Amy Diaz

More of that

Alan Ritchson is always good for an Alan Ritchson type

Playing into that one character you always play might not be the way to blaze a path to an Oscar, but it does seem to be a good strategy for earning a regular paycheck.

Take, for example, Alan Ritchson, traveling butt-kicker Reacher in the Prime Video series Reacher. In addition to playing a large man who has a code and beats up bad guys in that series (which ends its fourth season this week; a fifth season is expected, according to Wikipedia), Ritchson plays a large man who has a code and beats up bad guys in Runner, released in theaters last week, less than two months after the release of Motor City, another movie where he plays a large man who has a code and beats up bad guys.

Hank (Ritchson), who has a “big guy” name, as Owen Wilson’s Ben says, is a courier, running things both legal and legal-status-unknown around Brisbane, Australia, where he lives and works on his sobriety. He is charged with picking up a medical package at the airport, which is where he meets Ben, who explains that he, Ben, is part of the medical package. The item is a secured cooler keeping a liver viable for a sad little girl who needs a new liver and Ben is the guy who knows how to keep it at the right temperature and knows the code to open it.

Things immediately start to go wrong with this assignment as Hank realizes that he and the aggressively chatty Ben are being followed by two SUVs full of bad guys. Soon the shooting and car chasing and occasionally some punching and kicking get underway as Hank and Ben try to race the organ to an out-of-town hospital before it loses viability while a cartel boss’s desperate, sweaty son (Rodrigo Santoro) attempts to hijack it for his mother’s own use.

Just to really hammer home that all of the violence Hank and Ben participate in is For A Good Cause, we see the sick kid and her mother regularly and we spend a little too much screentime on Hank’s sad backstory with his own sad sick daughter. And if that doesn’t do it for you, the movie really underlines the Extreme Danger and Extreme Heroism by scoring a lot of the action with music that feels like it was maybe left over from some Angel Studios’ biblical epic’s battlefield scenes. (Angel, which I know largely for its Christian and Christian-adjacent films, is this movie’s distributor and apparently has also started to release some less overtly faith-based movies. TBD on what all that means.)

Not unlike other movies I talk about here, Runner piles on a lot of unnecessary story elements for its characters — Santoro’s character has a difficult relationship with his mother! Hank is still sad about his failed marriage! These little extras aren’t needed because this movie’s core — overly talkative regular-guy Ben and strong silent type Hank — is very charming. They have good “guys who become buddies doing a task” chemistry, their respective skills help give energy and the right amount of humor to the action scenes. When the movie just gets out of their way, turns down the score and lets them do their things — Ritchson’s Reacher variant, Wilson’s Owen Wilson variant — we in the audience get the fun popcorn time the trailer promises.

In July theatrical release Motor City (available for rent or purchase), Ritchson, playing Vietnam vet and lunch-box-toting factory worker John Miller, is less crackling but still fun to watch. This action-revenge movie of few words lets 1970s production design, costuming and songs do most of the talking. Moments after Miller proposes to girlfriend Sophia (Shailene Woodley), cops are blasting smoke bombs into their home. Sophia and Miller end up under arrest, with police pulling bricks of cocaine out of his car, the car that hours earlier was briefly stolen from him. As we see in flashbacks, before she was with Miller, Sophia was the girlfriend of drug muckety muck Reynolds (Ben Foster) and now Reynolds, with the help of dirty cop Savick (Pablo Schreiber), is getting Miller out of the way. Miller goes to jail and Reynolds goes to Sophia, re-endearing himself to the woman who felt so betrayed by Miller. When she discovers Reynolds’ treachery and he gets violent, Miller’s friends (played by Lionel Boyce and Amar Chadha-Patel) break Miller out of prison to rescue Sophia.

Motor City is aggressive about its stylishness, from its slo-mo-enhanced action choreographed to Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” to every choice made with Woodley’s hair. It is very self-consciously Doing A Thing, which I found entertaining mostly and kind of endearing even when it felt like it tipped into A Little Much territory (which for me was when “Nights in White Satin” appeared on the soundtrack). For me, this movie boiled down to the appeal of Alan Ritchson and how he dances through his fight scenes with balletic precision, taking just enough punches so we don’t think he’s a robot.

Ritchson, of course, isn’t the only actor playing his standard character and serving up action in recent releases.

Ryan Reynolds plays that one Ryan Reynolds character who is here a fighter pilot during the Top Gun-era Cold War in Mayday, an Apple TV movie. Troy (Reynolds) is tasked with operating the camera on a spy mission over Soviet territory. When his plane is shot down, he winds up behind enemy lines and is found by Nikolai (Kenneth Branagh), an American-culture-loving former KGB agent who insists on Troy calling him “Nik” and is delighted to have real-life Maverick in his house. When Troy nixes Nik’s suggestion that they just wait out the end of the Cold War safely in Nik’s cabin, the two have to work together to get Troy to safety without Nik being arrested for being a traitor. Chasing them down is Volkov (Marcin Dorocinski), a glasnost-hating KGB agent hoping to use this situation to return the U.S.S.R. to its former hardline glory.

That all of these characters seem more naive than they should be for who they are is probably my biggest beef with this otherwise good-natured, goofy caper-like movie. There is some silliness to the “Russians are people, just like us!” elements of Troy’s journey. But Branagh’s heft helps to cut Reynolds’ patter-based glibness and the result is a highly watchable light bit of comedy.

Also playing his one character is Jason Statham in Mutiny, an August release that showed up last week on VOD for rent or purchase. Statham is Cole Reed, a former British military guy and also former British cop who is now the bodyguard for a shipping magnate Tibu (Ramon Tikaram), who treats Cole like family and buys him a fancy watch and is the stand-in for Cole’s cop father, who died during a police raid or something and Cole feels responsible and this is way too much backstory for a movie that was trying to sell itself by boasting it had the same director as Plane. Plane got right to the Plane of it all. Mutiny takes too long to get us in an actual ship on the actual water. The action kicks off on dry land when Tibu, who is about to sell his company, is ambushed. Cole nearly gets him to safety but Tibu is shot and has just enough time to say “take care of my crappy adult son” (not an exact quote) before dying. Cole then seeks the men who killed his beloved employer, which leads him to sneaking onto a cargo ship. Also on the ship is Angie (Annabelle Wallis), the third mate, who has her own irrelevant backstory. These are the good guys on the ship; everybody else (captain played by Roland Møller plus a bunch of henchmen I couldn’t keep straight) is a bad guy. What Cole and Angie, separately at first and then together, discover is that the ship is part of a human trafficking operation and some of the refugees aboard this particular ship are in dire need of medical attention. To get the help they need, Cole and Angie will need to kick, punch, shoot and stab their way through the bad guys.

There is one particularly fun scene of balletic hand-to-hand combat featuring Statham near the movie’s end. It stood out to me for how much more interesting it was than most of the action that preceded it. Statham does a lot of his Statham thing but the movie doesn’t have the fun this kind of action-focused affair should have. We are watching Mutiny for Mutiny, and all that implies in terms of sassy one-liners and creative violence, not a rumination on father-son relationships and not a study of the different ways human traffickers can be bad. A movie like this can put its characters in scary settings with bad people, and those characters should take it seriously, but the movie where a guy fights another guy with a giant hook shouldn’t take itself so seriously or weigh itself down.

I feel like recent Amazon Prime Video release The Runner also had action-entertainment potential, but it just doesn’t work, I think this is in part because the movie has no faith in itself or in lead Gal Gadot. In a movie that feels like smooshed together bits of other movies, Gadot plays Maia, a London prosecutor and single mom to diabetic kid Noah (Rory Wilmot). She drops her son off at school and then goes on a run before a big day in court where she’s meant to question the one witness who can put away the criminal on trial. Early in her run, she gets a call on Noah’s phone from a man (Damian Lewis) saying he has Noah and needs her to do exactly what he says if she wants to see her son alive again. Naturally, the task is killing the witness and she has about an hour to run a needlessly far distance to his hotel (no Uber in London?) and get the job done before Noah dies of the diabetic coma Damian Lewis (called simply “The Caller” on IMDb) has put him in.

Most of the action is Maia running through the city while talking to Damian. Along the way she tries to figure out how to tell someone what’s happening. This story feels like a copy of a copy of some similar movie that would have starred, for example, Jason Statham, but the movie never figures out a clear lane to stick to — is Damian Lewis a creepy sadist who gets his kicks from this or a professional just doing a task? Is Maia just a regular-lady mom trying to save her son or does she have some weird violent past? Or is Gal Gadot just so unsuited for this part, however well she might physically sell the action elements, that the movie doesn’t know how to compose her character? I vote for that option. One of the many signs of the movie’s total lack of faith in Gadot is the strange close-ups, shaky cams, slo-mos and other camera effects applied to Gadot, particularly in scenes where you might need an actor to convey an emotion. You get the sense that either Gadot couldn’t portray, like, panic or rage, or the moviemakers decided to add the character’s emotions in post. Either way, it highlights the overall limpness of her performance and adds to the “cheap story told cheaply” feel of the whole endeavor.

Featured photo: Motor City.

Raygun and Whisper Man

A look at new Netflix flicks

Two new Netflix releases don’t demand your close attention but are acceptable relax-the-brain watches.

The Whisper Man feels like a study in contrasts. With its cast featuring Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan and Michael Keaton, this movie about a retired detective (De Niro) joining the search for a possible copycat to the serial killer he put away years earlier is not nearly as fresh and compelling as it should be. But I also think all those people and their ability to bring top-shelf acting abilities to well-liquor material makes this grim and moody endeavor feel meatier than it would be with lesser talents.

To recommend the movie as a lazy-day crime drama is Scott as Tom Kennedy, author and overwhelmed recent widower and sole-parent dad to Jake (Acston Luca Porto), a kid whose mother’s death has left him with an imaginary friend and a fear of stairs. Why not relocate to a creepy multi-floor Victorian that had previously been (and is maybe still?) occupied by squatters? I feel like better real estate decision-making on Tom’s part could have saved him, and us, a lot of grief. Tom is retired detective Peter Willis’s (De Niro) estranged son, and so when Jake suddenly goes missing Tom immediately remembers his father’s super-disturbing case catching The Whisper Man, a serial killer who preyed on lonely young boys. Tom and Peter’s very strained relationship is one of the better parts of the story, as is Peter’s brothers-in-detective-ing partnership with Amanda (Monaghan), the detective working a new set of similar murders who asks Peter for help even before his grandson is was taken.

While the movie’s slow beginning suggests one of those grim eight-hour prestige crime series, there is a “get down to business” energy in the middle part of this movie as Peter and Amanda, and, on his own, a frantic Tom, try to figure out the connection between the old killings and the new killings and race to save Jake. But this movie spends too much time setting up a lot of, like, Chekov’s leaky-roof situations whose payoff is not nearly clever enough or expeditious enough to make up for the slog of showing us all the elements of the magic trick before the movie slowly performs it.

For a much peppier Netflix watch there’s Raygun: Breaking Badly,part of the Untold series of sports docs. This particular entry sympathetically tells the story of Dr. Rachael Gunn, aka Raygun, an Australian Olympic competitor in break dancing in the 2024 Paris games. By the looks of the Google search results, I am not the only person who searched “Baz Luhrmann Raygun movie” — because how is this story not a spiritual sequel to Lurhmann’s Strictly Ballroom just waiting to be made? Among the talking heads are Rachael’s sweetly supportive if befuddled parents and two fellow Australian B-girls talking delicious amounts of smack — all who read as straight out of Central Casting: Luhrmann division.

Rachael and her husband and coach Sammy Free are a cute, if somewhat in their own world, couple, both enamored of each other and of breaking, a style of dance they seem to maybe 45 percent understand. Rachael competed and frequently won in Australia, so it wasn’t really until she took her moves outside Oceania that she started to suspect how “not strictly breaking” her dancing was compared to the other dancer-athletes she’d be competing with. Who among us would be able to give up being an Olympian in Paris even if we realized, kinda too late, that actually we had no idea what we were doing? In the doc, Raygun walks us through her breaking career from her initial interest in this style of dance to the Olympics and into the horrors of going internet viral. Throughout she comes off as a friendly, enthusiastic, dorky lady who seems to have chosen — chosen correctly, for the sake of her personal sanity — to try to stay focused on the positive parts of her experience.

There is a “Raygun is bad for the break dancing community” element to her story that I’ve seen other reviews mention and that this documentary doesn’t really address in any meaningful way. I do think this doc does sell the idea that athleticism and skill are a big part of breaking — Raygun didn’t have skills at that level but her competitors clearly did. I feel like we’re watching Raygun show up ready to play her best game of T-ball not understanding that she’s playing baseball with MLB all-stars, which can make her seem sorta clueless but not necessarily, to my viewing, disrespectful to the game. And the documentary does work that Olympic magic of making me suddenly very interested in a competitive realm I’d never considered before. Time to rent 2007’s Planet B-Boy?

Featured photo: The Whisper Man.

2026 Fall Guide

It’s fall!

Or, you know, it’s “fall” — as in, calendar aside, we have pumpkin spice flavored everything and kids are back at school.

And the arts and entertainment events schedule is packed.

Here are some fairs, foodie events, art openings, Old Home Days, concerts, theatrical productions, special film screenings, book events and more to keep you out and enjoying the season through Wednesday, Nov. 25. Did we miss your favorite bit of fall fun? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

• Hillsborough County Agricultural Fair, held at the New Boston 4-H Youth Center at 17 Hilldale Lane in New Boston, will run Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13, opening at noon on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The fair features 4-H exhibits and shows as well as demos, a giant pumpkin weigh-off and more, according to the fair schedule on the fair’s website. Children’s activities run throughout the fair, as does a midway with rides and games. See hcafair.org.

• Auburn Day and Annual Duck Race will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Auburn Village on Hooksett Road. The day will feature local artisans, local authors, food vendors, cookie and apple pie contests, a duck race ($5 gets you a rubber ducky-style duck to enter in the race) and more, according to the website. See auburnhistorical.org.

• The family-friendly, dog-friendly Wags to Whiskers Festival held by the Humane Society for Greater Nashua will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holman Stadium in Nashua. The day will feature K9 demonstrations, adoptable puppies, entertainment, kids’ games and more, according to hsfn.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• The annual Family Fun Day hosted by the Friends of Benson Park will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road in Hudson, and will celebrate the park’s 100th anniversary, according to friendsofbensonpark.org.

• Granite State Fair will run Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 20, and Thursday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 27, at 72 Lafayette St. in Rochester. The midway of rides and games will run each day of the fair and there is a line-up of grandstand and livestock events, Circus Hollywood, a cornhole tournament and more. See granitestatefair.com for tickets and a schedule.

• The annual New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20, at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, featuring a celebration of Scottish culture with Scottish music, dance, food, heavy athletics, sheep dog trials and more, according to nhscot.org, where you can purchase tickets to the festival or to special musical performances or food events.

• Hollis Old Home Days will run Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, with events including the town parade (10:30 a.m on Saturday), a chicken pageant (4 p.m. on Saturday), an artisan market, a heritage and demonstration tent, fireworks Saturday evening and more, according to hollisoldhomedays.org.

• Granite State Comic Con, granitecon.com, will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, at Double Tree By Hilton and SNHU Arena, both on Elm Street nearly across the street from each other, in downtown Manchester. There is also a Friday night preview on Sept 18, from 3 to 8 p.m. Find tickets to specific days or all three days or VIP packages on the website, where you will also be able to find a schedule and updates on participating artists.

