Author: Angie Sykeny

Angie Sykeny is a Hippo staff writer covering local arts, theater, music and pop culture. She can be reached at [email protected].

On The Job – Katie White

Katie White

Bookkeeper

Katie White is a bookkeeper and owner of Cents and Balance, a virtual bookkeeping service based in Bow.

Explain your job.

We provide virtual bookkeeping services to small-business owners. We manage the day-to-day financial activity in a business to provide the business owner freedom to stay in their wheelhouse and do what they do best. We also can manage accounts payable [and] accounts receivable and can provide support with documentation management.

How long have you had this job?

Cents and Balance was born in 2018.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I have a love for numbers and puzzles. I worked in the health care industry for years, and my favorite part always revolved around the revenue cycle, reconciling our billing process and making sure we had good workflows in place to make sure nothing fell through the cracks. An opportunity to work in a bookkeeping and accounting firm opened up when my children were very young, and I knew that this industry was where I was meant to be. I opened Cents and Balance … so I could have the freedom to spend more time with my young kids and family.

What kind of education or training did you need?

There are no credentials you need in order to be a bookkeeper, but I do have a Master’s in Business Administration, and, in 2020 I became an Enrolled Agent, [which] means I can represent taxpayers before the IRS. Although we provide very little tax services, I became an EA so I could be a better bookkeeper and provide more insight for my clients.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

We are 100 percent virtual, so I go for comfort. However, I do love it when I have the occasional in-person meeting or networking event so I can get a little more dressed up.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

We’ve always been virtual, so our practices didn’t change when the pandemic hit.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

As a business owner, I wish I had really hammered down my own policies and procedures when I was just starting out. It’s a lot harder to play catch-up when you’re so busy.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

Bookkeeping isn’t just data entry, and it’s not just for tax preparation; bookkeeping is really about helping a business owner know their numbers so that they can make better business decisions.

What was the first job you ever had?

Canad Cinemas, which is now Regal Cinemas, in Concord, New Hampshire, when it first opened.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Show up. If you say you’re going to do something, then do it. If you can no longer do it, own it and be honest.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The Count of Monte Cristo
Favorite movie: Elf
Favorite music: Anything — alternative, indie, hip-hop, pop, country — I love it all.
Favorite food: Italian, specifically chicken parm.
Favorite thing about NH: There’s so much to do — mountains, lakes, camping — and it’s so close to other states for quick trips.

Featured photo: Katie White. Courtesy photo.

Chill fun

Winter Fest returns to downtown Concord

Coinciding with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is the fourth annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Saturday, Jan. 29. There will be indoor and outdoor festivities for all ages, including shopping, food, entertainment, tours and more.

“There are not a lot of family-friendly events this time of year, and that is what makes this event special,” said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord, which organizes the Winter Festival in partnership with The Hotel Concord.

Ice carvers will demonstrate their craft and compete in a live ice carving competition during the Winter Festival. Courtesy photo.

The highlight of the event is the live ice carving competition featuring “New England’s best ice carvers,” Martin said. It’s free and open to the public on the Statehouse lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ice carvers will also be there on Friday, Jan. 28, the day before the festival, doing live ice carving demonstrations from 3 to 9 p.m.

“This year we have seven carvers participating in the competition, which is the most we have had to-date,” Martin said, adding that the carvings will remain on display at the Statehouse for the week following the festival.

Main Street restaurants and retail shops will be open for a Winter Shopping Stroll; Red River Theatres will have a matinee screening of the animated family film Smallfoot (2018, PG) at 10 a.m. (tickets cost $5); and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will run games and interactive activities starting at 10:30 a.m.

Guided tours of the inside of the Statehouse will be offered, starting every 30 minutes from noon to 3:30 p.m. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and will include opportunities to see the Hall of Flags, which has more than 100 battle flags on display from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War; the House of Representatives chamber and Senate chambers, which have national significance as the oldest continuously used legislative chambers in the U.S.; the Governor and Executive Council chambers and more.

“There are more than 200 portraits to view as you tour the building,” Martin said, “and it’s always fun to see the Visitor Center’s First in the Nation Primary display and Bicentennial dioramas.”

The Winter Festival Stage, which will be set up on South Main Street next to O Steaks and Seafood restaurant, will be a hotspot of activity, including an ice bar, complimentary hot cocoa, s’mores toasting and more. The stage will feature a variety of live entertainment, starting with a dance party with DJ Darren Roy at 11 a.m., followed by storyteller Ade Shields (11:30 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:35 to 1:50 p.m.), local singer-songwriter Jasmine Mann (11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., and 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.), New England folk-rock band The Penniless Jacks (12:20 to 12:50 p.m., and 2:10 to 2:40 p.m.) and family-friendly drag performer ChiChi Marvel (1 to 1:10 p.m., and 1:55 to 2:05 p.m.)

