Category: Art & Theater

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

• Get Stage Struck: The curtain rises on Friday, Sept. 8, for the 9th season at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) with Phylloxera Production’s Stage Struck, a “wild comedic thriller” according to a press release. Robert, a former stage manager in London’s West End, is now a house-husband for famous actress wife Anne, whose therapist threatens to upset the balance of Robert’s life of dalliances in this play from playwright Simon Gray and directed by Gary Locke, the release said. The play contains adult language and violence and is not recommended for children, according to the press release. The production runs through Sunday, Sept. 24, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors and students.
  
• September at Gibson’s: Events on the schedule at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) include an evening with horror writers Clay McLeod Chapman (whose books include What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters) and Chuck Wendig (Black River Orchard, Wanderers, The Book of Accidents) on Friday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. Gibson’s kicks the September schedule off on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. with “Thursday Thrillers” — Jilly Gagnon discusses her new thriller Scenes of the Crime with Hank Phillippi Ryan, whose book The House Guest is newly in paperback, according to the website. Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson will also head to Gibson’s in September — Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss their new book Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell.
  
• Author on stage: Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club among other books, will discuss his latest book, Not Forever, But For Now, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Music Hall (28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org, 436-2400) with Rick Ganley, host of NHPR’s Morning Edition. See the website for ticket packages, which include purchase of a book voucher for each one to two tickets, according to a press release.
  
• Season begins with Deathtrap: The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth; 436-8123, playersring.org) begins its 32rd season with the thriller-comedy Deathtrap, running Friday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 24. Catch the shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with general admission tickets costing $28 ($25 for 65+ and students).
  
• Bat Boy at the Rep: The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St. in Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) will present the musical comedy horror Bat Boy Thursday, Sept. 7, through Sunday, Oct. 29, with shows most Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The show is described as “not suitable for all audiences” (with violence, blood and gore, sexual assault and other graphic content), according to the website. Tickets start at $35.
  
• More theater news from the coast: The New Hampshire Theatre Project (959 Islington St., No. 3, Portsmouth; nhtheatreproject.org, 431-6644) will start its season, themed “What’s Your Story?,” with Thirst For Freedom, a production about the story of Ona Judge, a woman enslaved by George and Martha Washington who escaped to Portsmouth, which will be on stage Friday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 8, with shows on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays. The Project recently announced a new leadership team of Amy Desrosiers (art liaison), Monique Peasle Foote (board chair) and Sean Robinson (director of theater operations), according to a press release. See the website for a complete listing of the upcoming season’s shows.

The Palace Theatre hosts the second Manchester Citywide Arts Festival

Art in all its forms will be celebrated during the second Manchester Citywide Arts Festival Presented by Cambridge Trust Charitable Foundation from Monday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Sept. 17. During the week, multiple businesses around the city will participate by offering free events, classes and workshops in music, literature, sculpting and dancing among other artistic endeavors. The festival will close with a street fair on Saturday and Sunday featuring around 50 vendors, food trucks, aerialists and other art activities.

“The goal is just to celebrate the arts in Manchester and really in New Hampshire, to bring families here and children and to support all the local businesses,” said Katie Lovell, who is planning the event.
Festivities begin on Monday at Studio 555 Art Center. At 3 p.m. they will have a free pottery demonstration where anyone can come in and observe a teacher making pots, whom they will be able to engage with and ask questions. At 4:15 p.m. families will have an opportunity to participate in a family clay sculpting workshop.

“The workshop is something that happens year-round but we’re adding other days that are not the typical time for that workshop just to make it more available to more people,” said Monica Leap, who works at the studio.
The night wraps up with a meet and greet with illustrators at the Bookery from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

For those interested in dance, Dimensions in Dance will offer free dance classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, as will Forever Emma Studios on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, the Majestic Theatre will provide an improv workshop at 6 p.m., followed by a bucket drumming workshop at Ted Herbert Music School.