• Derryfest will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in MacGregor Park in Derry, according to derryfest.org, where you can find a line-up of entertainment. The day will also feature a craft fair, food and vendors, according to a post on the event’s Facebook page.

• Hooksett Old Home Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, and will feature a parade (10 a.m.), an authors alley, craft & retail vendors, a Heritage Trolley Tour, a line-up of live performances and more, according to hooksettoldhomeday.org, where you can find a schedule.

• Nashua Airport’s Wheels & Wings “A Touch a Truck Event” will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boire Field with cars, trucks and planes to see and explore, according to the city’s SummerFun brochure at nashuanh.gov. The event will feature a horns-free hour from 1 to 2 p.m. and will collect nonperishable food for End 68 Hours of Hunger, the brochure said

• The annual AerospaceFest at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature STEM and aerospace organizations from across New England, the debut of the new planetarium show “Encounters in the Milky Way” and more, according to starhop.com.

• Pelham Old Home Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, featuring vendors, an auction, kids’ activities, a quilt raffle, food trucks, a parade and more, according to pelhamoldhomeday.org, where you can find the full schedule.

• The Hampton Falls Craft Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hampton Falls Town Common featuring more than “75 juried artisans and specialty food makers,” according to castleberryfairs.com, where you can find the vendor list.

• The New Hampshire Pagans Faire will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a Night Market on Saturday from 7 to 9:30 p.m., according to newhampshirepagansfaire.org, where you can purchase tickets. The event takes place at the Belknap County Fairgrounds, 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont, and will feature vendors, workshops, artists and makers, food vendors and more, according to the website, where you can find a map of the fairground.

• The Concord Multicultural Festival will run Sunday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Keach Park in Concord Heights, according to concordnhmulticulturalfestival.org, where you can sign up to receive updates. The day will feature food, artists and makers, entertainment, vendors and more, the website said.

• Toddlerfest, the annual celebration of younger kids at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover, will run Tuesday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 4, according to childrens-museum.org, where you can purchase admission for the Toddlerfest days. The museum will feature special events and activities geared toward younger kids, the website said.

• Manchester has two more Final Friday events on the schedule this season — Friday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Oct. 30, according to the event’s Instagram page. On these days Hanover Street between Elm and Chestnut is closed to vehicle traffic between 4 and 8 p.m. for a block party-style event featuring vendors, food, live music and more, posts said.

• Beaver Brook Association’s Fall Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road in Hollis, and feature live demonstrations, food, kids’ activities and an apple cider press, according to Beaver Brook’s Facebook page. See beaverbrook.org.

• Local Comic Shop Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Double Midnight Comics, 252 Willow St. in Manchester, according to Double Midnight’s Facebook page. “On Local Comic Shop Day we celebrate our community with a variety of special offerings, sales, free comics and more,” the post said.

• The Harvest Moon Festival at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to indianmuseum.org. Tickets will be for sale at the gate, the website said. “The day will include the opportunity to make dolls from corn husks, sweet grass braids and also beading. There is also a special scavenger hunt activity…. Enjoy watching the art of basketmaking, and learn the process of how acorn flour is made. There will be sensory-friendly activities and games. The entire family will savor the taste of Native foods, including the ever-popular Hidatsa bison stew,” the website said.

• Nashua Multicultural Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from noon to 5 p.m. at Le Parc De Notre Renaissance Française on Water Street in Nashua, and feature food, art, dance and more, according to nashuanh.gov/1237/Nashua-Multicultural-Festival.

• Henniker Brewing Co. in Henniker will host Dysfunction Junction 2, a day of music, food trucks, vendors and more on Saturday, Sept. 26, with doors opening at noon. The event, which is all ages (no pets), will feature music on two stages (one inside, one outside), according to hennikerbrewing.com, where you can find a link to purchase tickets.

• The Concord Municipal Airport will host Wings & Wheels on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., an all-ages event focused on aviation and STEM, featuring vehicles and aircraft, Academy of Model Aeronautics demos, food trucks and more, according to concordnh.gov/1713/ Wings-Wheels-Event.

• Concorso Italiano, a celebration of Italian cars and food as well as live music and family entertainment, will take place Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tuscan Village in Salem, according to tuscanvillagesalem.com.

• The Deerfield Fair runs Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 4, at the fairgrounds, 34 Stage Road in Deerfield. The event features rides, live music, the Flying Wallendas high wire act, horse shows and agriculture events, magic shows, dog demonstrations and more, according to deerfieldfair.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• Downtown Concord has two more First Friday events on the schedule this year — Friday, Oct. 2, and Friday, Nov. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m., according to firstfridayconcord.com. The theme on Oct. 2 is Oktoberfest. On Nov. 6 the theme is Concord Art Walk, according to the website, where you can find the lineup of musicians slated to perform and food trucks scheduled to attend for each day.

• The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will hold The Expo on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Sportsplex, 68 Technology Drive in Bedford, according to a press release. The day will feature performances, workshops, exhibitors with hands-on activities and more, many with a focus on STEM, the arts or the outdoors. Admission costs $10. Seegirlscoutsgwm.org.

• Charmingfare Farm in Candia will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 10, through Monday, Oct. 12. Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, meet costumed characters, enjoy a children’s corn maze, watch a juggling and comedy show and listen to live music, according to visitthefarm.com, where you can purchase tickets to a specific time during the two weekends.

• The Autumn Craft Festival on the Lake will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Mill Falls Marketplace in Meredith featuring specialty foods and more than 70 juried artisans, according to castleberryfairs.com.

• The Warner Fall Foliage Festival will take place at locations in Warner from Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11, with food trucks and vendors, craft vendors, rides and midway, oxen pulls and woodsman competitions, a 5K, a book and bake sale, parades and more, according to wfff.org, where you can see this year’s schedule and get updates.

• The Milford Pumpkin Festival will run Friday, Oct. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at locations in downtown Milford and featuring three days of live music, a Friday lighting of the town hall pumpkin, the Haunted Trail on Friday and Saturday, a 5K, a pumpkin carving demo, a pumpkin catapult, a pumpkin mural, a rubber duck race, food vendors and more, according to milfordpumpkinfestival.org.

• A Fall Fair at Joppa Hill Educational Farm in Bedford will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature hayrides, farm animal meet and greets, vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, apple cider doughnuts and more, according to jhef.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• The New Hampshire Wool Arts Tour will run Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at five farms in Deering, Antrim, Bennington, Greenfield and Lyndeborough and will feature demonstrations (creating yarn, weaving, knitting, felting and more), live music, live animals, food vendors, fiber vendors, artists and crafters set up at the farms and more, according to woolartstournh.com, where you can find locations and descriptions of participating farms.

• The Not Afraid To Fail Fest, held by Queerlective (queerlective.com), will take place Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. at BNH Stage in Concord, according to the website. “This benefit and variety show brings together first-time performers, emerging artists, and community members willing to step outside their comfort zones and try something big. Expect comedy, music, poetry, storytelling, drag, performance art, creative experiments, and ideas we may not have imagined yet,” according to the website, where you can purchase tickets and apply to perform.

• Indigenous People’s Day at Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner on Monday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature free admission and hands-on activities, according to indianmuseum.org.

• Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury, will hold an Antique and Vintage Car Show on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to shakers.org, where you can purchase tickets. The Shaker Village also has several workshops and other events on the schedule this fall.

• Windham will hold its annual Harvest Fest on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Griffin Park featuring a “Horribles parade,” trick-or-treating and more, according to windham.recdesk.com.

• Nashua Recreation will hold its Halloween Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 3 to 6 p.m. in Greeley Park featuring a trunk-or-treat, pumpkin decorating, a haunted house, hayrides and more, according to nashuanh.gov/546/SummerFun.

• Goffstown’s annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, featuring vendors and events in downtown Goffstown leading up to a regatta of pumpkin water craft. See goffstownmainstreet.org/pumpkin-regatta. Goffstown Main Street will also host Trick or Treat Downtown on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., the website said.

• Charmingfare Farm in Candia will hold its annual Children’s Trick or Treat Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 31, according to visitthefarm.com. The event will feature horse-drawn wagon or tractor train rides along a Halloween-themed trail, candy gathering locations, visits with farm animals, a juggling show and more, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Laconia Pumpkin Festival is slated for Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, featuring local vendors, a pumpkin tower, food and drink, a costume parade, a 10K and 5K walk and run, a duck derby and more, according to laconiapumpkinfestival.com, where you can find a schedule.

• Henniker Brewing Co., 129 Centervale Road in Henniker, hennikerbrewing.com, will host The Haunting of Henniker on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 5 p.m. featuring costume contests and music from Lungbuster, Hobo Wizard, When the Deadbolt Breaks, Long Pig and Phantasm, the website said.

FOOD FESTIVALS

• The Egyptian Food Festival at St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (29 Chandler St., Nashua, stmarycoptsnh.org) will take place Friday, Sept. 11, from 4 to 9 p.m; Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, from noon to 6 p.m., according to the church’s Facebook page. The festival will include authentic Egyptian food, music, kids’ activities and more, the post said.

• The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13, with a lineup of live music each day and a wide variety of seafood for purchase, according to seafoodfestivalnh.com, where you can buy tickets for a specific day or for all days of the festival and see this year’s program.

• The Auburn Pitts Annual Pig Roast will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, starting at noon, at Auburn Pitts, 167 Rockingham Road in Auburn, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “Join us for our 3rd annual Pig Roast! Backyard Buffet, live music with multiple bands, bonfire, great time with friends & family,” according to the post. Purchase tickets at Auburn Pitts on the day or in advance, the post said.

• Glendi, the annual celebration of Greek food and culture at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St., Manchester, stgeorgenh.org/activities/glendi, 622-9113), will run Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Enjoy food, dancing, live music (Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.), vendors selling Greek items, raffles and more, according to the Cathedral’s website.

• The Manchester Brewfest will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, with general admission from 1 to 4 p.m. and a VIP admission starting at noon at Arms Park in Manchester, according to manchesterbrewfest.com, where you can purchase tickets (including a designated driver ticket) and see the lineup of brewers and food and vendors. The event, which benefits The Moore Center, will also feature live music from Nefarious Motives, the website said.

• The Great New Hampshire Pie Festival will take place at the New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; you can enter a pie for competition or just attend to eat pie from area bakers, according to nhfarmmuseum.org.

• To Share Brewing Co., 720 Union St. in Manchester, tosharebrewing.com, will hold its seventh annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26, starting at 1 p.m. to celebrate the release of its Oktoberfest Altbier, according to the brewery’s Facebook page. The day will feature drink specials, beer bratwurst and Oktoberfest eats, games and challenges, and more, the post said.

• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 68 N. State St. in Concord, will hold its annual Greek Food Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to an email from the church. See holytrinitynh.org.

• Henniker Brewing Co., 129 Centervale Road in Henniker, hennikerbrewing.com, will host an Oktoberfest Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 4, featuring food and beer as well as music from Beechwood, Northern Lites, Rubik’s Muse, The Bullseye Band and more, according to the website.

• 603 Brewery in Londonderry will hold a family- and dog-friendly Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3, noon to 8 p.m. featuring live music and a DJ, special eats, vendors and more, according to 603brewery.com.

• The annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival will take place in Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter on Saturday, Oct. 3, with general admission at 1 p.m., noon for VIP ticket holders, according to powderkegbeerfest.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Chocolate Expo will take place Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Expo Center in downtown Manchester featuring tastings and sales of chocolates and other specialty foods as well as craft beverages, according to thechocolateexpo.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• The 2026 Mount Uncanoonuc Brewfest will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mountain Base Brewery, 553 Mast Road in Goffstown, which cohosts the 21+ event along with the Worker Bee Fund. The day will feature breweries and other beverage purveyors, food vendors, live music and more, according to Mountain Base Brewery’s Facebook page, where you can find a link to purchase tickets.

• The annual Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits will take place Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, according to distillersshowcase.com, where you can check back for updates on new Distiller’s Week events and purchase tickets.

• The 14th Annual Fulchino Vineyards Wine and Cheese Festival will take place Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, at the vineyard in Hollis with tickets available for time slots on each day, according to fulchinovineyard.com. Taste wines, artisan meats, cheeses, oils, vinegars and desserts, the website said.

ART EXHIBITS

• “Montages: Peter Cordova & Kyoko Idetsu” runs through Saturday, Sept. 19, at Outer Space Arts, 35 Pleasant St., Concord, which is open Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. or by appointment, according to outerspacearts.xyz. An exhibition featuring Dana DeGiulio and Michelle Grabner will take place in October, the website said.

• “Pure Form: Abstract Expression” an exhibit featuring the works of 24 regional artists, is on display at the Center for the Arts Member Gallery, 428 Main St. in New London through Oct. 24, according to centerfortheartsnh.org, where you can also find information on a Microgalleries series of exhibits at New London locations (Alison Vernon at Grounds, 374 Main St.; Karen Haskell + Sara Rae at Blue Loon Bakery, 12 Lovering Lane, and Peter Jacoby at Tatewell Gallery, 277 Newport Road), also on display through Oct. 24.

• The NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way in Auburn, nhaudubon.org, presents the exhibit “Jyl Draws Every Day: A Creature Double Feature Exhibit by Jyl Dittbenner” through Oct. 30. The NH Audubon’s McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord, nhaudubon.org, presents a “Chromatic Nature Exhibit” featuring acrylic paintings by Tracy Levesque through Oct. 24. Both centers are open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, currier.org, will exhibit “Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection” Thursday, Sept. 10, through April 11, according to currier.org. The exhibit “is your passport to 17th and 18th century Florence, Italy, this fall at the Currier. Nearly 40 paintings and sculptures evoke a world in transition, as the rise of opera and theater opened up new ways of capturing the human experience. See Florentine masterpieces imbued with the spirit of the stage and displayed in gorgeous frames from the period,” the website said. “Pepe Mar: Dream House” will be on display at the Currier Museum of Art Thursday, Oct. 1, through Feb. 21, the website said. The exhibit “is the first New England presentation of the Mexico-born, Miami-based artist whose exuberant works synthesize thrift store aesthetics, queer culture, science fiction, and fashion,” the website said.

Also on display at the Currier is “Radical Quiet: Contemporary Drawings of Nature by Victoria Elbroch, Nancy Friese, and Margot Glass” through Sunday, Jan. 10, the website said. The Currier is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The Eleventh Letter The Writing Gallery, 146 N. Main St. in Concord, theeleventhletter.com, will present “Ice, Wind & Fire: Images and Poems of Climate Change,” opening Sept. 10, with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. and an artist talk from Roger Wells at 6:30 p.m., according to the website. The exhibition “Eleven:11” featuring“eleven writer-artists’ works” will open Friday, Nov. 6, with a reception from 4 to 8 p.m., according to the website (the opening will correspond with Intown Concord’s annual Art Walk). The Writing Gallery will also host “Cursed II: Haunted Objects and Storytelling!” in collaboration with N.A.V. Arts on Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m., a “free, fun, spooky spoken word night where seasoned storytellers spin a yarn based on various “cursed” objects created by local artists,” the website said.

• Mosaic Art Collective, 410 Chestnut St. in Manchester, is now exhibiting “Full Circle — New Beginnings 2026,” featuring work “in all media that speaks to renewal, growth, connection, and the ongoing nature of change,” through Monday, Sept. 28, with an opening reception on Sept. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m., according to mosaicartcollective.com.

