The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Terrific & radiant: The Children’s Theatre Project at the Community Players of Concord will present Charlotte’s Web on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord;theaudi.org). Actors ages 6 to 16 will tell the story of the pig Wilbur, his dear friend Charlotte the spider and other animals at the farm, according to a press release. See communityplayersofconcord.org for tickets and details on the play.
• Harmonious history: Jersey Boys, a musical about the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, opens Friday, Oct. 18, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 10. Tickets cost $45 through $59.
• Organ concert: The Young Organist Collaborative will host a Fall Faculty Concert on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church, 43 Pine St. in Exeter, featuring a range of works for the pipe organ, according to a press release. “The Young Organist Collaborative encourages and supports young people ages 11-18 in learning to play the pipe organ by awarding scholarships that cover the cost for 16 organ lessons with a qualified local organist in the tri-state area of northern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and southern Maine. The fall concert features five of the faculty currently working with YOC students,” the release said. The concert is open to the public and has an at-the-door suggested donation of $10 per person. See youngorganistcollaborative.org.
Celebrating 5 years
The Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) will celebrate its fifth birthday and open its 47th exhibit with an event on Saturday, Oct. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. according to a press release. The event will feature live music, light refreshments and a raffle as well as the opening of “My Artistic Legacy”, a group show featuring works artists would like to be remembered by, according to the website. The exhibit will be on display through Saturday, Nov. 16, and the gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
“We have a high caliber of artists proposing shows of their work,” says Larry Morgan, TVAS board president. “We offer as much variety as possible in our calendar, and continue to present two member shows each year. These shows support local artists and they help us meet expenses to run our nonprofit gallery.”
• Weekend outing: Deerfield Arts Tour takes place Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 20 artists are slated to participate, according to deerfieldarts.com, where you can find a map of the studios. Find our coverage of several area arts tours in the Oct. 10 issue of the Hippo; go to hippopress.com to find our digital library. The story is on page 10.
• Staged reading: The Community Players of Concord will present an enhanced stage reading of the play It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis on Thursday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. at the West Street Ward House, 41 West St. in Concord. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free. “In 1935, as fascism was taking hold in Europe, Sinclair Lewis wrote It Can’t Happen Here, a dark satire that imagines the rise of a demagogue who becomes president of the United States. Presented first by the Federal Theatre Project, and adapted in 2016 by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, this enhanced staged reading features theatrical lighting, audio effects, and projections of photographs that help set the stage for a compelling, and frightening, tale of the fall of American democracy,” according to a Community Players release. See communityplayersofconcord.org.
• Seasonal painting: Creature your own picture of the Sanderson Sisters at Hocus Pocus Paint Night on Friday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m. at Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com). The cost is $45.
—Zachary Lewis