues this month are loaded with art and activities for visitors to enjoy. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Ave., will offer trained dancing dogs, an animal CPR demonstration, dogs available for adoption from the Humane Society, art by Dianet Grant-Dzajkowski, Sandi Korshnak, Ed Davis and Keystone Community Resources artists and more. And the Electric Theatre Company, 326 Spruce St., 2nd Floor, will feature a silent art auction with a signed original illustration by iconic costume designer Edith Head and works by local artists.

Music this month will include accordionist Tony Angeli at Cami Mari, 226 Linden St.; Pete Michaels Trio at Dionysus Downtown, 244 Penn Ave.; DJ Steven Wallace at LAVISH, 600 Linden St.; Beautiful Vision  at Northern Light Espresso Bar, 536 Spruce St.; and Keygan Bodman at Electric City Tattoo Gallery, 620 Spruce St. Fans of jazz and blues will also enjoy pen and ink illustrations of jazz and blues legends by Sam Barrese at Blues Street, 222 Wyoming Ave.

Be sure to check out the great local art on display at all of this month’s venues this Friday, Oct. 3, from 6-9 p.m. in Downtown Scranton.