A free shuttle service will be available, running between the Statehouse, the Hotel Concord, the Holiday Inn and the Black Ice Hockey Tournament at White Park throughout the day.

Martin said attendees should continue practicing Covid safety — masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for indoor activities — and should have no difficulty staying spread out.

“This outdoor festival will offer people the space they need to socially distance themselves,” she said.

Concord NH Winter Festival

Where: Main Street, Concord
When: Saturday, Jan. 29. Most activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free. Certain activities may have a fee.
More info: Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.

The Art Roundup 22/01/27

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Witches and wizards: The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts presents the Young Performers’ Edition of The Wizard of Oz at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry), with showtimes on Friday, Jan. 28, and Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Based on the book by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film adaptation, the musical features classic songs like “If I Only Had a Brain,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard” and “Over the Rainbow.” Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and up and $10 for students age 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or visit majestictheatre.net.

The Epping Community Theater Youth Theater presents a junior production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at the Epping Playhouse (28 Ladds Lane, Epping), with showtimes on Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 29, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10, cash only, at the door. Visit eppingtheater.org or call 608-9487.

• Hannah’s story: Glass Dove Productions presents Irene Kelleher’s Mary & Me at the Hatbox Theater(Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Jan. 28 through Feb. 13, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The one-woman play, performed by Emily Karel and directed by Peter Josephson, follows a pregnant 15-year-old girl named Hannah and her search for understanding while growing up in 1986 Ireland. “Mary & Me is a very personal story, and, as a performer, it’s a very deeply personal experience to perform this play,” Karel told the Hippo earlier this month. “I’m excited to share Hannah’s story with the audience and have them get to know Hannah and, hopefully, get to love Hannah.” Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com or call 715-2315.

• Natural elements: The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibition, “Impressions: Nature,” featuring the work of Allenstown artist Daniela Edstrom, on view now through Feb. 17 at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St., Concord). Edstrom’s art explores the abstract qualities of light, form and color found in the New England landscape. “Sunlight and its play of light and shadow is perceived as halos of vibrating strokes and bold minimalist shapes,” the artist said in a press release. “Elements such as leaves, trees — the organic aspects of the woodland environment — are seen in emphatic primary colors and highlighted by gestural marks of rich complementary hues.” Gallery hours at the Chamber are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All works are for sale. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Poetry and music: Local writer and poet Rob Azevedowill be at the Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. to read from and discuss his new book of poems, Don’t Order the Calamari. Musicians Becca Myari and Todd Hearon will accompany Azevedo with live music. The event is free to attend. See “Author Event & Music with Rob Azevedo, Becca Myari, and Todd Hearon” on Eventbrite.

Natural squares

See the work of Hollis artist Ellen Fisher in “Translating Nature Into Fabric,” at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua) now through Feb. 26. It includes 15 art quilts featuring nature-based designs, such as trees and streams, inspired by Fisher’s career as a landscape designer and conservationist. “I am not as interested in making other people’s designs but very interested in figuring out my own, and I do this with great respect for the traditional quilting world,” Fisher told the Hippo earlier this month. “I have a real root system in traditional quilting that I have just interpreted in my own way.” Most quilts are for sale. Viewing hours are Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit nashualibrary.org or call 589-4600.

ART

Exhibits

• “ARTFUL ESCAPES” Exhibition features works by multiple artists in a variety of media, including 2D and 3D, oil, acrylic, glass and ceramic. Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester). On view now through Jan. 31. Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. A virtual gallery is also available on the gallery’s website. Call 668-6650 or visit art3gallery.com.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now through Feb. 13. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children under age 13 and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “TRANSLATING NATURE INTO FABRIC” Exhibition features nature-inspired artistic quilts by Ellen Fisher. Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua. On view now through Feb. 26, during library hours. Visit nashualibrary.org.

• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Feb. 27. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children under age 13 and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “VEHICULAR NARRATIVES” Exhibit features New Hampshire Art Association artist William Turner, whose narrative realism oil paintings have depicted distressed vehicles and machinery, vintage toys and stories from Greek and Roman mythology and folklore told through imagery of automobiles. All works are for sale. The Art Center (Washington Mill, 1 Washington St., Suite 1177, in Dover). On view now through Feb. 28. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with private appointments available by request. The exhibition can also be accessed via an online gallery. Call 978-6702 or visit nhartassociation.org or theartcenterdover.com.