Also participating is Mosaic Art Collective, which opened last year during the first arts festival. They will be hosting an opening night party on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. with live entertainment and refreshments to celebrate their anniversary.

“Mosaic Art Collective is a cooperative art studio and gallery space,” said the manager, Elizabeth Pieroni. “Usually [our] shows are based around different themes month to month.”

Such themes have included art inspired by video games and trash to treasure featuring art made from recycled materials. The first show they opened with was called Full Circle, which they will return to this month with Full Circle: The First Revolution.

“Artists were asked to reflect on their journey throughout the year … or just something that went really well this past year, so people decided what worked well for them and then celebrated those types of things,” Pieroni said.
This exhibition will be on display during the festival and through Sept. 27. The street fair kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m.

“We have live music, story time with the Bookery, Queen City Improv is coming [and] we have some different dance groups performing,” Lovell said. “On Sunday we have live art happening with a model on stage [and] a live painting, so it’ll be really fun.”

Vendors will be selling everything from jewelry and clothing to ceramics and pastel illustrations.

During the fair, the community is invited to contribute to sculptor and furniture maker Mark Ragonese’s community art project, the Wishing House, which he worked on during the Currier Museum of Art’s block party in July.

“People write their wishes on flags and they are woven into the wishing house,” said Suzanne Canali, the director of education at the Currier. “The story behind [it] is that over time the wishes will fade and essentially the story is that wind horses come and take their wishes and bring them to life so that they can come true. We are hoping to have enough wishes so that all of the house is covered.”

Once completed, the 8 foot by 8 foot structure will move to Stark Park along the walking path for people to sit in and contemplate.

“We really just want to bring in a nice crowd to downtown Manchester and show off all these great local businesses and artists,” Lovell said. “Everyone’s really excited about this and I think it’s going to be such a great event to celebrate art and bring everyone together.”

Manchester Citywide Arts Festival

Monday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 17
palacetheatre.org/manchester-citywide-arts-festival Pottery demonstration

Pottery demonstration
When: Monday, Sept. 11, 3 to 4 p.m.
Where: Studio 550 Art Center, 550 Elm St.
Cost: Free

Family clay sculpting workshop
When: Monday, Sept. 11, 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Where: Studio 550 Art Center, 550 Elm St.
Cost: $20 Meet and greet with illustrators

Meet and greet with illustrators
When: Monday, Sept. 11, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Bookery, 844 Elm St.
Cost: Free

Dance class and storytime (Ages 2 to 5)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 12, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
Where: Dimensions in Dance, 84 Myrtle St.
Cost: Free

Trial tap/jazz combo class (Grades 1 to 2)
When: Tuesday, Sept. 12, 4 to 5 p.m.
Where: Forever Emma Studios, 516 Pine St.
Cost: Free

MCMS open house
When: Tuesday, Sept. 12, 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Manchester Community Music School, 2291 Elm St.
Cost: Free

Chess boxing
When: Tuesday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.
Where: Bare Knuckle Murphy’s Boxing Kickboxing/MMA and Go Ninja Aerial Fitness & Circus Arts, 163 Lake St.
Cost: Free

Ballet class for adults
When: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Dimensions in Dance, 84 Myrtle St.
Cost: Free

Improv workshop (all ages)
When: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 6 to 7 p.m.
Where: Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St.
Cost: Free, registration is required.

Bucket drumming workshop
When: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
Where: Ted Herbert Music School, 880 Page St.
Cost: Free, registration is required

Trial tap/jazz combo class (grades 3 to 5)
When: Thursday, Sept. 14, 4 to 5 p.m.
Where: Forever Emma Studios, 516 Pine St.
Cost: Free

Art after work
When: Thursday, Sept. 14, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St.
Cost: Free

MAC cocktail party
When: Friday, Sept. 15, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Spotlight Room at the Palace Theatre, 90 Hanover St.
Cost: Free

Pop up gallery
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Spotlight Room at the Palace Theatre, 90 Hanover St.
Cost: Free

