Category: Art & Theater

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

• One production, two plays: “A Night of One Act Plays” continues this weekend from Bedford Off Broadway. Check Please, Takes 1 & 2 and Bob’s Date run Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 18, at 2 p.m. at the Bedford Old Town Hall (3 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford). The door opens an hour before curtain; tickets cost $15 ($12 for seniors, students and children) at the door or on brownpapertickets.com. See bedfordoffbroadway.com.

Calling all woodworkers
The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers is holding a New England Woodworking Competition, open to professional and amateur woodworkers with judges evaluating entries in 11 categories relative to ability and experience, according to a press release. Register to participate at gnhw.org/register. On Saturday, Oct. 21, from 5 to 10 p.m., the competition will culminate in a display of entries and award ceremony at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center & Planetarium in Concord. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $35 at the door. Some of the pieces on display may be for sale; the New Hampshire Furniture Masters will also present an exhibit on that night, the release said.

• Festival of chamber music: The Halcyon Music Festival features six chamber music programs at St. John’s Episocpal Church (101 Chapel St.) in Portsmouth begins Thursday, June 15, and runs through Saturday, June 14, according to a press release. All shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available to individual shows and multiple concerts as well as for livestreamed viewing: Single concert tickets cost $25, get tickets to all six concerts for $130 and buy a ticket for livestreamed viewing for $25 (additional ticket packages are available for fewer concerts and tickets for students to one concert cost $10). See halcyonmusicfestival.org/concert for tickets. The festival schedule is: “Lyric” (featuring Bach, George Walker, Brahms, Mozart and more) which also features a Q&A with musicians on Thursday, June 15; “Summer Sounds” (with Dvořák, Britten, Mendelssohn) on Friday, June 16; “Youthful Genius” (with Rachmaninoff, Schubert and Schönberg) on Saturday, June 17; “For the People (with Beethoven, Webern, Bolcom and Brahms) on Thursday, June 22; “Longing and Lullabies” (with Brahms, Schumann, Ravel) on Friday, June 23, and “Land of Dreams” (with Barber, Shostakovich, Beethoven and Brahms) on Saturday, June 24.

• Exhibits and receptions: The Rochester Museum of Fine Art (rochestrmfa.org), which displays its exhibits and collections at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center and at the Rochester Public Library, has two artist receptions on the calendar. On Saturday, June 17, the museum will hold a reception for artists Nate Twombly, Barbara Morse and Connor Gottfried from 5 to 7 p.m at 150 Wakefield St. in Rochester and on Tuesday, June 27, there will be a reception for Kristy Cavaretta from 5 to 7 p.m. at 66 S. Main St. in Rochester. Twombly’s exhibit of illustrations is called “By & By” and Gottfried’s exhibit, featuring his scraped paint, improvised layering, and other techniques, is called “Save Game”; both of these exhibits hang through Friday, June 30, according to a museum press release. Cavaretta’s exhibit is called “Milk & Cookies” and hangs through Friday, Aug. 4; her preferred media include printmaking, woodblock, collagraph, and cyanotype, the release said.

Layers of Identity
The Mosaic Art Collective’s current show, in collaboration with Queerlective, is on display through Friday, June 30, and is called “Layers of Identity: A Visual Exploration,” according to a press release. The pieces invite “the viewer to consider their own complex identities and how societal factors influence perception and treatment of self and others,” the release said. The Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester; 512-6209, mosaicartcollective.com) is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m.

• What’s the buzz, tell me what’s a-happening: Actors Ted Neeley and Bob Bingham a.k.a. Jesus and Caiaphas from the 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar will be at a screening of the musical at Park Theatre (19 Main St. in Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org, 532-8888) on Sunday, June 25, at 7 p.m. to celebrate the movie’s 50th anniversary, according to a press release from the theater. The screening will include a pre-film introduction by the actors and a post-film meet and greet, the release said. Tickets cost $20.

• American crafts: The Hampton Falls Liberty Craft Festival will take place Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hampton Falls Town Common on Route 1 and feature more than 75 artisans, according to a press release. Admission is free; see castleberryfairs.com.

• Summer light: Exeter’s Seacoast Open Studio artists are displaying their spring show “Shades of Summer” at the Exeter Public Library (4 Chestnut St. in Exeter; the Godino Wing on the second floor features the exhibit; hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) through Thursday, June 29, according to a press release. The artists meet Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Exeter Parks and Recreation building to share ideas and critiques and new members are welcome, the release said.