Mosaic Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester will also display “Reflections: 180 Years of Manchester NH,” featuring works that explore Manchester’s history, identity and evolution over the past 180 years, Saturday, Sept. 12, through Monday, Oct. 26, with an opening reception on Sept. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m., according to mosaicartcollective.com.

• “Continuing the Tradition” will be on display at the Exhibition Gallery at the League of NH Craftsmen’s headquarters, 49 S. Main St., Concord, Thursday, Sept. 10, through Thursday, Oct 22, according to nhcrafts.org. “Continuing the Tradition celebrates the craftsmen who have become juried members of the League — or have added a new media to their existing membership — within the past three years (Spring 2023-Spring 2026). This exhibition will showcase an exciting range of media and the diverse perspectives of nearly one hundred artists, reflecting the evolving story of our historic organization,” the website said. The “Craft Apprentice Program Capstone Exhibition” will be on display at the gallery Thursday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Dec. 4, the website said. “The League of NH Craftsmen, in partnership with the Maine Crafts Association (MCA), is excited to announce the Capstone Exhibition marking the end of our fourth year of participation in the Craft Apprentice Program (CAP). CAP is an in-studio educational opportunity for apprentices who demonstrate a commitment to further their abilities as craft artists. They accomplish this through a significant relationship with a mentor artist,” the website said. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will open the exhibition “Artisan Ensemble: A Visual Showcase” on Friday, Sept. 11, to run through Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Mansion featuring artists Christine Ryan, Diane Siglin, Gail Smuda and Marsha Zavez, according to the website. The reception will be on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. The exhibition “Musings, Memory and Magic” featuring the works of Wen Redmond will run Friday, Sept. 18, through Saturday, Oct., 17, at the Carriage House with an opening reception on Sept. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. and an artist talk on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m., according to the website. The exhibition “Harvest Hues” will run Friday, Oct. 16, through Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Kimball Jenkins Mansion, with a reception on Oct. 18 from 1 to 3 p.m., the website said.

• See Saw Art, 408 Chestnut St. in Manchester, seesaw.art, will feature the exhibition “Codex Insolitus” featuring the works of Karl Fleck and Todd Pattison, Saturday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 27, with an opening reception Sept. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m., according to seesaw.art.

• Two Villages Art Society 846 Main St. in Contoocook, twovillagesart.org, has several upcoming exhibits. “Crossing Thresholds,” featuring painting and photography by Jon Hoglund, Ann Saunderson and Sher Kamman, will run from Saturday, Sept. 12, through Saturday, Oct. 10, with an opening reception from noon to 2 p.m., according to the website. “Home Sweet Home,” featuring fiber art, glass, and pottery from Lisa Almeida, Laura Morrison, Anne Boedecker, Verne Orlosk, Sarah Burns and Cheryl Miller, will run Saturday, Oct. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 14, the website said. The “2026 TVAS Winter Members Show & Sale” will run Saturday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 27, the website said. The gallery is open during exhibitions from Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

• The Millspace, 55 Main St. in Newmarket, millspace.org, will feature “The Scale of Things” exhibit featuring works that explore “large spaces, close-up observations, big ideas, or anything that shifts our sense of proportion and perspective,” according to the website. The exhibit runs Saturday, Sept. 12, through Saturday, Dec. 5, with an opening reception on Sept. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m, the website said.

• “Wind & Waves” will open at the Lakes Region Art Gallery at Tanger Outlets, 120 Laconia Road, Suite 300, in Tilton, on Saturday, Sept. 19, with an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m., according to a press release. The show is described as “a themed exhibit of works by member artists at the Lakes Region Art Gallery,” the release said. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays, beginning at 10 a.m., the press release said.

• Proctor Academy, 204 Main St. in Andover, will exhibit a collection of portraits and stories by photographer Becky Field “documenting New Hampshire’s cultural diversity” in the Brown Dining Commons from September through December with an opening reception, open to the public, on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m., according to an email from campus art curator Molly Leith.

• Creative Ventures Gallery, 411 Nashua St. in Milford, creativeventuresfineart.com, will display “the work of current and past students” in October with an opening on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., the website said.

• Oct. 9 through Nov. 9 Show at Glimpse Gallery, 4 Park St., Concord, will have an opening reception on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m., according to theglimpsegallery.com. Dec. 9 through Jan. 9 Show at Glimpse Gallery will have an opening reception on Saturday, Dec. 12, 5-7 p.m., the website said.

• The Factory on Willow, 252 Willow St. in Manchester, factoryonwillow.com, will hold an exhibition featuring artists in residence Darby Dawid and Tamar Manuel on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the website, where you can find links to profiles for both artists.

• Art 3 Gallery, 44 W. Brook St. in Manchester, art3gallery.com., will open its fall exhibit “A Sense of Place” on Monday, Nov. 9, according to an email from the gallery, which is open Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. “This new exhibit invites viewers to consider how artists react to their surroundings whether in a realistic interpretation of their space or an abstracted version based on emotion and imagination,” the email said.

ART EVENTS

• The annual Bridges and Connections International Sculpture Symposium at the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline, andresinstitute.org, 673-7441) starts Saturday, Sept. 12, with an opening reception at 1 p.m. and a ticketed concert that night, according to the website, where you can check for updates on other events during the symposium and find information on providing meals for the artists working on new pieces for the Institute’s trails. This year’s artists are Fermin Castro from Cuba and Massachusetts, Dankha Zomaya from Syria and Illinois, and Marin Murakoshi from Japan and Massachusetts, and this year’s theme is “Curiosity,” the website said. The closing ceremony will be Sunday, Oct. 4, according to andresinstitute.org, where you can find past years’ artists’ works as well as trail maps.

• The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, currier.org, will hold Community Day on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with art-making from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) featuring free admission; tours of the galleries with artists from the exhibit “Radical Quiet” at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.; the New Hampshire Forest Society; hands-on activities and more, the website said.

Other upcoming Currier events include the “Pepe Mar: Dream House” exhibition opening ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring music, art and conversation “as Pepe Mar makes his New England debut,” the website said, and Masquerade Night at the Museum on Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for events.

• The Concord Arts Market will return to Rollins Park in Concord for another season of Arts in the Park dates running one Saturday a month through October, according to concordartsmarket.org. Upcoming dates include Saturday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Concord Arts Market will also be at the remaining First Friday events on Fridays, Oct. 2 and Nov. 6 in downtown Concord, the website said.

• The 39th Fall Artisan Craft Fair will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9:30 to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 3 Peabody Row in Londonderry, featuring more than 70 booths, food, a tag sale and more, according to a press release. See stpeterslondonderry.org.

• The Craftworkers’ Guild Harvest Shop will run Thursday, Sept. 17, through Monday, Oct. 12, open Thursdays through Sundays (and the final Monday) at 3 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, according to thecraftworkersguild.org. “The Craftworkers’ Guild is a non-profit, community based organization that brings together people interested in handcrafts or fine arts. We are the oldest organization of crafters in New Hampshire and currently enjoy the participation of over 60 members from Bedford and area communities,” the website said.

• There will be a Shaker Village Barn Dance at the Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury, on Friday, Sept. 18, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. featuring music by Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki and Sue Hunt with caller David Millstone, according to shakers.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Manchester Citywide Arts & Kids Festival takes place Monday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 19, with a street fair on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to facebook.com/MHTArtsFest, where you can check for updates on the events.

• Center for the Arts in New London holds its next First Friday Oct. 2 when the Northern Stage Theater will present a season preview, according to centerfortheartsnh.org. On Nov. 6, the gallery stroll will feature new exhibitions, the website said.

• Center for the Arts in New London will host an Open Studio 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to centerfortheartsnh.org. The event “features live demonstrations, local art, and studio tours. Located at 428 Main St. [in New London] and various locations, these events provide a behind-the-scenes look at artists’ work spaces and foster community interaction, often including painting workshops,” the website said.

• Monadnock Art Open Studio Tour runs Saturday, Oct. 10, through Monday, Oct. 12, from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with at least 84 artists in 65 studios in Peterborough, Dublin, Jaffrey, Sharon, Harrisville, Hancock and Marlborough, according to an email from Modnadnock Art and monadnockart.org, where you can find a map of participating locations and see works from the artists. The Gallery Exhibition featuring work by artists on the tour will be on display in Bass Hall at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, 19 Grove St. in Peterborough, Saturday, Oct. 3, through Saturday, Oct. 31, the email said. An opening reception will take place at the Monadnock Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m., the website said.

• Deerfield Arts Tour takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features artists at 10 locations according to deerfieldarts.com, where you can find a map of the studios.

• Fly Me To the Moon Arts Ball to benefit Nashua Community Arts will take place at the Nashua Center for the Arts, nashuacenterforthearts.com, on Saturday, Oct. 17, starting at 6 p.m., an “evening inspired by Frank Sinatra and the golden age of swing” featuring live music and dancing, cocktails, fine dining and more, according to a post on the Nashua Center for the Arts’ Facebook page, where you can find a link for tickets.

• The Millspace, 55 Main St. in Newmarket, millspace.org, will host Paper Jam, a zine and print fest, on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., “bringing together artists, writers, printmakers, and indie publishers from across the Seacoast and greater New England,” according to the website.

• The Bedford Handmade Fair will take place Sunday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bedford High School, 47 Nashua Road in Bedford, featuring local artists, crafters and artisans, according to a press release. See sites.google.com/bedfordnhk12.net/bedfordhandmade/home.

THEATER

• The Seacoast Reporatory Theatre (125 Bow St. in Portsmouth, seacoastrep.org) continues its production of Green Day’s American Idiot through Sept. 27, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. Its main stage season continues with Evil Dead The MusicalThursday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 8, and A Christmas Carol Thursday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 20, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (no show on Thanksgiving), the website said.

Other events at The Rep include the Rep Academy presentation of RENT: School Edition at 7:30 p.m. on Sundays, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20, and Wednesdays, Sept. 16 and Sept. 23; a Season 2027 Reveal on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; The Rep Underground presentation of A Tempting Murder(“A unique evening of music blending the song catalogues of Sheryl Crow, The Black Crowes, Counting Crows, and more, this tempting murder of crows is sure to leave you with an appetite for more,” the website said) on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m., and RepStock on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m (“Take a trip back to 1969 with us as we deliver a groovy selection of music from the historic music festival that started it all, Woodstock. Featuring music from The Who, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Joe Cocker, and more,” the website said). The Rep also offers classes for adults, teens and youth as well as audition opportunities for teens and youth, the website said.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester) kicks off the St. Mary’s Bank 2026-2027 Performing Arts Series with Sister Act, which runs Sept. 11 through Oct. 4 with shows Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m., according to palacetheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets. Fiddler on the Roof will run through Oct. 23 through Nov. 15, with shows Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m., the website said. Before Thanksgiving, the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre will present The NutcrackerThursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m., 4 p.m and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22, at noon and 4:30 p.m. Other theatrical productions slated for the Palace include School of Rock The Musical on Tuesdays, Sept. 15 & 22, and Wednesdays, Sept. 16 & 23, at 7 p.m.; Matilda Jr. onTuesday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., and Witch Perfect, described as an “all live-singing, comedy parody” of Hocus Pocus,on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m.

At the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester), catch Broadway to the Big Screen with Jenene Caramelo on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. and Edge of Reality: The Magic Man of Manchester and Matt the Mystic on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m., according to palacetheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• Actorsingers (actorsingers.org) will present Flustercluck! The Real Henhousewives of New Jersey, described as “an absurdist comedy following the antics and exploits of the hens of Villa Roosta, a humble yet successful diversified hobby farm on the outskirts of bucolic Shamong, New Jersey,” as its entry in the NCTA Festival, on Saturday, Sept. 12. Actorsingers will also present The Wedding Singeras a mainstage production at the Keefe Center for the Arts, 113 Elm St. in Nashua, Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, the website said.

• The Community Players of Concord host the NH Community Theatre Association’s One-Act Performance Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon featuring four regional theater groups, at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, theaudi.org, according to the website. Tickets cost $20 at the door, the website said. The performing companies will be the Community Players of Concord with The Forgiving Time, Nashua Theatre Guild with House on the Hill off the Boulevard at the End of the Sidewalk, Bedford Off Broadway with Sammy’s Game and Actorsingers from Nashua with Flustercluck! The Real Henhousewives of New Jersey, according to an email from the Audi.

• The Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, powerhousenh.org, will present Big Bad: The Trials and Tribulations of a Fairy Tale Wolf with shows throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 to 4 p.m. at Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road in Laconia, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. Powerhouse will also present Peter and the Starcatcher on Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia, the website said. Hook’s Tale will run Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. at Laconia Public Library and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. at Taylor Community Woodside Building, the website said. The Power Chords will present their Power Chords Holiday Concert, “a concert that celebrates Broadway and the holiday season,” on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Taylor Community Woodside Building in Laconia and Congregational Church in Laconia, Sunday, Nov. 23, at 3 p.m., the website said.

• New Hampshire Theatre Project, 959 Islington St., No. 3, in Portsmouth, nhtheatreproject.org, will present the NHTP Guest Artist Production Just Breathe: The Quest for a Little Peace of Mind .. and Chocolate Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 18, at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets to this one-woman show featuring Lesley Ann Smith. The MainStage premieres its 2026-2027 season with the drama The Sound Inside by Anthony Rapp Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 1, with shows on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The NHTP goes to Langdon House in Portsmouth for Langdon House Parlor Entertainments: A Victorian Frightful on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m., described as “an evening of eerie songs and stories inspired by Edgard Allan Poe and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, performed in costume …” on the website. As part of the Play Readings for Grown-ups series, the theater will present Crimes of the Heart(described as “[w]armhearted, irreverent, zany and brilliantly imaginative”) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2:30 p.m., and Miracle on 34th Street on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2:30 p.m., the website said. The theater also offers “Theatre For Life Professional Development Workshops at NHTP” starting Sept. 24 and “Yes/And” a six-week improvisation course Oct. 20 through Nov. 24; see the website for details.

• Theatre Kapow (tkapow.com) will present Iphigenia in Aulis, a play by Euripides transadapted by Anne Washburn, on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. at BNH Stage in Concord, according to the website. See ccanh.com for tickets. Fans of this summer’s The Odyssey will remember the tale told here of Clytemnestra and her daughter Iphigenia arriving in Aulis as General Agamemnon, Clytemnestra’s husband and Iphigenia’s father, prepares to set sail with his army, according to the website.

• The Manchester Community Theatre Players (MCTP Theatre, at North End Montessori School, 698 Beech St. in Manchester, manchestercommuniththeatre.com) will present The Addams Family Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 27 (shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays), according to the website, where tickets will be for sale. In October, look for Carrie The MusicalFriday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 1, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays, the website said.

• Dive in Productions, diveinproductions.com, will present Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the the Millspace, 55 Main St. in Newmarket, millspace.org, Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 4, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, according to the Millspace website, where you can purchase tickets.The company will also present Tipsmas on Nov. 28 and will run a Stage Combat class on Saturday, Oct. 24, the website said.