Opening night party/anniversary celebration and reception
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: Mosaic Art Collective, 66 Hanover St., suite 201
Cost: Free

Street fair
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Opera Block of Hanover St.
Cost: Free

Saturday, Sept. 16, performance schedule
10 a.m.: featured music streaming from The River
11:30 a.m.: Storytime with the Bookery
Noon: Bookery kids activity
12:30: Nsquared Dance
1 p.m.: Paul Nelson
2 p.m.: Harrison Goodell
2:30 p.m.: Palace Youth Theatre performance
3 p.m.: Dare to Dance
4 p.m.: Queen City Improv Sunday, Sept. 17, performance schedule
10: featured music streaming from The River
10:30 to noon: Coffees & Covers with Last Kid Picked
1 p.m.: Justin Cohn
2 p.m.: David Corson
3 p.m.: live painting Phoebe Agnes Art

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

• Singing for the holidays: The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus will hold open auditions for its holiday concert series called “Holly, Jolly, Folly” starting Sept. 5. The auditions, which are open to new singers, will be held at the First Congregational Church (508 Union St. in Manchester) on Tuesday, Sept. 5; Tuesday, Set. 12, and Tuesday, Sept. 19, all from 6:30 to 7 p.m. A full chorus rehearsal will follow the first two audition times at 7 p.m. and a tenor rehearsal is at 7 p.m., according to a press release. The chorus is open to men over the age of 18 (gay, straight or male-identifying) who enjoy singing in four-part harmony, the release said. “Auditions are quick, private and easy. You don’t need to have any material or music prepared,” the release said. See nhgmc.com.

• September at Andres: The Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Brookline, andresinstitute.org) will hold a “Mindful Outdoor Experience” featuring a trail walk and more with Heather Sweeney, certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., according to the website. The cost to register is $25.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, Andres will kick off its annual International Sculpture Symposium, when artists create new sculptures to add to Andres’ trails, with an opening ceremony at 1 p.m.; the public is invited to this free event. On Friday, Sept. 22, there will be a ticketed, catered barbecue with the symposium artists — Ivona Biocic Mandic from Croatia, Finn Cossar from Australia and Renubala Kashyap Rajput from India, the website said. The public can learn more about the artists at a Symposium Artist Showcase on Saturday, Sept. 23. A lobster boil dinner with the artists (also a ticketed event) will take place on Friday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m. A panel discussion with Symposium Alumni Artists is slated for Saturday, Oct. 7. The closing ceremony for the symposium is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. View the artists’ pieces as they work on them at the Studio, Monday through Friday between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4, the website said.

The Institute’s 12 miles of trails, which feature more than 100 sculptures, are open daily from dawn to dusk, the website said.

Kicking off season 9
Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) will kick off its 9th season with Phylloxera Production’s Stage Struck, a “wild comedic thriller” according to a press release. Robert, a former stage manager in London’s West End, is now a house-husband for famous actress wife Anne, whose therapist threatens to upset the balance of Robert’s life of dalliances in this play from playwright Simon Gray and directed by Gary Locke, the release said. The play contains adult language and violence and is not recommended for children, according to the press release. The production runs through Sunday, Sept. 24, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors and students.

• Poems and prose: Rebecca Kaiser Gibson, who runs The Loom poetry reading series in Harrisville (theloompoetry.com) and is the author of books including the novel The Promise of a Normal Life and the poetry collection Girl as Birch, has several events in September. She will discuss her experience teaching poetry in Hyderabad, India, in the presentation “The Gods Next Door, a Glimpse into India” on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Derry Public Library (64 E Broadway in Derry; derrypl.org, 432-6140); go online to register. On Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:30 p.m. she will be at Del Rossi’s Trattoria (73 Brush Brook Road in Dublin) with Oliver De La Paz. See rebeccakaisergibson.com for more on the author.

