The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Spring into love: “To Manchester With Love,” the new exhibition from theMosaic Art Collective ( 66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester; mosaicartcollective.com, 512-6209) is on display now through Friday, March 29. According to a press release, the show is dedicated to celebrating Youth Art Month and the artistic talents of high school students from Manchester. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, March 9, from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Spring on top of a piano: The city’s oldest music series, the Concord Community Concert Association opens its 93rd spring season Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium with Mia Vassilev. The internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso Mia Vassilev and Company’s ensemble adds percussion and dance to her dynamic performance style, according to a press release. The same press release stated that every CCCA concert becomes a party for the local music community with special refreshments served before the show and at the artists’ meet-and-greet. There will be a specially themed silent auction to support the artists’ fees. The CCCA season finale concert on Saturday, April 13, with headliner William Florian. The all-volunteer CCCA offers five concerts for a $60 season ticket, and students are admitted free. Tickets for this performance are $20 (free for youth to 18) and are available at the door 90 minutes before the show time or by calling 344-4747. See ccca-audi.org.
• See Simone: The Bookery (848 Elm St. in Manchester) will host TikTok artist Simone on her Open Book tour on Sunday, March 10, as she performs unreleased songs from her forthcoming EP at independent bookstores. According to the Bookery’s newsletter, a meet & greet will follow the performance. RSVP for the performance at laylo.com/simone/m/Crr66, and you can follow Simone at @simonemusic
• Spring into the color: On Sunday, March 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org) welcomes Theatre Kapow back to present a staged reading of Red, John Logan’s 2009 play unpacking the artistic approach of artist Mark Rothko, according to a press release. The performance will be followed by a facilitated conversation and a gallery visit to view Rothko’s painting “Untitled (Red over Brown),” which is featured in “Toward the New: A Journey into Abstraction,” an exhibition on view at the museum now through March 31. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for ages 13-17 and 65+, $10 for members, and free for children under 13.
• Spring into a Shakespeare audition: The Cue Zero Theatre Co. will hold open auditions at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire (19 Keewaydin Drive in Salem) for William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged), a play by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, on Tuesday, April 2, at 6 p.m., with callbacks on Sunday, April 7, at 1 p.m. Performances will take place June 21 through June 23. Interested performers should sign up for a time slot on Cue Zero’s website, where you can find more information about preparing for the audition. See cztheatre.com/index.php/get-involved.
• Spring into the mothership: The Players’ Ring (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth) is beaming up the play Aliens, written by Annie Baker, March 8 through March 24, produced in collaboration with Bardo Theatre Co. The play is described as a painfully beautiful drama as well as afunny, heartening play with music about art, friendship, and love, according to a press release. Showtimes will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. as well as matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. General admission is $28, or $25 for students and 65+. Get tickets and more information atplayersring.org/shows/aliens.
• Spring acting classes: The Palace Youth Theatre’s Palace Academy has a slate of spring classes including Improv and Acting Games I (for grades 1-5; Thursdays at 5 p.m., starting March 14), Improv and Acting Games II (for grades 6 to 9; Thursdays at 6 p.m., starting March 14); Mini Camp (for grades 2 to 6; Fridays at 5 p.m., starting March 8); Scene to Song (for grades 5 to 9; Mondays at 4 p.m., staring March 11); Stagecraft: Props (grades 4 to 12; Fridays at 4 p.m. starting March 8); Scene Study (grades 6 to 12; Fridays at 5 p.m. starting March 8); Intro to Directing (grades 6 to 12; Fridays 6:30 p.m, starting March 8), and Intro to Sketch Writing (grades 6 to 12; Monday at 5 p.m., starting March 11). The cost is $100 for each class series; see palacetheatre.org/pyt/palace-academy to register.
—Zachary Lewis