• The Players’ Ring, 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth, playersring.org, presents As Time Goes By (which has the tagline “Time Travel. Comedy. Heart.”) Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 11, with shows at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The Agatha Christie story of “Murder. Suspense. 1930s” And Then There Were Nonewill run Thursday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 15, with shows at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (2 p.m. only on Oct. 31 and 2 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 1), the website said. A staged reading of An Empty Sky, part of the New Play Lab, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

• The Amato Center, 56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford, amatocenter.org, presents productions for its own Riverbend Youth Company, RYC Alumni and Friends of Amato (open to children and adults), according to the website. Featuring 8th- through 12th-grade performers, its Riverband Youth Company performs Holy Mother of Bingo — “The audience will love playing five actual rounds of bingo while this outrageous murder mystery unfolds around them!” — on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 and 4 p.m., according to the website, where you will be able to purchase tickets.

In October, catch Friends of Amato’s Sam Shovel, Private Eye, featuring grade 11 through adult, on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 and 4 p.m., the website said. The show is described as “A Radio Theater production recorded with a live studio audience, the website said. “It’s a hot and sultry day in the gritty city, and Sam Shovel has a dead man sprawled in her office, stabbed in the back with a yardstick. Ends up this is just the first of a string of murders happening in the fashion industry.”

• The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester) will hold Majestic in Wonderland Auction & Performance Fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m., according to majestictheatre.net, where you can purchase tickets for the event and the raffle. The event will feature Majestic’s adult, teen and youth actors, Ted Herbert Music School faculty and students, and special guests, the website said, as well as a silent auction of items including passes to cultural venues, electronics, restaurant gift certificates and more. There will be “theme raffles, and refreshments each evening,” according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. Scrooge! The Musical will hold all-ages auditions Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for the show that runs Friday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Derry Opera House, according to an email from the theater. The Majestic will also hold “Theatre Workshop Days” for ages 8 through adult on Oct. 3 and Nov. 7. Catch the Rockin Daddios on Sunday, Oct. 4 at the theater, the email said. Other fall productions include Much Ado About Murder, a murder mystery, Oct. 23-25, and Dashing Through the Snow, a comedy, Nov. 20-22, the email said. See the website for updates and tickets.

• LaBelle Winery features theatrical events at both its Amherst (345 Route 101) and Derry (14 Route 111) locations, according to labellewinery.com, where you can purchase tickets for these events. Shows scheduled in Amherst include Roaring ’20s Dinner Party with Cirque De Light Aerialists on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m., and Monster Mash Murder Mystery Dinner Party on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m., the website said.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts has shows at both its Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord) and BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord) locations, according to ccanh.com.

At the Chubb, upcoming shows include Cat Kid Comic Club The Musicalon Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m.; Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.; Wild Kratts Live 2.0: Active Creature Power! on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.; Cirque Kalabante on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.; The Vampire Circus on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m., and Menopause The Musicalon Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m., according to the website.

At the BNH Stage, shows include a “The MET Live in HD” production of Cosi Fan Tutte on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m.; The MET Live in HD: MacBeth on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m.; Twenty Years of the MET in Cinemas Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m., and Sh*t-Faced Shakespeare presents MacBethon Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m., the website said.

• The Music Hall (Historic Theater at 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; Lounge at 131 Congress St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org) will present Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Got The Moves at the Historic Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Oct. 8, catch Golden Girls: The Laughs Continueat the Historic Theater on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. “Relive the heartfelt hilarity of four ladies who never stopped being your friends — starring male actors as the iconic TV characters. Recommended for ages 18+ due to adult themed comedy,” the website said. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical will be at the Historic Theater on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., the website said.

• The Abbey Players at Saint Anselm College (tickets.anselm.edu) will present True Colors: An Abbey Players Cabaret on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Dana Center on Saint Anselm College campus in Manchester, according to the website. The Dana Center will also feature Ailey II Dance on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. and Leland Faulkner: Dreamcatcher on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m., the website said. “Dreamcatcher celebrates the magical adventures and wondrous tales of Native America, the website said.

• Nashua Theatre Guild (nasthuatheatreguild.org) will present Emma on Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 4, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Janice B. Streeter Theatre/Court Street Theatre, 14 Court St. in Nashua, according to the website, where you will be able to purchase tickets. “A fresh feminist take on a treasured classic, this Emma breaks down convention, expectation and even the fourth wall with vibrant comic flair,” the website said of the show.

• Cue Zero Theatre (cztheatre.com) will present Ride the Cyclone, described as “[d]arkly funny, deeply heartfelt and full of unforgettable music,” on Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. at Arts Academy of New Hampshire, 19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, in Salem, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Ovation Theatre Company, 61 Harvey Road, Londonderry, ovationtc.com, will present The Big One-Oh! Jr. on Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway in Derry, with a cast of performers ages 8 to 18, according to the website. The company will also present Frozen on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, featuring a cast of mostly age 12 through adult, the website said.

• Garrison Players Arts Center 449 Roberts Road in Rollinsford, garrisonplayers.org, will present Night Watch Friday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Oct. 17, with shows Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. “This ingeniously devised thriller builds steadily in menace and suspense until its breath-stopping twist ending,” the website said.

• Safe Haven Ballet, safehavenballet.org, will offer a “Fall Mixed Repertoire in studio performance,” Illuminate on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. at its studio, 200 Chase Drive in Portsmouth, the website said.

• Lend Me a Theater (lendmeatheater.org) will present Occupation: Murder!, an interactive murder mystery, on the evenings of Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry (tupelomusichall.com) with dinner and a show or show-only ticket options and on Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18 at the YWCA in Manchester, according to the website.

• At the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com), theatrical productions include Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale Live, a one-man play, on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.;Napoleon Dynamite Live featuring a screening of the 2006 film and a “Lively, freewheeling, interactive experience” with Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.; Michael Jackson History Show, a “music tribute and full-scale stage production” on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Andy Grammer Greater Than Pt. II: A One Man Show, described as a blend of “acoustic performance, spoken word, storytelling and real-time audience connection,” on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m., and Jessica Lynn’s A Very Merry Classic Christmas, featuring “Jessica and her family band alongside high-energy dancers, marching bands, choirs, breathtaking special effects and the timeless Christmas classics,” on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Theatrical offerings at the Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St., Derry, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) include Cat Kid: The Musical on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m.; Queens, a play by the Pinkerton Players about King Henry VIII in purgatory, Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 18 (7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. on Sunday), and Cirque Us: Stories on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m., the website said.

• The Peacock Players (peacockplayers.org) has two fall productions scheduled for Janice B. Streeter Theatre (14 Court St. in Nashua). Catch Between the Lines Jr., a Fall Youth MainStage production, Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 18, with shows at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (as well as a 10 a.m. performance on Thursday, Oct. 15). The Fall Teen Mainstage production is Once Upon a One More Timeon Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 22, shows at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (as well as a 10 a.m. performance on Thursday, Nov. 19).

• Millspace, 55 Main St. in Newmarket, millspace.org, will host “Mill After Dark: A Night of Drag” on Friday, Oct. 9, from 7 to 9 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The space will also host a Youth Theatre Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for ages 9 to 14, ending in an improv showcase at 2:30 p.m., the website said. The Millspace Mainstage Cabaret Series will present Millspeakeasy on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m., which the website described as an “intimate cabaret night filled with swingin’ Broadway hits, vintage flair, and old-school elegance.”

• Franklin Opera House, franklinoperahouse.org, will present Quixotic! a one-man show with storyteller Andy Davis, on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Public Library, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The opera house also will present Murder in Black and Whilte, a mystery dessert theater fundraiser, on Friday, Nov.. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Franklin Elks Lodge. 125 S. Main St. in Franklin, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia, coloniallaconia.com, has theatrical productions on its schedule including the Michael Jackson History Show on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Girls Night The Musical on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Community Players of Concord (communityplayersofconcord.org) has two productions on its fall schedule. The company’s Children’s Theatre Project will present Looking Glass Landon Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, according to the website, where tickets will be available for purchase. In November the Players will present the musical Come From Away Friday, Nov. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 22, also at the Concord City Auditorium, the website said.

• Epping Community Theater (38 Ladds Lane, Epping, eppingtheater.org) will present The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a “Halloween Old Time Radio production,” on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. Frozen the Broadway Musical will run Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 15, (7 p.m. on Fridays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays), according to the website, where you can check back for tickets.

• Jonesing for Theater, jonesingfortheater.wixsite.com, will present Carrie The Musical at Millspace, 55 Main St. in Newmarket, millspace.org, Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 1, according to the venue’s website, where you can purchase tickets. Described as “a chilling, blood-red theatrical experience based on Stephen King’s legendary horror story,” the show runs at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and dSaturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the website said.

• Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.org, will present SeussicalFriday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 8, according to the website, where you can see the line-up of days and times and purchase tickets.

• Winnipesaukee Playhouse Professional Theatre for young audiences will present The Commedia Pinocchio at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m., according to winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org, where you can purchase tickets. The Edgar Allan Poe Afterlife Radio Showwill be presented by the Winni Players Community Theatre at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, on Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m., according to winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org, where you can purchase tickets. The Winni Players will also present Irving Berlin’s White Christmas on Thursday, Nov. 19, through Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m., the website said.

• Windham Actors Guild (windhamactorsguild.com) will present Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Windham High School on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you will be able to purchase tickets.

• The Village Players 51 Glendon St. in Wolfeboro, village-players.com, will present the musicalMan of La Mancha Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1, and Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The Players will also hold auditions on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, for A Charlie Brown Christmas, which will be presented Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6, the website said.

• Bedford Off Broadway, which holds its performances at Bedford Town Hall, 3 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, will present Crimes of the Heart Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, and Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 15, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays, according to the Facebook page and bedfordoffbroadway.com.

• Kids Coop Theatre will presentThe Little Mermaid Jr. Nov. 20-22 at the Derry Opera House. See kctnh.org for details.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

• Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, portsmouthsymphony.org, kicks off its slate of fall shows with PSO Chamber Players: Palette of Voices on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m. at New Castle Congregational Church, 65 Main St. in New Castle, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. On Sunday, Sept. 20, violinist Joshua Bell plays Lalo’s Symphonieespagnole with the symphony at a 3 p.m. show at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. On Sunday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. the PSO Chamber Players present a program of Pulitzer Prize Winners at Christ Church, 43 Pine St. in Exeter. On Sunday, Nov. 1, the symphony presents a program called “The Universe” at 3 p.m. at the Music Hall in Portsmouth. On Sunday, Dec. 20, the symphony brings its Family Holiday Pops! Concert, including a sing-along, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Portsmouth High School. For all shows, see the website for tickets.

• Evenings at Avaloch are held in the concert barn space at Avaloch Farm Music Institute with visiting artists and ensembles of different genres from around the world who are in residence at the Institute (16 Hardy Lane, Boscawen, avalochfarmmusic.org). Upcoming Evenings at Avaloch concerts take place at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 12, Sept. 19 and Sept. 26, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets and see the line-ups. On Saturday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m., catch Moanin’ Frogs, according to the website, where you can also find information on the evening’s barbecue. On Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. it’s the annual Fall Gala, also featuring live performances; a Bach and Brunch event takes place Sunday, Nov. 1, at 9 a.m. See the website for tickets for either.

• Symphony New Hampshire will enter the new season with a new music director — Adam Kerry Boyles, according to symphonynh.org. On Sunday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m., the Symphony will present the season opening concert Love, Tragedy & Triumph featuring Mozart’s Cosi Fan tutte, the English folk song “O Waly Waly,” music from Romeo and Juliet and El amor brujo by Manuel de Falla, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The show takes place at the Stockbridge Theatre, 44 N. Main St. in Derry, the website said.

• The Manchester Choral Society will hold an open sing on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 106 Lowell St. in Manchester, according to a press release. “Prospective members are invited to experience a rehearsal, meet current singers, and sing through selections from the choir’s inspiring fall concert repertoire: Francis Poulenc’s exuberant Gloria and Camille Saint-Saëns’ beloved Christmas Oratorio. Following the Open Sing, interested singers may schedule an audition to join the ensemble for its 66th concert season,” the release said. “The Manchester Choral Society welcomes singers with prior choral experience who are interested in performing challenging and rewarding repertoire in a supportive musical community.” See mcsnh.org.

• The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, palacetheatres.org, will feature Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m., according to palactheatre.org, where you can purchase tickets. Candlelight returns on Thursday, Nov. 19, for Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at 6 p.m. and Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and the Beatles at 8:30 p.m., the website said.

• Strafford Wind Symphony, straffordwindsymphony.org, will have a concert at the Rochester Opera House on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra will open its season with the show “From Beethoven to the Beyond” on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m., according to nhphil.org, where you can purchase tickets. The Phil’s other 2026 concert is the Holiday Pops on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m., the website said. Phil concerts take place at the Seifert Performing Arts Center at Salem High School, 44 Geremonty Drive in Salem, the website said.

• The Jazz Ambassadors of the United States Army Field Band will offer a free concert at the Music Hall in Portsmouth on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., according to themusichall.org, where you can get tickets.

• Nashua Chamber Orchestra, nco-music.org, will hold its fall concert, “Brahms and Shepherds,” on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Nashua Community College and Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. at the Milford Town Hall, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Nashua Choral Society, nashuachoralsociety.org, will have a guest appearance at the Nashua Chamber Orchestra’s Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 concerts (see listing immediately above), according to the website. The society will hold its Holiday Concert on Dec. 6, the website said.

MOVIES

• Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St. in Concord, redrivertheatres.org, offers its weekly line-up of new films , which on Sept. 10, include Coyote vs. Acme, Late Fame and Practical Magic 2, as well as frequent throwback screenings, such as last weekend’s Steel Magnolias screening, and special one-night screenings by outside groups. On Friday, Oct. 9, Red River will partner with Arts Alley for an outdoor movie screening, according to an email from the theater. Also for October, Rocky Horror Picture Showwill return Friday, Oct. 23; Saturday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 p.m. and the theater will show a series of scary movies, the email said.

• Park Theatre, 19 Main St. in Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org, offers screenings of current run movies such as Coyote vs. Acmeand Tony, both screening this week, as well as classic films, such as 1979’s The Europeans, a Merchant Ivory filmed in New Ipswich. which will screen Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. with a Q&A talkback after the film, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. Other screenings include 1949’s The Third Man screening Friday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m.; 1980’s The Shiningon Friday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m., and 2023’s documentary In the Whaleon Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m.

• Peterborough Community Theatre, 6 School St. in Peterborough, pctmovies.com, offers screenings of recent releases with showtimes Fridays at 3 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 3 & 7 p.m.; Wednesdays at 3 & 7 p.m., and Thursdays, at 7 p.m., according to the website. It will wrap up Tonyon Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., before two weeks of Practical Magic 2(PG-13, 2026) running Friday, Sept. 11, through Thursday, Sept. 24, and one week of Olmo (NR) Friday, Sept. 25, through Thursday, Oct. 1, the website said.

• Safety Last (1923), a silent film starring Harold Lloyd, will be performed with a 22-player orchestral score written by Mike Annicchiarico at UNH Durham at the Johnson Theater on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m., according to an event email. The screening is free and open to the public.

• Fathom Entertainment, fathomentertainment.com, has several screenings on its fall schedule including anniversary screenings, horror films, religious programming and The Met: Live in HD broadcasts of The Metropolitan Opera. Notable upcoming screenings include Mystery Science Theater 3K: The Rifftrax Experiments — Sting of Death on Sept. 13; 2004’s The Passion of the Christ; Transformers: The Movie: The Apology Tour 40th Anniversary Screening Sept. 17 through Oct. 1; Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth 20th Anniversary starting Oct. 9; 1939’sGone with the WindOct. 10-14;V for Vendetta20th anniversary Nov. 1 & 5; Jimmystarting Nov. 6; Rocky 50th Anniversary on Nov. 7; A Beautiful Mind 25th Anniversary on Nov. 22 & 23, and The Maltese Falcon 85th Anniversary on Dec. 6 & 9, according to the website, where you can find screening theaters and times. The Studio Ghibli Fest also continues with Princess Mononoke Sept. 26-23 and Spirited Away Oct. 17-21, the website said.