• September at Balin: Balin Books (375 Amherst St. in Nashua, 417-7981, balinbooks.com) has author events on the schedule for September. New Hampshire author Paul August will discuss his novel The Canaries on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Melanie Brooks will read from her memoir A Hard Silence and discuss it with author Suzanne Strempek Shea, according to a social media post from the bookstore. See melaniebrooks.com for more on the author and her book. (Brooks will also be at the Bookery in Manchester on Sept. 14, Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough on Sept. 16 and Gibson’s in Concord on Sept. 20.) On Saturday, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m. catch the return of naturalist author Sy Montgomery and wildlife artist Matt Patterson, this time with their book Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell, which is slated for release Sept. 19. The duo were at Balin earlier this year for The Book of Turtles. See symontgomery.com for more on all of Montgomery’s works.

Off to see the wizard
Tickets are on sale now for The Wizard of Ozat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). The show, which boasts the familiar songs performed by the cast and a live orchestra and “masterful special effects,” opens the 2023-2024 St. Mary’s Bank Performing Arts Series, according to a video posted on the Palace’s social media. This professional production runs Friday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 24, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays as well as Thursday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $49 for adults, $28 for 12 and under and $33 for seniors, according to the website.

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

• Learn from the best: Master Potter David MacDonald will visit Studio 550 Community Art Center (550 Elm St. Manchester; 232-5597, 550arts.com) on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, to demonstrate his works, according to a press release. All skill level of pottery artists are welcome, the release said. The cost is $135 for the two-day workshop (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday). Saturday will feature demonstrations and conversation and Sunday will feature demos, the release said. Register online. See davidmacdonaldpottery.com for more on the artist.

Monster Hunt
Studio 550 Community Art Center (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 550arts.com, 232-5597) will hold its 11th annual Monster Hunt in downtown Manchester on Saturday, Aug. 26, starting at 11 a.m. Studio 550 makes and hides 100 monster medallions in the downtown with each monster finder asked to keep only one to spread the monster-finding fun to as many people as possible, the release said. Bring the medallion to Studio 550 to trade in for a red clay monster. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Studio 550 will also host several low-cost hands-on activities, the release said. There will also be a kids-only hunt at DoubleTree Hotel at 10:30 a.m. for kids 5 and under with 25 monsters available and monster stickers for all kids who search, the release said. See 550arts.com/about/monsterhunt. As part of the festivities the Manchester City Library Bookmobile will be at City Hall Plaza and Dancing Lion Chocolate and Queen City Cupcakes, both on Elm Street, will have Monster Hunt-inspired treats on offer, according to the website.

• Art show: See the pastels of Peggy Van Valkenburgh in the exhibit “Go, See, Paint the World” at the Peterborough Town Library Community Art Gallery (2 Concord St. in Peterborough; peterboroughtownlibrary.org, 924-8040) through Friday, Sept. 29. She will also offer an artist talk on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. The library is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Season of performances: Stockbridge Theatre (Pinkerton Academy, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.com) has tickets on sale now for its 2023-2024 season, as well as season tickets and multi-show tickets. The first few performances on the schedule include Jukebox Saturday Night, with music celebrating the swing era, on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.; Yesterday and Today: Interactive Beatles Experience on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.; The Hitmen of Country on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., and Versa Style Dance, a fusion of hip-hop, Afro-Latin, krump, salsa, merengue and cumiba performed to remixes of hip-hop, classical and electronic music, according to the website, on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. See the website for the complete schedule.

Poetry & Pie
Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; 975-0015, twiggsgallery.org) will host its annual poetry reading and open mic, Poetry & Pie, on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. This year’s theme is “NEST,” which is also the gallery’s current exhibit. The Percheron Poets will participate and an open mic portion offers poets an opportunity to read a poem on the theme, according to a press release. After the poetry, stay for pie.

• Author talk: The New Hampshire Humanities 2023 Annual Celebration of the Humanities on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. will feature author Jodi Picoult in conversation with Alexandria Peary, the New Hampshire Poet Laureate, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester). The public reception begins at 5 p.m. with appetizers and a cash bar and the program starts at 6:15 p.m. Tickets cost $35 through $50. See nhhumanities.org/celebrate or call 224-4071.