• “SETTING THE STANDARD” Exhibit features new work from League jurors in all media areas. League of New Hampshire Craftsmen headquarters, 49 S. Main St., #100, Concord. Now through March 31. Regular exhibition hours are Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Visit nhcrafts.org.

• “FOR THE LOVE OF IMPRESSION” Exhibit features prints created using traditional techniques and materials, combined with contemporary aesthetics, new materials, and technology. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). Feb. 11 through March 5. Visit twovillagesart.org.

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view April 14 through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children under age 13 and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “ECHOES: ABSTRACT PAINTING TO MODERN QUILTING” Exhibit features abstract paintings inspired by the bold colors, asymmetry, improvisational layout, alternate grid work and negative space in composition of modern quilting. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). April 22 through May 14. Visit twovillagesart.org.

“NATURE AT NIGHT: PAINTINGS BY OWEN KRZYZANIAK GEARY” Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). May 27 through June 18. Visit twovillagesart.org.

Workshops and classes

• OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Jan. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• PASTEL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Feb. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• WINTER ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.

THEATER

Shows

• THE FULL MONTY presented by the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Jan. 28 through Feb. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• THE LION KING JR. The Riverbend Youth Company presents. Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford). Fri., Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 5, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., Feb. 6, at 2:30 p.m. Visit amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company.

• I LOVE YOU BECAUSE presented by Jonesing for Theatre, in collaboration with Dive in Productions. The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Feb. 4 through Feb. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $25 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• THE 39 STEPS presented by the Windham Actors Guild. Searles School and Chapel (3 Chapel Road, Windham). Fri, Feb. 18, and Sat., Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and military. Call 247-8634 or visit windhamactorsguild.com.

• LIFESPAN OF A FACT Produced by Lend Me a Theater. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Feb. 18 through March 6. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• DEADLY Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents an original movement-based theater piece by Crystal Rose Welch. Granite State Arts Academy (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, Salem). Fri., March 4, through Sun., March 6. Visit cztheatre.com.

Classical

• “WINTER VOYAGES” The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 20, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.

Strengthening minds

UNH opens Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center

The University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability is developing a new Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center, funded by the New Hampshire Executive Council, set to open this spring. UNH research associate professor JoAnne Malloy, who co-directs the center with UNH Institute on Disability director Kelly Nye-Lengerman, discussed the center’s mission and operations.

What is the Children’s Behavioral Health Research Center?

Our center will form around a lot of work we’ve already been doing with the state. … In 2019 the state legislature and the governor signed Senate Bill 14, which established funding for a Children’s Mental Health System of Care, which is a national model. It’s necessary because families who have a child with a mental health issue often find that the services are fragmented; they could have a mental health counselor and a school counselor and a DCYF worker. It’s really hard for parents, because they’re already dealing with a very stressful situation, and then they have all these services coming at them. The System of Care is designed to help families … find the services and support they need. …This center is part of that bigger work. Our job will be to help identify practices that have good research evidence … and are shown to be effective.

How did you get involved?

I started working here at the university in the mid ’90s. I’ve always specialized in working with adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. … I started working with the state to build a System of Care … and develop a model to help that population [of youth] … and to help the people working in the field get good quality training and education and to give them the support they need.

What needs will the center address?

A lot of children and young people have been going to the emergency room in a mental health crisis. It’s been really exacerbated by the pandemic, with children not being able to go to school consistently and not being able to see their friends and trying to learn online. … The problems we’ll be addressing are for those children and youth who are really stressed and have a mental health concern. Perhaps they’re acting out in the community or attempting self-harm or suicide. Perhaps they’re going out into the community and breaking laws. They’re not going to school. They may have emotional disorders such as severe anxiety or depression. It’s a wide variety of issues [affecting] children and youth that we’re looking at.

What will some of the center’s main day-to-day operations be?

We have 10 community mental health centers across the state, so we’ll be training providers … and some of their staff in how to work with children who have significant trauma backgrounds and use cognitive behavioral therapy, which is an evidence-based practice. … We also do consultations. Once somebody goes to the training, they often need guidance … so we’ll be observing them in treatment sessions and providing them feedback to make sure that what they’re doing is good practice. … We also bring [mental health care] partners together and gather information about what they need. Some of our staff will be doing interviews and focus groups [to find out] where we need to fill in the gaps.

Is there anything else like this in the state?

There are currently no other centers in New Hampshire that focus on children’s mental health and evidence-based practices … but there are smaller groups, and this [center] is bringing everybody together. … There are centers like this in other states, and I’ve been looking at those and [their] models.