• Jeff Rapsis, presenter of silent films for which he provides live musical accompaniment, has several screenings on the schedule this fall, according to silentfilmlivemusic.blogspot.com. Screenings include A Fool There Was (1915) on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre; The Scarlet Letter (1926) starring Lillian Gish on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library and on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. at the Moultonborough Public Library; Nosferatu(1922) directed by F.W. Murnau on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. at The Flying Monkey in Plymouth; The Bat(1926) on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre; The Cat and the Canary (1927) on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., at the Derry Opera House sponsored by the Derry Public Library; a Harry Houdini Double Feature with Terror Island (1920) and Haldane of the Secret Service (1923) on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m., at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre, and A Sailor-Mad Man (1921) starring Harold Lloyd and Shoulder Arms(1918) starring Charlie Chaplin on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre, according to the website, where you can find addresses and ticket information as well as film descriptions.

• In addition to Jeff Rapsis’ silent film presentations, Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St. in Wilton, offers screenings of classic films. See the theater’s Facebook page, facebook.com/wiltontownhalltheatre.

• Manchester Parks & Recreation continues its outdoor screenings with Inside Out 2 (PG, 2024), which will screen in Derryfield Park in Manchester on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8:15 p.m., and Hocus Pocus 2 (PG, 2022), which will screen in Derryfield Park in Manchester on Friday, Oct. 16, at 8:15 p.m., according to a post on the Manchester Parks & Recreation Facebook page. BYO chairs, blankets and snacks, the post said.

• Movies in the Park in Riverfront Park in Tilton, hosted by the Hall Memorial Library (hallmemoriallibrary.org), on Fridays throughout the summer, wraps up with Herculeson Friday, Sept. 25, with the park opening at 6 p.m. and the movie starting at dusk, the website said.

• The Manhattan Short Film Festival, manhattanshort.com, will screen at NHTI in Concord on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you can get information about the 10 finalists that will be screened. Participate in the global voting and check back with the website on Monday, Oct. 5, to see the winner.

• The Music Hall (Historic Theater at 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; Lounge at 131 Congress St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org) will host Telluride by the Sea Film Festival Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27, according to the website, where you can find the line-up of films and see the available ticket packages. On Sunday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m., it’s Say Anything: An Intimate Screening and Evening with John Cusack. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the theater will host the Hocus Pocus Taste-Along screening at 4 p.m., the website said. On Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m., cat Rocky in Concert featuring a screening of the 1976 with the score performed live by a full symphony orchestra, the website said. The theater will screen Teton Gravity Research Presents Actually, It Is Rocket Science on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

• The Village Players 51 Glendon St. in Wolfboro, village-players.com, will hold classic movie screenings this fall, with $7 admission and popcorn and other concessions for sale, the website said. The upcoming lineup is Superman on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.; Psychoon Saturday, Oct. 24; Jurassic Park on Saturday, Nov. 21; Toy Story on Saturday, Dec. 19; Westworld on Saturday, Jan. 23, and The Last Starfighter on Saturday, Feb. 20, the website said.

• In addition to its line-up of new films and events such as trivia nights and comedy, Chunky’s Cinema Pub 707 Huse Road, Manchester, chunkys.com, offers specialty screenings of classic films and sensory- and family-friendly screenings of current and recent kids’ films. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 29, Chunky’s will screen classic horror films through Halloween on Tuesdays and Thursdays (the first two are at 7 p.m.,) according to the website. The line-up is A Nightmare on Elm Street on Sept. 29 & Oct. 1; The Shining on Oct. 6 & Oct. 8; Friday the 13th on Oct. 13 & Oct. 15; The Exorciston Oct. 20 & Oct. 22, and Halloween on Oct. 27 & Oct. 29, the website said. Chunky’s will also host an 18+ screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 9 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m. (props and costumes allowed), the website said.

For kids, Chunky’s will hold a sensory-friendly screening of Forgotten Island (PG, 2026) on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 11:30 a.m., 4:30 & 6 p.m. as well as a Little Lunch Date screening on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 11:30 a.m. of that same movie, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Epping Community Theater (38 Ladds Lane, Epping, eppingtheater.org) will present a screening of We Are The Shaggs, a “documentary about the legendary New Hampshire sisters whose music became one of rock’s greatest cult stories,” on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, will present Napoleon Dynamite Live featuring a screening of the 2006 film and a “Lively, freewheeling, interactive experience” with Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The New Hampshire Film Festival, nhfilmfestival.com, will take place at the Music Hall and other locations in Portsmouth on Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18, according to the website, where you can find available pass packages and find updates about the schedule and festival line-up.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord has films on its schedule, according to ccanh.com.

BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord) presents Hocus Pocus Taste-Along Experience on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., according to ccanh.com, where you will be able to purchase tickets. Described as “Perfect for families, friend groups and Halloween fanatics of all ages,” the evening will feature a taste-along candy box for each ticket holder featuring treats that correspond to moments in the film, the website said.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. BNH Stage will screen the documentaryGregg Allman: The Music of My Soul, the website said.

Also at BNH Stage, on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 and 6 p.m., catch Actually, It Is Rocket Science. “For over 30 years, Teton Gravity Research has defined ski and snowboard filmmaking. Join us for the 2026 film, featuring world-class athletes, breathtaking cinematography, and the biggest mountain adventures of the year,” the website said.

At the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord) on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. it’s An Evening with Peter Billingsley and A Christmas Story, featuring a screening of the film and an audience Q&A, the website said.

And on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m., catch Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert featuring a screening of the film and a live performance of the music, the website said.

BOOK EVENTS

• New Hampshire Humanities will bring a wide variety of programs to libraries and historical societies across the state this fall, most of them free and open to the public. A sampling of these includes “The Beginner’s Guide to Cemetery Sleuthing” presented by Erin Moulton on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Dunbarton Public Library (1004 School St., Dunbarton, 774-3546) and again Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. at Sanbornton Public Library (27 Meetinghouse Road, Sanbornton, 286-8288), as well as Monday, Oct. 5, in Pembroke, and on other dates around the state; “Our Declaration, Our Constitution: Securing the Blessings of Liberty at 250” with a panel moderated by Laura Knoy at the UNH School of Law Rudman Center, 2 White St., Concord, on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 5:30 p.m. (RSVP at nhhumanities.org); “The Ethics of AI” presented by SNHU philosophy professor Kiki Berk on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m. hosted by Kensington Public Library at Kensington Union Meetinghouse (97 Amesbury Road); “Last of the Granite State Rattlesnakes” presented by Dan Billin on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at Abbott Library (11 Soonipi Circle, Sunapee, info@abbottlibrary.org), and “Rethinking the U.S. National Parks” presented by Plymouth State Professor Abby Goode on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. at Kimball Library in Atkinson (5 Academy Ave., kimballlibrary.com). For details on these and other NHH programs at locations throughout the state this fall, visit nhhumanities.org.

• Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com) will host several author readings, book signings and other events at its store and will partner with Capitol Center for the Arts to bring the 2026 NH Book Festival to Concord. Local author Robert L. Fried presents his book Passionate Teaching in Troubled Times on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m.; Michael Koryta presents his new gangster novel, Die Famous, on Monday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m.; Chris Panatier presents his new horror novel, Worry Box, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m., and Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky, presents his book Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country, on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 12:30 p.m., in conversation with former New Hampshire governor John Lynch; local author Andrew Bridgeman presents his latest thriller, Noble Reckoning, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m.; local author Kate Schoedinger presents her debut middle-grade historical novel, Death By Molasses, on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m.; NYT bestselling author Chuck Wendig presents The Calamities and Stoker Award winner Delilah S. Dawson presents Monstera on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m.; James Crews presents Breathing Room: Poems of Rest and Retreat on Monday, Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m.; Alix E. Harrow presents her new collection of short fiction, Slantwise Histories, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m.; Hannah Fries presents A Forest Language: Words that Illuminate the Astonishing World of Trees on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m.; John Mutter presents his debut novel, Fortune and Glass, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 12:30 p.m.; Emily Ladau presents the revised edition of her book Demystifying Disability on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m.; Emily Franklin presents her latest novel, Love & Other Monsters, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m., and Carter Wilson presents his latest thriller, When They Find Me, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s in conversation with fellow thriller author Lisa Gardner.

Gibson’s monthly poetry readings with the Poetry Society of New Hampshire continue on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 4:30-6 p.m., with headliner Shanta Lee Honeycutt, and the shop’s monthly audiobook night is the first Monday of every month, 4-8 p.m. — bring a quiet craft, a puzzle, or just yourself, your own listening devices plus audiobook and headphones, and enjoy quality audiobook listening time while you shop, craft, or relax in the store.

• The really big book event of the season in Concord is the New Hampshire Book Festival on Friday, Oct.2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, in Concord, with events at the Capitol Center for the Arts and on South Main Street. Jodi Picoult will be the Festival’s keynote author and will discuss her next novel, Hollow Bones (publishing in late September), on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Chubb Theater at CCA (44 S. Main St., Concord), all seats $50 plus $9 per-ticket fee; each ticket includes a copy of Hollow Bones. Purchase tickets via ccanh.com. Saturday includes a costume parade at 9 a.m., author panels free and open to the public during the day, and a family keynote with author Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), tickets for which are $22 plus fee and include a copy of Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2. Purchase tickets at ccanh.com. For more Festival details see nhbookfestival.org.

• Goffstown Public Library (2 High St., goffstownlibrary.com) presents Robert B. Perreault discussing his historical novel, Courtship in Purgatory, on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m.; the program will include a brief introduction on the Franco-Americans of New England to set the context for the novel.

• At Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough (12 Depot Square, toadbooks.com), Jarvis Coffin will talk about his new book, Calmly on the Waters, Seasonal Essays from Monadnock, on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m.; David Keohan will talk about his new book, The Wind Beneath the Stone: My Quest to Unearth a Piece of Ireland’s Folklore, on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m.;

Will Hackman will talk about his book Radically Reframing Climate Change on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m., and Rebecca Dinerstein Knight will read from her new book, Notes to New Mothers, in which 65 writers and artists write about new motherhood, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m.

• Balin Books (375 Amherst St., Nashua, balinbooks.com) welcomes Jon Rubin presenting his new picture book Oscaron Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. author Sylvie Kurtz discusses her book Unforgettable, the latest in her Love in Brighton Village series, the website said. On Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m., author Andrew Bridgman discusses Noble Reckoning, the third book in his Emma Noble Thriller Series, the website said.

• Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester, bookerymht.com) has a full slate of author visits and other events this fall.Author visits include Jennifer Anne Gordon launching her thriller Perfect Wives, Perfect Lies on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m.; local children’s author Naomi Fredette reading on Sunday, Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Constance Hays Matsumoto in conversation with Betsy Small on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m.; Alexus King presenting her romance novel Every Summer After You on Saturday, Sept. 19, 1-3 p.m.; local author Alicia-Leigh Smith holding a book launch and reading on Friday, Sept. 25, 5-6:30 p.m., and New Hampshire author Priscilla Corriveau Drouin signing copies of her middle-grade novel Desert Danger! Lost and Alone on Saturday, Sept. 26, 1-3 p.m.

Other special events at Bookery include the monthly Horror Book Talk with ThePalomaFiles on Saturday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m., where all are welcome to explore the dark side of fiction, share a love of chilling stories and trade thoughts with fellow fans; a Dirty Shirley Bar Crawl & Dungeon Crawler Carl themed games presented by The Desperado Club in conjunction with Granite State Comicon on Saturday, Sept. 19, 5-9 p.m.; a talk by New Hampshire author William Graser on“The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing” on Saturday, Sept. 26, 1-3 p.m., and a midnight release party for A Court of Thorns and Roses Book 6 from Monday, Oct. 26, at 10 p.m., until 1 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, where guests can enjoy themed snacks and drinks as well as activities and games, followed by the midnight book release.

• Water Street Bookstore (125 Water St., Exeter, waterstreetbooks.com) welcomes these authors to the store this fall: Alex Myers presents his latest novel, While We Were Silent, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.; Andrew Merton presents his latest book, Gloria Steinem Blurbed Me (And Other Miracles), on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m., and local author Emily Bean presents her novel, Let You Go, on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.

• Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, nashualibrary.org) has two author visits this fall. Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz will talk about her latest book, The Ballad of Fugitive William Parker: A True Tale of Love, Murder, Treason, and Ordinary Folks Who Saved America on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.; books will be available for purchase and signing. And Ana Hebra Flaster visits to discuss this year’s Nashua Reads title, Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m.; copies of the book will be available to purchase at the event, at Chandler Performance Arena in the Nashua Public Library, and event tickets can be purchased online for $10 via eventbrite.com or at the door for $15. Visit nashualibrary.org/252/Nashua-Reads.

• The Music Hall in Portsmouth (436-2400, themusichall.org) continues its Writers on a New England Stage series with R.F. Kuang discussing her new novel, Taipei Story, on Monday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth), in conversation with NHPR All Things Considered host Julia Barnett; the ticket package is $57.75 and includes a hardcover copy of the book. The Music Hall’s Lit at the Lounge series continues with Mona Awad discussing her new novel, We Love You, Bunny, on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St., Portsmouth); the ticket package is $35 and includes a signed paperback.

• Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550, manchesterlibrary.org) has a local author visit, a book sale and a talk on home organizing this fall. Local writer Robert B. Perreault will give a brief talk on the history of New England Franco-Americans as a context for a discussion of and brief readings from his novel Courtship in Purgatory, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-7 p.m. Then it’s the Fall Book Sale on Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 1.p.m. in the Winchell Room, cash or check only; prices are $10 per average-sized grocery bag, with individual items available for purchase at $2 each for hardcovers, $1 each for most other materials. And on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. Bonnie Borromeo Tomlinson, author of Stop Buying Bins, Stop Pushing Perfection and the newly published You Don’t Need It, will be at the library to talk about home downsizing, organizing, system building and conscious consumerism.

• The Walker Lecture series of free events at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, walkerlecture.org) the fall includes “Japan: Spirited Away with Marlin Darrah” on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m., and dramatic readings Irish Voices with Stephen Collins and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” with Jeffrey Zygmonton Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

• Wadleigh Memorial Library (49 Nashua St., Milford, 249-0645) presents Robert B. Perreault discussing his historical novel, Courtship in Purgatory, on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m.; the program will include a brief introduction on the Franco-Americans of New England.

• The Tory Hill Author Series returns to Warner, presented by the Warner Historical Society, with MainStreet BookEnds as the bookseller, on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Warner Town Hall (Main Street). Tina Morris presents her book Return to the Sky: The Surprising Story of How One Woman and Seven Eaglets Helped Restore the Bald Eagle — meet the author, enjoy free desserts, get your book signed and celebrate America’s 250th. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, available online at mainstreetbookends.com or warnerhistorical.org.

• Barnes & Noble in Nashua (235 DW Highway, bn.com) hosts John U. Bacon presenting his latest book, The Gales of November, on Sunday, Nov. 8, at noon.