Masked
Creative Ambitions Performance Studio will present Masked, an original dramady by New Hampshire resident Glynn Cosker, Friday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315). The show takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors. See capsnh.com for more on the play and the performing arts company.

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

• After work and outdoors: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is taking its live music during its Thursday Art After Work (5 to 8 p.m.) outside for the next few weeks, weather permitting. Bring chairs or a blanket to enjoy the performance, which this week is slated to feature Luna Trio, according to the website. Art After Work programming is free.

If you’re interested in spending more time at the museum, the Currier is currently holding a sale on its household-level membership (which gives members unlimited free admission for two adult cardholders and all family members under 18, two additional free general admissions for accompanying guests with each visit and other perks). Usually listed as $80, household level currently costs $60 through Thursday, Aug. 31, according to the Currier newsletter.

• Final weekend of Educating Rita: A production of the new professional theater company Creative Ambitions Performance Studio of NH, Educating Rita, a comedy-drama set in early 1980s Liverpool, will run through Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com) with show times on Friday, Aug. 18, and Saturday, Aug. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and students.

‘Salon de Cinq, So Long’
“Salon de Cinq, So Long,” a show paying tribute to a 20-year gathering of a group of artists, is at Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St. in Hopkinton; twovillagesart.org) through Saturday, Sept. 2. “Salon de Cinq was started by Pat Palson, a nationally famous weaver and fashion designer. Joining in the exhibit are her husband, realist painter Eric Palson; polymer clay artist Kathleen Dustin; textile artist Annie Frye; wood turner Steven Frye; and potter Nancy Brown. The original members all lived in Hopkinton and met in Palson’s studio,” according to a press release. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.

• Show opening: Concord-based painter Pamela R. Tarbell will have her works exhibited in the show “Reflections,” which also features the works of sculptors Andy Moerlein and John Weidman and opens at the Jaffrey Civic Center (40 Main St. in Jaffrey; jaffreyciviccenter.com) Friday, Aug. 18, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 23, with an opening reception on Thursday, Aug 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. See pamtarbell.com for more on the artist.

• A weekend about poetry: The Frost Farm Poetry Conference will take place Friday, Aug. 18, through Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Robert Frost Farm (122 Rockingham Road in Derry; 432-3091, frostfarmpoetry.org. The weekend features keynote speaker Alfred Nicol, a choice of workshops on poetry, a one-on-one meeting with an instructor, poetry readings, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday plus dinner on Saturday and networking with other poetry lovers, according to the website. The cost for the weekend is $435; register online in advance.

• Screen printing: Learn about screen printing from Dover artist William Mitchell at the League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery (279 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Meredith; nhcrafts.org, 279-7920) on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuition costs $110 with a materials fee of $10. Call or go online to register.

Old Home Week at Twiggs Gallery
Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen, TwiggsGallery.org, 975-0015) will celebrate Boscawen’s Old Home Week with free events. On Saturday, Aug. 19, check out the community art project “Flashy Flock” celebrating Boscawen’s agricultural roots with residents decorating and presenting on Saturday 55 blank chicken shapes; find a link to the map of the chickens on Twiggs’ website, according to a press release. Also on Aug. 19, from 1 to 3 p.m., the gallery will host a free make and take activity with wooden eggs, the release said. On Sunday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Granite State Draft Horse & Pony Association will do plowing demos and competitions outside next to Twiggs, the release said, with wagon rides offered. The day will also feature hot dogs sold as a fundraiser and another make-and-take at the gallery from 1 to 3 p.m., the release said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. catch a performance of “The New Consort” by a vocal chamber ensemble from the Avaloch Music Farm Institute.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. catch the poetry reading Poetry & Pie featuring the Percheon Poets on the theme of “NEST,” the gallery’s current exhibit. After the reading, there will be pie, the release said.