What are the center’s goals, short-term and long-term?

Short-term, we want to do three trainings by the end of June to train and provide consultation to 80 people. … Long-term — the contract [for the center] is for three years and potentially renewable — I’d like to see the center become a permanent fixture in the state, and something that changes with the needs of people in the field. Most of all, I want it to make an impact, because at the end of the day, if we’re not actually helping children and families, we might as well all pack up and go home.

Featured photo: JoAnne Malloy. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Barry D’Andrea

Barry D’Andrea

Shoe store owner

Barry D’Andrea is the owner and operator of The Shoe Box, a family shoe store in Amherst.

Explain your job.

I pretty much do everything from buying products, hiring employees, selling, scheduling, marketing and advertising, maintaining the store website and email list and physical upkeep and maintenance of the building and property.

How long have you had this job? 

I’ve been in the retail footwear business since 1974, so going on 48 years. I’ve owned and operated the Shoe Box in the Amherst location for the last 26 years.

What led you to this career field and your current job? 

I met my wife of 45 years in high school, and her father was in the shoe business. This led me to get involved.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I attended UMass-Amherst for a year back in 1974. I took a long break after becoming involved in the family business. Mostly, my education was learning on the job and from my father-in-law, who was a great mentor and teacher. I then decided, later in life, to get a degree in business entrepreneurship.

What is your typical at-work attire? 

Khaki pants and a dress shirt, or, on occasion, dress jeans.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

I was able to adapt and survive during the Covid shutdown. … I provided home delivery and … contact-free service by using my drive-thru window. I promoted [the store] on social media for being the only drive-thru shoe store around. … The pandemic continues to affect our business because of supply chain issues and employee shortages. This results in my having to buy much further in advance of when I need product. I’m buying product now to ship next fall. The shipping issue is also causing a much higher freight cost, which I haven’t passed on to my customers.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

Retail has changed tremendously from what it was when I first began almost 50 years ago. I wish I knew how fast these changes would have occurred, especially just within the last 10 years. I believe some retailing strategy of old is quite relevant, but I wish that I had embraced some of the newer techniques and innovations sooner.

What do you wish other people knew about your job? 

How difficult and demanding being a business owner is. There were many sacrifices and challenges throughout the years, building this business and to get where the Shoe Box is today.

What was the first job you ever had?

Where I grew up in western Massachusetts, there was an amusement park called Riverside Park. Six Flags is now located there. As a child, I loved amusement parks, and I applied for a job there back in the early 1970s. I thought it was great earning almost $1 an hour. My first job was working at a concession stand at that park.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received? 

That customer satisfaction comes first, and the need to realize that they are why your business exists. Our company mission is to be honest with customers, provide great product at a good price and to treat customers with respect. If you do this, your customers will be loyal. I have parents that I waited on when they were a child who are now shopping at my store with their own children.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Fictional history, especially the Jeff Shaara Civil War series
Favorite movie: Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Favorite music: Gospel
Favorite food: My wife is a great cook, so just about anything she cooks, especially scallops.
Favorite thing about NH: There’s nothing like the landscape of New Hampshire, the four seasons, mountains, hiking and camping

Featured photo: Barry D’Andrea. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/01/20

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Prestigious exhibition at the League: The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen opens its triennial exhibit, “Setting the Standard,” at its headquarters gallery (49 S. Main St., No. 100, Concord) on Thursday, Jan. 20, featuring new works by League jurors in a variety of media, including wood, textile, clay and metal. “Given the difficulties faced during the past several months, the work of our members takes on an almost indomitable nature, mixing the strength and resilience of the artists with the vulnerability that we have all experienced,” Executive Director Miriam Carter said in a press release. The Concord Garden Club’s 19th annual Art & Bloom event will be held in conjunction with the exhibit during the opening weekend; artistic floral arrangements created by local amateur and professional floral designers, inspired by pieces featured in “Setting the Standard,” will be on display on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Jan. 21, and Saturday, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular gallery hours for “Setting the Standard” will be Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. starting on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The exhibit will run through March 31. Admission is free and masks are required. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.