CONCERTS

• Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com, has a full calendar of shows. The line-up currently includes An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer featuring live footage from a 1992 concert alongside a performance by Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy Live on Thursday, Sept. 10, with a VIP Q&A at 5:30 p.m. and a concert at 8 p.m. (separate tickets are required); Matthew & Gunnar Nelson on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m.; Hammerfall with special guests Evergrey and Elvenking on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Aldo Nova on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m.; Guitar Monsters featuring Johnny A & Jon Butcher with special guest Dave Amato on Friday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m.; John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.; Stryper on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m.; Unforgettable Fire (U2 tribute) on Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m.; Ann Wilson: The Voice of Heart & Tripsitter on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m.; Kashmir (the spirit of Led Zeppelin) on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m.; Badfish (a tribute to Sublime) on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m.; Australia’s Thunder from Down Under on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m.; Harry Chapin’s Greatest Stories Live on Friday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m.; FJ (tribute to Foreigner and Journey) on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.; Panorama and 4RPlay (tributes to The Cars and Boston) on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.; With a Vengeance with Silent Season opening on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.; GCS ft. Eric Gales, Dennis Chambers & Billy Sheehan on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m.; Peter Wolf and the Midnight Travelers on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m.; The British Invasion Years on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m.; Bruce in the USA on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.; The Outlaws on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.; The Four Horsemen (tribute to Metallica) on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.; Live and Let Die — The Music of Paul McCartney on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m.; Glenn Miller Orchestra on Sunday, Nov. 15, at noon and 4:30 p.m.; Queensryche with Lone Wolf James opening the show on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m.; Hollywood Nights (Bob Seger tribute) on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.; The Fools on Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m., and Adrenalize — The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets and sign up for the newsletter that announces newly booked shows.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts has shows at both its Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord) and BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord) locations, according to ccanh.com, where you can purchase tickets.

At BNH Stage, shows include Tom DiMenna on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m.; Weird Phishes (Radiohead through the lens of Phish) on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m.; Pete Yorn on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m.; Five for Fighting with String Quartet on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m.; Duunes on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.; Swing Dance Night featuring New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 3:30 p.m.; Dueling Pianos on Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m.; Kawaii Rave on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m.; Golden! K-Pop Kids Dance Party on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 1 and 4:30 p.m.; Highway to the Rangerzone Open Mic with Andrew North and the Rangers on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m.; Lee & Dr. G on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Echoes of Floyd on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Noah Gunderson on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Andrea Paquin on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m.; Carsie Blanton with The Burning Hell opening on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Brass Against on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.; Mr. Aaron’s Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m.; The Free Range Revue with Black Zodiac on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m.; Jamantics on Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m.; YellowHouse Blues Band on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.; CelloGaygeum on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.; Blue Collar Men: A Styx Tribute on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Seth Glier & Laurie MacAllister on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m., and Swing Dance Night featuring New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m., the website said.

At the Chubb Theatre, upcoming shows include An Evening with Celtic Thunder on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.; The Billy Joel Legacy — A Tribute Experience on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Lorrie Morgan on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Dirty Deeds: The AC/DC Experience on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.; Laurie Berkner on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; The Disco Biscuits on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Punch Brothers on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. and The Rush Tribute Project on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m., the website said.

• The Music Hall (Historic Theater at 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; Lounge at 131 Congress St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org) has a packed schedule of music through the fall.

At the Historic Theater, catch Here Come the Mummies on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m.; UB40 on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.; Five for Fighting with a string quartet on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Little Feat: The Last Farewell Tour on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.; Invincible (Michael Jackson tribute) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m.; Lucinda Williams and her band on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 8 p.m.; The Carole King & James Taylor Story (tribute) on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m.; Vitamin String Quartet & Girl Named Tom on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.; The Blind Boys of Alabama Present Songs in the Key of Life on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m.; The Breakers (Tom Petty tribute) on Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m.; Black Violin: The Be Free Tour on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

At the Lounge, shows include Brendan Cleary on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m.; PMAC Jazz Night: 1980s Songbook Vol. 2, on Friday, Sept. 18, at 6:30 and 9 p.m.; Nellie McKay on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m.; Remi Good & Amy Jay on Thursday Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Jess Klein & Jenny Reynolds on Wednesday Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m.; Sophie B. Hawkins on Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m.; Sharon Jones on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.; Amani Burnham on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m.; Henry Honkonen & Tyler Levs on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.; Trae Sheehan on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; Ari Hest on Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m.; Adrienne Mack-Davis on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.; Clifford Cameron’s Vinyl Quartet on Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m.; Songbird: Halley Neal Sings Fleetwood Mac on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.; JR Richards (Dishwalla original singer) on Tuesday Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.; The Lowest Pair on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m.; Catie Curtis: C’mon Butterfly album release show on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.; Dan Bern on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.; Michaela Anne on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.; Antje Duvekot on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m., Hayley Reardon on Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m., and Griffin House on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 5 and 8 p.m., the website said.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester) and its sister theater the Rex (23 Amherst in Manchester) have several shows on the schedule this season, according to palacethearte.org, where you can purchase tickets.

At the Rex Theatre, the schedule includes Vance Gilbert on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; American Elton on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; The Edwards Twins from Las Vegas (the Ultimate Variety Show) on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.; Seconds Out: A Tribute to the Music of Genesis on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Forever Simon and Garfunkel: A Tribute on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m.; RDMTION Reggae on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; An Evening with G.E. Smith and Jeff Kazee on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m.; Panorama (A Tribute to the Cars) on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m.; Diaspora Radio Plays Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Yesterday Once More: A Tribute to The Carpenters on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m.; Jackson Browne Tribute Featuring Running on Jackson on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m.; All Revved Up: The Ultimate Meat Loaf Band on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Muse: A Salute to the Divas of the ’90s on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Uncaged: Zac Brown Tribute on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m.; The Joshua Tree (U2 tribute) on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; The Corvettes Doo Wop Revuew on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.; Back in Black: The Best AC/DC Experience on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Daybreak — The Music & Passion of Barry Manilow on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Draw the Line — The Aerosmith Tribute Band on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.; A Salute to Veteran’s Celebration with the Freese Brothers on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m.; Forever Ray: Honoring the Music of Ray Charles on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Damn The Torpedoes — A Live Tom Petty Concert Experience on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Willie Nile on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Moondance — The Ultimate Tribute to Van Morrison on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Tributes to Journey and REO Speedwagon Friday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Blues Brothers The Next Generation on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m, the website said.

At the Palace Theatre the schedule includes Remembering John Denver featuring Ted Vigil on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Staying Alive (a tribute to the Bee Gees) on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m.; From Broadway to the Big Screen with Jenene Caramielo on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m., and The Music of the Steely Dan with The Steely Dan Project on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., the website said.

• LaBelle Winery features concerts at both its Amherst (345 Route 101) and Derry (14 Route 111) locations, according to labellewinery.com, where you can purchase tickets for these events.

Shows scheduled in Derry include Outdoor String Quartet Candlelight Concert: ’90s Hits on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m.; Lovesexy Concert: Tribute to the Music of Prince on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m.; Nirvani Concert: A Tribute to Nirvana on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m.; Barely Dead: Grateful Dead Tribute Concert on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m., and Johnny Folsom 4: Johnny Cash Tribute Concert on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m, the website said.

Shows scheduled in Amherst include A Farewell to Kings: Rush Tribute Concert on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m.; Crybaby Concert: Tribute to the Music of Janis Joplin and Woodstock on Thursday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m.; Ladies of the ’80s Concert on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m.; Zepphalen: Led Zeppelin & Van Halen Tribute on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m.; Halloween Disco Party with Booty Vortex Band on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m.; Scenes: A Billy Joel Experience on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m., and 1 Wild Night: the Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute Concert on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m., the website said.

• Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St. in Suncook, pembrokecitylimits.com, features live music many Wednesdays through Sundays — Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., for example, PCL will feature Baza Blues, according to the website. Some shows from the upcoming schedule include an Outlaw Country Tribute Show on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 2 to 5 p.m., the website said. On Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. there will be a Musicians Retreat: “… an afternoon dedicated to helping musicians perform at their best — both physically and mentally! Connect with local vendors and professionals offering resources, demonstrations and services focused on improving meuidcal performance, preventing injuries…” and more, according to a post on the venue’s Facebook page.

• Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.org, will present concerts including Whitestake: The Whitesnake Experience with ZeppHalen on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m.; Blue Collar Men: The Music of Styx and the Doobie Brothers on Satursday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m.; The Young Dubliners on Friday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m.; Stairway to Zeppelin on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.; Northern Cross on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m., and Arrested Development on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Mr. Aaron’s Kids Music Fest takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, at the NH Statehouse on Main Street in downtown Concord from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring the Mr. Aaron Band, Miss Alli, Friend Andrea, La La Squad and a kids’ music songwriting competition, according to Mr. Aaron’s Facebook page.

• Musicians for Meals, a benefit concert for Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 10 p.m. at Riley’s Place, 29 B Mont Vernon St. in Milford, according to the Meals on Wheels Hillsborough Facebook page.

• Latino Vibes Festival 2026 will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 9 p.m. in Veterans Park in Manchester featuring La Sonora Dinamita; Mala Fe; Chrissy I-EECE; Los Voces Originales Adolescentes; Jose Manuel, El Sultan De La Bachata; Moreno Rosario; Jassiell, La Nueva Cara Del Merengue; Javier Timbal; Anthony Torres, and Raul Mieres, El Conde De La Bachata, according tolatinovibefestival.com, where you can find a map to the park.

• Upcoming shows at Terminus Underground at New Hampshire Underground, 134 Haines St. in Nashua, newhampshireunderground.org/terminusunderground, include Ladies of Rock with Haunting Titans, Wired for Sound, Tiger Witch and Ashborne (with visual performance by Air Flow Projection Art) on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.; Faces of Doom featuring Lizzy, Dust Project, Vale End and Lava Mama on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.; Leviathan of Sound featuring Void the Nobody, Trading Tombstones and Dank Sinatra on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., and the Benefit for Mental Health with Phantasm, Witchspire, Graboid, Lobotomobile and Piss in Public on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Upcoming concerts at the Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave. in Laconia, lakeportopera.com, include Garth Live: Ultimate Tribute on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; Angelz Fury (’80s metal) on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.; Meat Loaf the Ultimate Tribute on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m., and Aquanett (’80s rock tribute) on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Andres Institute of Art, 16 Route 13, Brookline, andresinstitute.org, will continue Act II of its 2026 concert series with shows including Modern Fools with Brother Seamus & The Dudes on Saturday, Sept. 12; Soggy Po’ Boys on Friday, Sept. 18; Etch & The Youngs with Straight A’s on Saturday, Sept. 19; Diplomats of Funk on Friday, Oct. 2; The Far Out on Friday, Oct. 16; Folksoul on Saturday, Nov. 7; Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters on Saturday, Nov. 14; Ballou Brothers on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Compaq Big Band on Dec. 12, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com, has several big shows on its schedule including Resurrection: Back to Skull on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m.; Swarmiefest on Saturday, Sept. 19, at noon; Filth, Slated, Provenance, Fall Of Atlantis, Pit Wolves, Gutted Twice on Monday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m.; Chaos Rising! Vctms, Lost In Separation, EverChanger, Murder Monday, Quick! Before the Outbreak, Tomorrow Untold, Faith In Silence and Funeral Thirst on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.; Beyond 30 presents Daytime Clubbing on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m.; Kings Court Booking & Radical Image Press presents Howling Giant, John Fox and Sundrifter on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m.; Kings Court Booking & Radical Image Press presents Rocktober Halloween! with He Is Legend, In Angels, Excide, Parts Per Million, Dead Fiction, Socially Problematic Children and Reapercussion on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m.; Hachi Halloween 3 with Kumarion, Venture 5 (East Coast Debut), Mr.Eyeslee, Sokomodo and J-rawk on Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m.; Resurrection: Angels vs. Demons on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 8 p.m., and Kings Court Booking & Radical Image Press presents The Great Turkey Massacre! With Primer 55, Redefined, Makes My Blood Dance, Scarecrow Hill, The Grey Curtain, Found Piece, Under The Horizon, Pit Wolves, Throttle Hyde and Piss In Public on Friday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m., according to Jewel’s Facebook page, where you can find links to purchase tickets.

• The Flying Monkey 39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com, has a lineup of concerts (all starting at 7:30 p.m.) including Chris Knight featuring Chance Stanley on Saturday, Sept. 12; Draw the Line The Ultimate Aerosmith Tribute on Friday, Sept. 18; Donna the Buffalo on Thursday, Sept. 24; Almost Queen (tribute to Queen) on Friday, Sept. 25; A Band of Brothers (Allman Brothers tribute) on Saturday, Sept. 26; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra on Thursday, Oct. 1; Crystal Ship (tribute to the Doors) on Friday, Oct. 2; Damn the Torpedoes (tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) on Saturday, Oct. 3; Monkey Karaoke Monster Mash with DJ Angie & Bob on Tuesday, Oct. 6; A Farewell to Kings (Rush tribute) on Thursday, Oct. 8; Badfish (tribute to Sublime) on Friday, Oct. 9; The Travelin’ McCourys on Thursday, Oct. 15; FJ (music of Foreigner, Journey and classic legends) on Friday, Oct. 16; Bruce Cockburn & Livingston Taylor on Tuesday, Oct. 20; The Speed of Sound & Sneaky Miles (soul-rock quartet featuring Spencer Albee) on Friday, Oct. 23; Upstate on Saturday, Oct. 24; Gaelic Storm on Sunday, Oct. 25; Story Songs of the ’70s: Fall Edition presented by Tom DiMenna on Friday, Nov. 6; Music Bingo with DJ Angie & Bob on Tuesday, Nov. 10; CJ Solar & The Old Souls featuring Rick Huckaby on Friday, Nov. 13; The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on Saturday, Nov. 14; Monkey Karaoke Jingle Jam with DJ Angie and Bob on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Fed Tacket and Scott Sharrard from Little Feat on Thursday, Dec. 17, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The season at BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane in Gilford, banknhpavilion.com, wraps up in September with shows including O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw and KT Tunstall,with MikelParis on the Hazy Little Stage, on Sunday, Sept. 13; Hayley Williams, Magdalena Bay and Rico Nasty, with Cozy Throne on the Hazy Little Stage, on Monday, Sept. 14; Dan + Shay, Tyler Hubbard and Josh Ross, with Everway on the Hazy Little Stage, on Friday, Sept. 18; Dermot Kennedy and Jonah Kagen, with Sunday Ave. on the Hazy Little Stage, on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Jason Aldean, Chase Matthew, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dee Jay Silver on Friday, Sept. 25, with AK Cody on the Hazy Little Stage and on Saturday, Sept. 26, with Whiskey-6 on the Hazy Little Stage, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Averill House Vineyard, 21 Averill Road in Brookline, averillhousevineyard.com, has live music on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. The upcoming schedule includes Jae Mannion on Sept. 13; Mark Winters on Sept. 20; Gus & Jean on Sept. 27; Side Effects on Oct. 4, and D. Heywood & Dee Kimble on Oct. 11, according to the website.