The Birdcage
The 1996 movie The Birdcage (R) starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest will screen Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com, 800-652-8874). Tickets cost $10 and will include an opportunity to enter a raffle for two tickets to the Pride Parade viewing party to be held at the Nashua Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 24.

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

• The sun rises on summer music series: Henniker’s Summer Concert Series kicks off on Tuesday, June 13, with music at the Angela Robinson Bandstand (57 Main St.) starting at 6:30 p.m. The summer begins with Peabody’s Coal Train on June 13, which is described on their website as a “local NH acoustic Americana 6-piece band” (see peabodyscoaltrain.org). Food trucks and restaurants will attend the concerts to sell eats for the evening, according to a press release. Admission is free (donations accepted). See henniker.org for the summer’s lineup.

Londonderry Concerts on the Common (265 Mammoth Road in Londonderry) continue with the second concert of the season on Wednesday, June 14, when the Windham Community Swing Band performs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The schedule continues Wednesday, June 21, with Bruce Marshall and the Shadow Riders, according to a press release. Find the full line-up at concertsonthecommon.org.

NH Master Chorale
The 30-voice chamber choir New Hampshire Master Chorale celebrates its 20th anniversary with two concerts this month, according to a press release. The concerts, themed “What (Only) Music Can Do,” will be performed Saturday, June 17, at 7 p.m. at the South Congregational Church (27 Pleasant St. in Concord) and on Sunday, June 18, at 4 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Plymouth. Tickets (which are available at the door or via nhmc.ticketleap.com/20years) cost $30 — $25 for seniors and free for students from kindergarten through undergrad, the release said. The concert will feature several pieces including “a pinwheel of favorites from the last 23 seasons,” the release said.

• At the Currier: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) will feature the second of four sewing circle sessions with artist in residence Calder Kamin on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Winter Garden Cafe. Drop in and join the creation of a “Dream Feather” to be sewn into a community quilt that will be revealed at the Currier’s annual Summer Block Party on Saturday, July 15, from 4 to 9 p.m., according to a Currier newsletter. All ages and skill leaves are welcome, the release said. The sewing circle will also take place on Saturdays, July 1 and July 8. Calder will also be at the Art After Work series (Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., when admission to the museum is free), when people can meet her and participate in her community projects, the newsletter says.

Admission to the museum ($15 for adults, with discounts for seniors and students; kids 12 and under are free) is free to all New Hampshire residents on Saturday, June 10, as part of the museum’s second Saturday program. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, plus 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

On Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m. Jon Brooks, a New Hampshire sculptor whose work appears in the Currier collections, will hold an ARTalk for those who purchase a $75 raffle ticket, the newsletter said. The winner of the raffle will win a piece, called “Running Bench,” and visit and tour his studio; only 150 tickets will be sold. See currier.org/event/2023-signature-raffle.

Beyond this weekend, on Thursday, June 15, curator of education and interpretation Rachael Kane will lead the final “Curator Tour” until the fall at 6 p.m., focusing on the ways textiles are represented in the museum’s collection.

And get tickets now for an ARTalk with photographer and educator Gary Sampson on Sunday, June 25, at 2 p.m. “Samson will offer insight into how New Hampshire photography fits into the larger picture of art history with a special focus on the legacy of Lotte Jacobi. Following the talk, the artist will lead a brief gallery conversation focusing on regional photographic traditions,” the newsletter said. Tickets cost $15.

• One-night screening: The documentary Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North will screen Sunday, June 11, at 4 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd (214 Main St. in Nashua), in collaboration with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua and the Reconciliation Commision of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, according to a press release. The film looks at the descendants of the DeWolf family of Rhode Island and their role in the slave trade, according to a press release. The screening is open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion (see cgsnashua.org/events/film-traces-of-the-trade for information on the panelists), the release said. See the trailer for the documentary on tracesofthetrade.org.

Tiny Beautiful Things
Theatre Kapow wraps up its 15th season with a production of Tiny Beautiful Things, which runs Friday, June 9, through Sunday, June 11, at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Based on the book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, this production is the first of the play in New Hampshire, according to a press release. The play tells the story of Sugar, an online advice columnist (Strayed was the author of the “Dear Sugar” advice column). The performances are Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m. See tkapow.com.