• Last chance to see Matilda: The Palace Youth Theatre, a group of performers in grades 2 through 12, will present its final performance of Matilda The Musical Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). The musical is based on the 1988 children’s novel by Roald Dahl and its 1996 film adaptation, with a book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It tells the story of a clever young girl who uses her imagination and newly discovered psychokinetic powers to survive an abusive home life and cruel school headmistress. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• NHAA joins Dover’s growing arts scene: The New Hampshire Art Association, headquartered in Portsmouth, announced in a press release that it has formed a new partnership with The Art Center, a 6,000-plus-square-foot art space located in the Washington Mill in Dover (1 Washington St., Suite 1177). The space, owned by artist Rebecca Proctor, features 10 artist studios with a rotating monthly artist residency; a workshop space, a stage for music, theater pieces, poetry readings and other performance arts; and a large exhibition space for all kinds of art shows and installations. Additionally, The Art Center is home to a new space dedicated to printmaking, which includes a newly acquired printing press. “Now it seems that the timing is right for the relationship with them and their artists to collaborate with The Art Center as we have so many opportunities for artists to take advantage of,” Proctor said in the press release, adding that The Art Center’s exhibits, printmaking studio and artist-in-residence programs have won it an award from the state of New Hampshire for “Microenterprise Business of the Year.” The first exhibition to come out of the partnership is “Vehicular Narratives,” which features paintings by NHAA artist William Turner. Prior to becoming a full-time painter and earning BFA and MFA degrees in visual arts and painting from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, Turner worked in the auto body restoration business for 30 years. His oil paintings, which he describes as “narrative realism,” have depicted distressed vehicles and machinery, vintage toys and stories from Greek and Roman mythology and folklore told through imagery of automobiles. The exhibition is up now through Feb. 28 alongside a separate printmaking exhibition. All of Turner’s works on display are for sale. Gallery hours at The Art Center are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with private appointments available by request. The exhibition can also be accessed via an online gallery. Visit nhartassociation.org or theartcenterdover.com, or call 978-6702.

Multimedia exhibit

Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester) has an exhibition, “Artful Escapes,” on display now through Jan. 31. It features works by multiple artists in a variety of media, including 2D and 3D, oil, acrylic, glass and ceramic. Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. A virtual gallery is also available on the gallery’s website. Call 668-6650 or visit art3gallery.com.

ART

Exhibits

• “ARTFUL ESCAPES” Exhibition features works by multiple artists in a variety of media, including 2D and 3D, oil, acrylic, glass and ceramic. Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester). On view now through Jan. 31. Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. A virtual gallery is also available on the gallery’s website. Call 668-6650 or visit art3gallery.com.

• “IMPRESSIONS: NATURE” The New Hampshire Art Association presents an exhibit featuring the work of Allenstown artist Daniela Edstrom. Edstrom’s art explores the abstract qualities of light, form and color found in the New England landscape. On view now through Feb. 17. Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St., Concord). Gallery hours at the Chamber are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All works are for sale. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “TRANSLATING NATURE INTO FABRIC” Exhibition features nature-inspired artistic quilts by Ellen Fisher. Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua. On view now through Feb. 26, during library hours. Visit nashualibrary.org.

• “FOR THE LOVE OF IMPRESSION” Exhibit features prints created using traditional techniques and materials, combined with contemporary aesthetics, new materials, and technology. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). Feb. 11 through March 5. Visit twovillagesart.org.

Workshops and classes

• OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Jan. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• PASTEL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Feb. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• WINTER ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.

Workshops and classes

• OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Jan. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• PASTEL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Feb. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• WINTER ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATER

Shows

• THE WIZARD OF OZ Young Performers’s Edition performed by The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., Jan. 28, and Sat., Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sun., Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and up and $10 for students age 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or visit majestictheatre.net.

• LIFESPAN OF A FACT Produced by Lend Me a Theater. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Feb. 18 through March 6. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• DEADLY Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents an original movement-based theater piece by Crystal Rose Welch. Granite State Arts Academy (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, Salem). Fri., March 4, through Sun., March 6. Visit cztheatre.com.

• LITTLE WOMEN The Franklin Footlight Theatre presents. Franklin Opera House (316 Central St., Franklin). Thurs., March 10, through Sat., March 12, 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., March 13, 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. Visit franklinoperahouse.org or call 934-1901.

• BYE BYE BIRDIE Mainstage production by The Palace Theatre. 80 Hanover St., Manchester. March 11 through April 3. Tickets range from $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• PUFFS! OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A CERTAIN SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND MAGIC Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents. Granite State Arts Academy (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, Salem). Fri., April 29, through Sun., May 1. Visit cztheatre.com.

• MUSICAL MOM Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). May 5 through May 15. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• LAST GAS Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., May 6, through Sun., May 8. Tickets cost $18 for adults, $16 for youth ages 17 and under, $16 for seniors age 65 and up. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

Classical

• “WINTER VOYAGES” The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 20, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.

• DRAWN TO THE MUSIC 2022 – STORIES IN MUSIC The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., April 9, 2 p.m., and Sun., April 10, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.

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