• The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia, coloniallaconia.com, has several concerts on the schedule. Shows include Welcome Back My Friends (featuring video performance of Emerson and Lake from 1992 and live on-stage performance with Carl Palmer and his own ELP legacy band) on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.; Classic Stones Live on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.; Celebrating Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Helloween on Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m.; Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime the Final Chapter on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Tusk: The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, has several concerts on its schedule, including Kenny G on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Gimme Gimme Disco on Friday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m.; The Carpenters Songbook on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m.; Pat Metheny: Side-Eye III+ on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m., Emo Night Brooklyn on Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m.; 40 Fingers on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; The Concert: A Tribute for ABBA on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m.; Celebrate Celine with Jenene Caramielo on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin II on Friday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m.; Neko Case Neon Grey Midnight Green Tour with support from Destroyer on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.; Melvin Seals & JGB on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; Here Come the Mummies on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Howlin’ Halloween Concert: Independent Art and Music with Playing Dead and Guests on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m.; Andy Grammer Greater Than Part II: A One Man Show on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; AJ McLean presents Alexander James: The Better Man Tour on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m.; Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Saturday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m.; Close Enemies featuring Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith with support from Jeff Hilliard on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.; Tusk: The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Sarah Jarosz on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Taylorville (an unofficial live tribute band) on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m.; Cowboy Junkies on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Face 2 Face: Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel on Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m.; Jessica Lynn’s A Very Merry Classic Christmas on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m., and Beginnings: A Celebration of the Music of Chicago on Friday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord, theaudi.org, kicks off its season with an arts party and ice cream social on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m., according to the website. The Walker Lecture series opens its season with Vintage Rock ’n’ Roll with Richie and the High Street Rockers on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m., according to the website, followed by Soulful Sounds with Lori Diamond, Fred Abatelli and special guest Anelise on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Studio Two (Beatles tribute) on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m.; An Evening of Bluegrass with Southern Rail Bluegrass Band on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m., and Connie Converse: Concord’s Cassandra with Howard Fishman (presentation about the artist) on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m., the website said. See walkerlecture.org. Other concerts at the Audi include the Concord Community Concert Association kicking off its season with The Limeliters on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m.; the Concord Coachmen Chorus presenting Harmony and Hilarity: A Night of Musical Mischief on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; the Concord Community Concert Association presenting The Moanin’ Frogs on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m., and Recycled Percussion on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 4 and 7 p.m., according to theaudi.org, where you can find ticket information.

• Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd. in Hampton, casinoballroom.com, continues its season with concerts including Cheap Trick on Wednesday, Sept. 16; Dark Star Orchestra on Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19; Lee Brice with Grace Tyler on Sunday, Sept. 20; W.A.S.P. with special guest KK’s Priest on Wednesday, Sept. 30; Scotty McCreery on Thursday, Oct. 15; Voyage — Celebrating the Music of Journey on Friday, Oct. 23; An Evening with Rumours of Fleetwood Mac on Saturday, Oct. 31; Corrosion of Conformity & The Sword with Hippie Death Cult on Wednesday, Nov. 4; Clutch with Slomosa & Blood Venture on Thursday, Nov. 5; Beat (performing the music of King Crimson) on Saturday, Nov. 7; Greensky Bluegrass on Friday, Nov. 20, and Mitchell Tenpenny on Saturday, Nov. 21, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Range, 96 Old Turnpike Road, Mason, 878-1324, therangemason.com, will finish out its summer of concerts with The Machine performs Pink Floyd on Friday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m., and Town Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m., along with other live music shows, according to the website.

• The Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group will hold its 10th annual SNHUGFEST on Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 11 a.m. at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Dover, a “free, all-day festival” featuring “live ukulele performances from local and visiting bands, food vendors, raffle prizes and interactive play-along jams” to raise money for Ukulele Kids Club, according to a press release. See theukc.org/snhugfest-x.

• Riley’s Place, 29 B Mont Vernon St. in Milford, rileysplacellc.com, will also host the 2026 White Horse Reunion on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 9 p.m., featuring Ballou Brothers, Aces & Eights, Truffle, Bat Magoon Band and Oliver Sudden, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Hidden Gem (formerly the The Listening Room), 33 Howard St., Wilton, 732-3815, musicandrockshop.com, has concerts on its schedule including Bosey Joe on Saturday, Sept. 19; Brian Dolzani on Sunday, Sept. 20; Footings with Caitlin Wilder on Sunday, Sept. 27; Spooky Special with Dr. Gasp! & Cryin’ Caleb on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Twilight Lullabies with Savoir Faire, Lynda Mandolyn & Darling Hill on Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets and get updates on future shows.

• Franklin Opera House, franklinoperahouse.org, is presenting upcoming concerts including Devine * Nix on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Public Library, and Jack & Tim on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at the library, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Fourth Annual Live Free Fest takes place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. (gates open at 11:30 a.m.) in Hillsborough County Fairground, 17 Hilldale Lane in New Boston, according to the event’s Facebook page. The musical line-up includes Los River Fleet, Cozy Throne, Thoughtstick, cellardoor, Cloth Mother, Roaches, Saguaro and Jiggry Pokery, the post said. The event will also include a Half Pipe Jam, tug of war, food trucks, dodgeball, a pie eating contest, a cornhole tournament, and a vendor village, the post said. Purchase tickets at livefreefestnh.com.

• At the CAKE Theatre, 12 Veterans Square in Laconia, thecaketheatre.com, catch Recycled Percussion onSaturday, Sept. 26, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 and 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Jonas Brothers will bring the Burning Up Tour: All Over Again to SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m., according to snhuarena.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• PorchFest 2026 is a “free outdoor music festival in downtown Rochester” that features “over 50 local bands, duos and solo artists performing on more than 20 stages throughout downtown Rochester,” and it takes place Sunday, Sept. 27, starting at noon, according to rochesteroperahouse.org, where you can check back for a map and a music schedule.

• Musical offerings at the Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St. in Derry, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) include Yesterday and Today: An Interactive Beatles Experience on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.

• Blasty Bough Brewing 3 Griffin Road, Epsom, blastybough.com/blastytrad, continues its BlastyTrad concerts with Ethan Setiawan and Fine Ground on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.; Laura Cortese on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.; Hanz Araki on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., and Alison Lupton on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester, tickets.anselm.edu, will present the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra with “Swingin’ to Victory: A Big Band Salute to the Greatest Generation” on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

Toon time

A look at Coyote vs. Acme and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie

“It’s a limited number of signs,” as a sign held up by Wile E. Coyote explains regarding his verbal communication style, is one of the many good jokes of Coyote vs. Acme(in theaters) and probably a not unfamiliar situation in a world where human people and cartoons, some of whom do not talk, coexist.

After all, a limited number of signs is really all you need when two characters’ relationship is largely one individual (Coyote) devising overly complicated traps, often disguised with birdseed, to catch the other (Road Runner), who is never fooled and always runs off with a “meep meep” right before the trap somehow spectacularly blows back on Coyote. But when Wile E. Coyote brings his woes to human lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte) in non-animated Albuquerque, more detailed communication becomes necessary.

Kevin is part of the strip mall law firm of Avery, Jones & Maltese (a fun nod to old school Looney Tunes animators). His specialty is filing nuisance suits against the Acme corporation for injuries to Tunes from Acme’s cartoon products line. The plaintiff gets tossed a $200 or $300 payout and nobody has to set foot (or paw or hoof) in a courtroom. But Coyote’s mountain of defective Acme products could add up to a massive payday, which gets Acme lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena) and even Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn (voice of Eric Bauza, who does most of the Tunes in this movie) involved, terrifying the “we always settle” Kevin. The size of Coyote’s lawsuit also threatens to uncover bigger corporate malfeasance on the part of Acme.

We get a lot of the Looney Tunes greats in cameos big and small in this movie — Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny hanging out at a Carrot Festival, Tweety Bird forced to work for Acme, a mention of the court case Sylvester vs. Gonzales — but the Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner relationship is at the core, and it’s surprisingly sweet. It’s also fun that this movie, long-delayed by corporate nonsense, has such a plucky story to tell about standing up to a seemingly unbeatable corporation. And it delivers this message with a lot of goofy Looney Tunes antics, using the rubbery, indestructible nature of the Tunes as both part of the movie’s humor and part of the story’s plot.

As for the humans, Forte fits in well with the Tunes, delivering that Looney quality in his performance as an exasperated, always-on-the-back-foot character. Likewise, Cena is a perfect live action version of a cartoon villain, all too-massive smiles and perfect jaw line. Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzman and Martha Kelly slide nicely into the high-joke-density toon-filled world, all doing a good job at giving just enough but not getting in the way of the cartoon hijinks.

While Coyote vs. Acme has some multi-generational appeal — cartoon fun for kids, nostalgia and sticking-it-to-The-Man (who is in this case a rooster) for older viewers — other recent animated release Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie(also in theaters) is more geared toward its core audience. The movie is essentially a long episode of Paw Patrol.That’s an 88-minute (according to Wikipedia) episode, with no commercials or pausing-the-TV for bathroom breaks and no toys for young Paw Patrol fans to play with during less interesting parts and also the Dinos of the title are movie-screen-sized, which seemed to, at first, fully freak out one of the kids in the theater where I saw this movie. All of which doesn’t make this movie inappropriate for Paw Patrol-fan-aged movie-goers, but these are things to consider when deciding whether this is a movie to see in theaters or wait to watch on a more manageable TV-sized screen. Also, the movie did not, at least through the first part of the credits, play the “no job too big, no pup too small” theme song, which felt like kind of a letdown.

Otherwise, this fully animated tale of the talking pups and their human boy leader Ryder (voice of Henry Bolan) finding an island filled with dinosaurs — and, as bad-guy Mayor Humdinger (voice of Ron Pardo) notices when he sees a report about it on TV, diamonds — is standard, crayon-colored, good-natured Paw Patrol content. We get introduced to a new pup, Rex (voice of Hayden Chamberlain), who has been stranded on the island for a while and helps take care of the dinosaurs. Wikipedia, and my own vague memories, indicated that both this pup and the general concept of the pups meeting dinosaurs has existed in Paw Patrol TV episodes, not unlike the plots of previous Paw Patrol movies. Fully new or not, this pup and his habitat are an opportunity for the existence of new Paw Patrol toys, which you might think of as “great, more plastic crap in my house” or “great! A new easy-to-find gift item!” — both valid opinions. The core pup in the spotlight for this movie is Marshall (voice of Carter Young), the Dalmatian firefighter pup who is tired of being thought of as “the clumsy one.” For adults, there are some nice voice cameos — Terry Crews, Fortune Feimster, Bill Nye. It’s all completely fine, for what it is, without really offering much for viewers outside the “all is Paw Patrol” phase of life.

Featured photo: Reacher, from season one of Reacher. He is possibly even larger now.

Reacher vibes

Capturing the fun of a big man and his fists

By the time you read this the TV show Reacher, streaming on Amazon Prime Video and starring Alan Ritchson, will have released the fifth episode (out of eight total) of its fourth season.

If you haven’t been watching, you are so lucky because you have three and a half seasons of this excellent-fun show, based on the Lee Child books, to fill your TV watching time. Reacher (Ritchson) is a former military investigative whatever who travels the country being a massive slab of a man. Reacher doesn’t suffer fools and isn’t looking for trouble, but when he comes across injustice he is compelled to Get Involved and Make Wrongdoers Suffer. And sometimes he romances a lady. It’s a perfect show. In an early episode this season, he holds a fluffy white baby kitten. Also in an early episode, it takes a group of like five dudes plus two animal tranquilizers to bring Reacher down. Perfect!

The show dropped three episodes in early August and has been releasing the rest weekly, which means that you get a delicious punch-kick treat and then have to wait a whole week until the next one. Which sent me in search of some movies that can offer some of the same sense of ridiculous fun.

So far,Deep Water (a May theatrical release now streaming on MGM+ and available for rent or purchase) comes the closest to both the tone and the action I’m seeking. Ben (Aaron Eckhart) is the pilot on a passenger flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai. After we watch the world’s biggest jerk (Angus Sampson) carelessly stuff a sparking power charger into his luggage, we meet a variety of passengers and learn just enough about them to help us make guesses about who will die, in what order and how horribly. Eventually jerk’s suitcase explodes and the plane is forced down on open water. The landing executed by Ben and Captain Ben Kingsley (Wikipedia says his character’s name is Rich; I love this Oscar winner’s continued willingness to show up for whatever) would have been great but for the coral reef that shreds the plane into chunks, leaving the passengers with a variety of “how do I not die” problems to solve. And then the sharks show up.

I feel like the best review I can give of this movie is “somebody shoots a shark in the mouth with a flare gun!” If that sounds like the right kind of dumb for you, then this is your movie. It is definitely the right kind of dumb for me and it is a nice end-of-summer light-lift action watch.

Cold Storage (a February theatrical release also streaming on MGM+ and available for rent or purchase) is also goofy fun action, though even gorier than Deep Water and its many scenes of sharks eating people. Here, Naomi (Georgina Campbell) and Teacake (Joe Keery) are the overnight guards at a U-storage that has been built in and over a supersecret decommissioned military lab. Unbeknownst to them, decades earlier, government scientist types Robert (Liam Neeson) and Trini (Lesley Manville, which is rad) stored a hybrid, fast-spreading, mind-controlling fungus brought from space in one of the rooms deep underground. Robert warned — though no one listened — that changing weather patterns could allow the containment of that room to eventually fail. When it does, Naomi and Teacake find themselves fighting assorted fungus-zombie creatures while they wait for the Army, which turns out just to be Robert, to come and save them. Campbell and Keery have great bored-coworkers chemistry, which turns into great normies-fighting-alien-whatevers chemistry, and Neeson, Manville and Vanessa freakin’ Redgrave add just the right amount of, like, I wouldn’t go as far as “gravitas” exactly but straightfaced adult goofiness?

I also reached back to 2024 to watch the Netflix release Atlas, hoping for some goofball action. Alas, this movie starring Jennifer Lopez as an AI-hating scientist who must make peace with a robot-mech-suit buddy (voice of Gregory James Cohan) to fight the robot terrorist Simu Liu is not as goofy as that description suggests, despite having a “game for it” Sterling K. Brown in a supporting role as a military dude. Lopez, whose character’s name is Atlas, can be goofy fun, as this year’s Netflix release Office Romance reminded us all. She gets some moments to shine here, to be sassy to or with her robot buddy, named Smith, but not enough. This movie needed to take itself less seriously and unleash Lopez to be both sillier and badassier. Atlas is an OK thing to have on while scrolling back-to-school sales or napping.

Back at MGM+, I’ve found that a nice comedown after an episode of Reacher is an episode of The Westies, an eight-episode show in its first season about warring criminal interests in 1970s New York City. J.K. Simmons seems to be having fun as the beleaguered boss of the Westies criminal gang, trying to keep in line his own guys and deal with assorted law enforcement and the Gambino family, including up-and-comer John Gotti (Hamish Allan-Headley). Also, the Troubles of Northern Ireland are spilling over into New York City in the form of characters played by Sarah Bolger (who I probably know best from her Mary Tudor days in The Tudors) and Allen Leech (one-time chauffeur Tom Branson from Downton Abbey). Titus Welliver also appears as a dirty cop tasked by the FBI with keeping an eye on Simmons’ character and his gang.

This is a grittier show, with violence that is grimmer and more downbeat the giddy “yippee!” of Reacher. But I enjoy the little window on an era and I miss watching Welliver in Bosch (all seven seasons of that, plus the three seasons of Bosch Legacy, are on Prime Video). The Westies is a compelling enough show to stick with — no Reacher, but then what is.

Featured photo: Reacher, from season one of Reacher. He is possibly even larger now.