• New skills: The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen in Meredith (279 Daniel Webster Hwy.; 279-7920, meredith.nhcrafts.org) has classes on the schedule for the end of June. On Saturday, June 24, from 10:30 to 4:30 p.m. learn to make a silver pendant with a bezel-set stone with League-juried artist Joy Raskin; tuition costs $75 per student plus a materials fee that varies based on silver and gemstones, according to a press release. On Sunday, June 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. learn to make a shadow box with League-juried artist Patsy Fraiser; tuition costs $40 plus materials fee of $20 paid to the instructor, the release said. Call or go online to register.

• One City, One Book: This year’s “Nashua Reads: One City, One Book” selection is Hell of a Book by Jason Mott, according to a press release from the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org, 589-4610). “Winner of the National Book Awards 2021 for Fiction, Hell of a Book is a groundbreaking and inventive novel about a Black author who sets out on a cross-country publicity tour to promote his bestselling novel. Masterfully weaving together three narrative strands — an unnamed author, a boy named Soot, and a figure known as The Kid — Mott creates a heartbreaking work that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans, and America as a whole,” the release said. Programming for Nashua Reads will begin in the fall but more than 75 print copies of the book are available now at the library as well as large print, e-book and audio book versions, the release said. Mott is slated to visit the library on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m. for a “Beyond the Book” dicusssion. Tickets to the even cost $10 and can be purchased at the library or at Eventbrite.

• Author events at Balin: Benji Wozniak, a writer, comedian and the host of the Woz Happening podcast, will be at Balin Books (375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com, 417-7981) on Saturday, June 24, at 2 p.m. to discuss his book Hodge Podge.

• Author events at Gibson’s: Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562) has several book events coming up in June. Author, hiker and parent Sarah Lamagna will discuss her new guidebook Hiking with Kids in New England: 50 Great Hikes for Families will discuss her book on Saturday, June 10, at 11 a.m. at Gibson’s. Debut authors Jean Duffy (author of the narrative nonfiction book Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World) and Bev Stohl (author of Chomsky and Me: A Memoir) will be at Gibson’s on Tuesday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m. Children’s authors Kari Allen (Maddie and Mabel Know They Can, the third Maddie and Mabel book) and Amy Makechnie (The McNifficents) will be at Gibson’s on Tuesday, June 27, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. to sign copies of their books. Marielle Thompson will discuss her debut novel, Where Ivy Dares to Grow: A Gothic Time Travel Love Story, on Friday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s.

Gibson’s will participate in a virtual event involving author Juno Dawson, who will discuss her new novel The Shadow Cabinet on Wednesday, June 21, at 7 p.m. Register online for the event only or for a book-and-ticket bundle.

The Wind
Like many an eventual cultural touchstone, 1928 silent film The Wind was a bust at the box office (its box office is recorded as a loss of $87,000), and it came out as movie audiences were turning to sound films, according to Wikipedia. But the movie, which includes actress Lilian Gish’s final starring role in a silent film, is considered a classic of early film and was selected for preservation in 1993 in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant,” according to a press release about the screening of The Wind on Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m. at Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton). The film will be screened with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission is a suggested donation of $10.

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

• Correction, even more kids’ theater: Due to an editing error in last week’s summer guide, we left out one regular performance day for the 2023 Bank of New Hampshire Childrens’ Summer Series at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). While the series kicks off with magician BJ Hickman performing Wednesday, July 5, through Friday, July 7, with shows Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m., subsequent productions also include shows on Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. After the magic, the slate of shows is Beauty and the Beast Tuesday, July 11, through Friday, July 14; Rapunzel Tuesday, July 18, through Friday, July 21; Peter Pan Tuesday, July 25, through Friday, July 28; Snow White Tuesday, Aug. 1, through Friday, Aug. 4;The Little Mermaid Tuesday, Aug. 8, through Friday, Aug. 11; Frozen Kids Tuesday, Aug. 15 through Friday, Aug. 18, and Finding Nemo Jr. on Tuesday, Aug 22, through Friday, Aug. 25. Tickets cost $10 per person for each show and are on sale now. The shows are all performed by professional actors, the website said.