In praise of the under-two-hour movie

The End of Oak Street and more shorties

Here’s to the under-two-hour movie.

I hung in there with The Odyssey’s nearly three-hour run time, I can stick with and enjoy a longer movie.

But I truly appreciate a movie that can get in and out in an economical 100 or so minutes, which is what Aug. 14 theatrical release The End of Oak Streetand many of the other movies mentioned here manage. Short, fun, occasionally funny, unapologetically goofy-action-packed, not an IP or a sequel — with that and its “kids on bikes” scenes, it has a real throwback feel.

It is also set in 1982 suburbia, so you get a lot of that faded late ’70s vibe. Denise (Anne Hathaway) and husband Greg (Ewan McGregor) also feel sort of faded as a couple. When they aren’t trying to fight quietly at a neighborhood block party, they are openly yelling in the family home, which Greg deals with by taking nips from a garage whiskey bottle and Denise handles by writing a book about a wife yearning to leave her family. The teenage Audrey (Maisy Stella) and tween Brian (Christian Convery) have definitely picked up on the couple’s problems.

After a night or two of seeing a bright light suddenly appear and vanish just outside the house, the family members see one bright light — maybe lightning, they wonder — that seems to cause the power and phones and water to go out. When the parents go outside the next day, they don’t see downed power lines but they do hear strange noises and see what at first Greg thinks might be the family dog and then realizes, when he gets a good look, is a large, feathery raptor of the dinosaur variety. The couple manages to make it back inside before getting eaten — not all of their neighbors are as lucky — and immediately start boarding up windows and trying to figure out how much food they have.

As we and they eventually figure out (and as the trailers give away), their neighborhood has been lifted out of our time and plopped back millions of years ago. How will they survive and is there a way back will be their chief questions — well and Brian will also keep looking for his dog and maybe Denise is wondering if she and Greg are still divorce-bound.

There is a fair amount of goofballery in this movie that the movie and the characters take absolutely seriously but that I think we are meant to laugh at. The southern California golden light and the bikes and the ancient-seeming station wagons gives this a very Steven Spielberg-lite feel but there is a B movie quality to some of the creature antics.

Hathaway is not “important movie Oscar contention” good here but she does a good job as the mom character in this sort of thing — think Dee Wallace in E.T. or JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist.

McGregor is equally enjoyable if a less steady member of Team Run Away From Dinosaurs in his role as Greg. McGregor has a way of playing this “regular” guy as just off kilter, with a sort-of-a-screw-up energy. Here, he ups the goofiness of any scene he’s in about 17 percent, even when he’s playing it dead seriously.

The audience in my screening included at least one group of movie goers who decided to have fun, give some “yay!”s to a scene where a dinosaur gets whacked with a sledgehammer and when the family dog shows up. I feel like this is the appropriate spirit in which to see and enjoy this movie, which feels like a throwaway “ha, nice” little August treat of a movie.

Also debuting last week was Don’t Say Good Luckon Netflix. “However much we as a culture appreciate Melanie Lynskey, we need to appreciate her much much more” and “Sunny Sandler has some serious acting chops” are two thoughts I had repeatedly throughout this dramady about a teenage girl dealing with both her role in the school play and the grave illness of her mother. Sandler, daughter of Manchester’s own Adam, plays Sophie, who learns that her mother’s cancer has returned via a butt-dial by her father, Ted (Max Greenfield, taking it to 11 with his decent-guy dad), right before she goes onstage to audition for a supporting role in her high school’s production of Waitress. Absorbing the news while she sings, she gives a performance that makes teacher-director Mrs. Parker (Stephanie Beatriz) consider her for the lead. Meanwhile, at home, mom Elizabeth (Lynskey) and Ted try to put on a good face for Sophie and her two younger brothers, even though Elizabeth seems to be getting sicker. Sophie is also dealing with standard but still heartbreaking teenage drama including a rupture with her longtime best friend Carolyn (Scarlett Estevez) and Sophie’s crush on her costar Jack (Jack Champion).

Steve Buscemi and Bebe Neuwirth show up as Elizabeth’s parents, doing good, heart-tugging work. Even Jon Lovitz impresses with a small role as a worker at Ted’s deli. Everybody here is note-perfect, down to the other kids theater-kid-ing it up on the production of the play.

Sandler is definitely a strong talent in her own right. I thought she did good work in teen comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (also on Netflix, also worth a watch) and this movie proves that wasn’t a fluke and that she is growing into a compelling actress with range.

Lynskey, of course, adds fabulous to everything she’s in. Here, she reminds me a bit of Rachel McAdams in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret in how Lynskey, as McAdams did, is able to convey a lot of her character’s own emotions and inner struggles through interactions with the daughter who is really more the movie’s focus (that movie is currently streaming on Prime Video, and available via rent or purchase).

Don’t Say Good Luck is a top shelf coming-of-age + light comedy + weepiness cocktail. I almost feel like this movie is wasted as a streaming release but I’m not sure that a mother-daughter-focused film like this could make it in the current cinema-outside-your-house environment. Let’s just count ourselves lucky that we get it at all.

There are several earlier 2026 releases now available for a home watch.

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Passwas a July theatrical release and is now on VOD for rent or purchase, which feels bad for the film industry but great for me because this movie is one of the dumbest things I’ve seen in a while, I say with the highest level of compliment and respect.

This endeavor comes from the The State and Wet Hot American Summer players (David Wain directed; he and Ken Marino cowrote; The State is streaming on Paramount+ and Wet Hot American Summer is available for rent or purchase). Kansas hairstylist Gail Daughtry (Zoey Deutch) and high school sweetheart fiance Tom (Michael Cassidy) are just a few weeks out from their wedding and, on the way to a cookbook reading by Jennifer Aniston, flirtily talk about their respective celebrity sex passes. Gail decides on Jon Hamm, Tom immediately says Tilda Swinton. After meeting Aniston and deciding that she’s swell, Tom changes his pass to her, which Gail laughs off while she waits for Tom to run back and get his coat from the signing. When he doesn’t return to the car, she goes to look for him and finds that he has, indeed, used his “pass.” Gail is horrified and not sure what to do or whether to go ahead with her wedding and decides to go with coworker Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) to a convention headlined by “King of the Whip Curl Remy Fontaine” (Thomas Lennon) in Los Angeles. Gail and Otto also decide that, what with Jon Hamm living in Los Angeles, this is her opportunity to try to use her pass, level the infidelity playing field and maybe save her relationship. But due to an accidental suitcase swap with some gangsters (including Joe Lo Truglio) who stop to take a fan pic with Henry Winkler — Vinnie Barbarino himself, as one gangster later says, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it example of why this is a movie to watch sans phone — Gail is soon being hunted by an international terrorist with perfect skin (Sabrina Impacciatore) even while on her own quest.

There are so many reasons to enjoy this excellent gleeful-stupid movie. There’s John Slattery playing a hard-up version of John Slattery. There’s an Old West bar fight. There are a zillion tiny throwaway lines, sight gags and facial expressions that have been calibrated just right. There are a fair amount of extremely game famous-es showing up to wink at the camera (in at least one case, literally). And throughout there’s a pretty fun, cleverly executed riff on a quest tale. This is the kind of brilliant-stupid that has made me always at least a little excited to show up for a project from these guys and Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is a particularly well-crafted dumb good time.

Much as with Obsession, a horror movie I recently reviewed,Tuner (a May theatrical release available for rent or purchase) feels like a strong contender for a Best Sound Oscar nomination, one that makes excellent use of both sound design and sound editing. Niki (Leo Woodall) works as a piano tuner with his uncle-like mentor Harry (Dustin Hoffman). Once a talented piano player, Niki now has hyperacusis, which he describes as being allergic to sound and which you should definitely not look up if you’re a person who tends to freak out about any new medical thing you learn about. He wears ear plugs all the time and an extra pair of sound-dampening headphones most of the time, and is generally a rather keep-to-himself sort of guy. But then at a job at a music school he meets piano player and composer Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu) and even their mutual awkwardness — due to Niki’s condition and Ruthie’s upcoming deadline for impressing a composer she wants to intern for — can’t hold back their chemistry.

Their budding relationship comes at a stressful time for Niki. Harry is sick and his wife Marla (Tovah Feldshuh, excellent as always) tells him they are tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt. Shouldering the business alone and desperate to find more cash quickly, Niki decides to call Uri (Lior Raz), the owner of security company Niki met while tuning a piano at a fancy house. Well, “met” might not be as accurate as “caught trying to break into a safe.” Seems that while Uri and his guys install security systems, they also return to the odd house to steal, as one guy explains, the stuff (watches, jewelry and other items hidden in safes) their rich clients have so much of they won’t notice if it’s missing. Niki’s hypersensitivity to sound means that he can also hear things like the click of the metal tooth sliding into the correct numbered spot in a safe lock. So he opens the safe to stop Uri’s men from the loud drilling. Uri knows an excellent business opportunity when he sees it.

Tuner is sort of a combination heist movie, a romance between two prickly people and a character study of Niki in his attempt to eke out a new life for himself after suffering the medical setback that took away his music career. Each part of this movie is engaging and well drawn and flows together nicely. Woodall is good at showing the constant underlying tension of Niki as he moves through his day. He acts like he is always near a wince, like his pain level is perpetually at a 4 and he’s trying to muscle through the day, the conversation, the general noise of the city.

Havana Rose Liu is also in Power Ballad, another May release now available for rent or purchase. Her role here is much smaller, as the girlfriend of Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), a one-time boy band star now trying to make it as a solo musician. Rick Power (Paul Rudd), the lead singer of a band that predominantly plays covers at weddings, meets Danny at his friend’s posh wedding and after Danny sings a song with the band, he and Rick end up hanging out that evening. They talk music, they play music and they drink a lot. At one point Rick plays Danny a song he’s been working on for years and Danny joins in playing it with him. And, like, if you didn’t know you were watching a John Carney movie (he directed and co-wrote this), you would know by this scene that so lovingly depicts the creation of a song. Carney also wrote and directed Once (RIP Glen Hansard), Begin Again, Sing Street and Flora and Son, all movies that I enjoy and that would be very handy if you ever had to explain “yeah, but like what is music really?” to an extraterrestrial.

Six months after this music-filled night, Rick hears that song, his song, while he’s walking through a mall. After looking it up, he learns that the song “How To Write a Song Without You” is a massive hit and has reenergized Danny’s career. Rick’s daughter Aja (Beth Fallon) asks if they’re rich now, presuming Rick has some sort of credit on the song. But of course he doesn’t and can’t prove to anyone, not his wife Rachel (Marcella Plunkett) nor his band mates nor a lawyer, that he wrote the song. Apparently, they’ve had to endure a lot of “Rick makes guitar face and sings at us” over the years. Rick sort of drives himself crazy over what to do about this unacknowledged creation of his and what exactly he’s looking for.

It’s very fitting that a John Carney movie centers itself on a song — what it means, what it means to make it, what it means to let it out in the world. It’s a specific kind of nerding out about music (and creation in general) that I find very enjoyable. Power Ballad is thinner, I think, than some of his other movies but still a solid story with good performances from Jonas and from Rudd, looking more beat up and even, gasp, a little more weathered than he usually does, which fits the role perfectly. If you’ve never seen a John Carney movie before, sure, this one is good, but definitely check out those others: Once (rent or purchase), Begin Again (streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video and a few things that may or may not be real like Howdy and Lionsgate+, as well as rent or purchase), Sing Street (Starz, rent or purchase) and Flora and Son (Apple TV, rent or purchase).

Also streaming now is the May 29 release Pressure, which is on Peacock (as well as rent or purchase). This is a movie about the weather forecast for D-Day in 1944 — like, that’s it, that’s the movie. The overly confident American guy Irv Krick (Chris Messina) brags about predicting the weather for David O. Selznick and says the planned invasion day — June 5 — would be sunny and fair. The British guy, a Scot named James Stagg (Andrew Scott), direly predicts storms with massive waves and suggests putting off the invasion for a couple of weeks. Preposterous, says British Army General Bernard Montgomery (Damian Lewis). What am I supposed to do, yells a tense U.S. Army General Dwight Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser). There there, says Kay Summersby (Kerry Condon), a British Mechanised Transport Corps Lieutenant and Eisenhower’s private secretary, as Wikipedia says (Wikipedia says other things too, rabbit hole at your leisure).

We’re kind of shuffling through the remainders when it comes to finding new stories to tell about World War II, was my thinking while watching this movie — through really, it’s more like “new stories based on the people we know” because there are I’m sure tons of fascinating stories from parts of the war that aren’t just the tippy top of the military command in Europe. Here, we get a nice bit of “here’s the role the weather played in Allied landing in France” and my response was “huh, how about that.” I don’t know that it warrants a full movie and this movie isn’t doing anything particularly thrilling with its tale. I feel like Fraser, with Ike’s balding head and a perpetual look of indigestion, is doing the big performance and Scott is really trying to do a subtle-ish performance and we have the lady character who seems like she’s been elected mom-wife of everybody and we get a stirring rendition of a historical speech (Eisenhower’s address to the troops on D-Day). This isn’t that far, structurally, from a Darkest Hour or The King’s Speech. It’s not as well done as those movies but it’s not actively bad. It’s lightly fine, and probably OK-enough for a watch with your most history-loving parent.

Also based on a true story is March release Tow (available on Prime Video or rent or purchase). Amanda Ogle (Rose Byrne) got dealt some bad hands by life, made some mistakes, did some self-medicating and got on the wrong side of a tough economy, which is how she winds up sleeping in her 1991 Toyota Camry in present-ish day Seattle while trying to find a job with her veterinary assistant license. She gets a job at a fancy dog spa but it is quickly imperiled when, after the interview, she sees that her car has been stolen. After two calendar days, police find the car and it is towed to a lot where she can pick it up for the low cost of $270-some. Why do I have to pay to get my own stolen car back, she asks, not catching a break from the towing company and leaving with the knowledge that every day it sits in the lot, the car will cost her an extra $50 to spring. She files a lawsuit and gets a judge to order the release, without fine, of her car, but by this time some 20-ish days after it was impounded, the towing company has sold it. She turns to Kevin (Dominic Sessa), a lawyer at a nonprofit firm, to help her fight the company as she tries to keep herself safe and sober, eventually landing a semi-permanent spot at a shelter run by Barb (Octavia Spencer). There she meets others dealing with homelessness and other issues including the pregnant Nova (Demi Lovato) and Denise (Ariana DeBose), who, like Amanda, is struggling to keep up a relationship with her kids who live with their father. Amanda’s kid Avery (Elsie Fisher), who lives in Utah, is clearly desperate to have a relationship with Amanda but isn’t sure if Amanda, whose drinking and other problems have gotten in the way of her being a reliable parent, is truly able to be someone Avery can count on.

Bryne gives a strong performance of someone who, despite having taken many blows by life, is still actively fighting to improve her situation. She is able to show us the messy parts of Amanda along with her toughness and her deep love for Avery. It helps to pull the movie through some of the moments that feel a little “television movie about a Very Serious Issue,” making Amanda a person rather than the personification of an Issue. Likewise, the supporting characters help to ground the movie in something like human people. And you can enjoy your righteous anger at the whole concept of “$50 a day to get your stolen car back” with Corbin Bernsen playing the humanity-free personification of a predatory business in his role as the towing company’s lawyer.

Featured photo: The Last House.

Author: Amy Diaz

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