• Like HGTV but live: The Palace Theatre (668-5588, palacetheatre.org) will hold its Kitchen Tour 2023, to benefit professional and youth theater programming, on Sunday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features a self-guided tour of kitchens in Amherst, Bedford and Manchester. Purchase tickets in advance; registration for the day of activities (including a lunch offered at Baron’s Major Brands in Manchester) will begin at Granite State Cabinetry in Bedford at 9:30 a.m. Tickets cost $55 per person; recommended for ages 12 and above.

NEST
The juried summer exhibit “NEST” will open at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; 975-0015, twiggsgallery.org) on Saturday, June 3, and run through Friday, Sept. 1. The exhibit features 31 New Hampshire artists exploring the concept of “nest” with sculpture, drawing, photography, printmaking and painting, according to a press release. An artists reception will be held Saturday, June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. The gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

• Member show: The summer member show featuring more than 30 New Hampshire artists at Two Villages Art Society’s gallery (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) continues through Sunday, June 17. The works include paintings, drawings, book arts, fiber arts, pottery and prints, according to a press release. See the website for gallery hours.

Two Villages also has a series of free monthly drawing nights on the schedule. Hosted by local artists Ty Meier and Jo Gubman, the events allow artists to work alongside peers and receive feedback if desired, according to the website. Bring your own art supplies. Upcoming dates are Thursdays June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 17 and Dec. 21. Register online.

• Swing, swing swing: The Center for the Arts is holding its annual fundraiser, “Swing, Swing, Swing,” at the Dexter Inn in Sunapee on Thursday, June 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring the Bedford Big Band playing music to swing dance to, according to a press release. Come at 6:30 p.m. to get a swing dance lesson, the release said. The evening will also feature desserts, a cash bar and raffle prizes, the release said. Tickets cost $50 per person at centerfortheartsnh.org/summer-party.

• At the Art Center: The Art Center (1 Washington St., Suite 1177, in Dover; theartcenterdover.com) has two shows running through the end of June. “Observations: A Photography Exhibition” is showcasing the work of the photographers Ron St. Jean, Manuel Ricardo Perez and Guy Freeman in the Jim Reagan Gallery, according to a press release. The Center is also featuring its studio artists in the show “Rock the House” on display through Friday, June 30. The works include coastal scenes, abstract landscapes, ocean-inspired prints, sculptures and more, the release said. An artists reception for both exhibits will be held Saturday, June 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. The center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and by appointment, the release said.

Nashua International Sculpture Symposium
Work by the four artists creating the newest additions to Nashua’s public sculptures will officially wrap up Thursday, June 1 (see them from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua). On Saturday, June 3, the pieces will be unveiled at their locations starting at 1 p.m. at the Picker Artists building, with participants driving to the locations from there, according to an organizer. Check out the symposium’s website, nashuasculpturesymposium.org, for updates on locations. This year’s artists are Anna Rasinska from Poland, Parastoo Ahovan from Iran, Tanya Preminger from Israel and Jim Larson, who grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in Maine, the website said. Find the sculptures from all past symposia on the website with descriptions, artist statements and locations.

• Community arts fest: The Castle in the Clouds (Route 171, 455 Old Man Road, Moultonborough; castleintheclouds.org, 476-5900), in partnership with the Lakes Region Art Association, will hold its first Community Arts Festival on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a press release. The event will feature dozens of crafters, artists, community organizations, art demonstrations, performances, a scavenger hunt, arts activities for kids and more, the release said. Admission to attend is free, the rain date is Sunday, June 11.

• Auditions: Cue Zero Theatre Company (cztheatre.com) will hold auditions for its production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins on Tuesday, June 27, at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire in Salem. The production will run Oct. 27 through Oct. 29 at the Derry Opera House, according to a press release. The show will require skilled singers and actors; auditioners should prepare up to three minutes of musical theater material that showcases singing and acting skills, the release said. All performers must be at least 18 years old at the time of auditions. See the website for details and to sign up.

• Build a boat: The New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro Falls; nhbm.org, 569-4554) will offer “Adult & Family Boat Building” and “Youth & Family Boat Building” programs this summer, when you can learn all the details of building a boat including how to use the tools, wood cutting, wood working, painting, varnishing and more, according to a press release. The adult and family program runs July 8 through July 16 and the youth and family program runs July 24 through Aug. 2, with daily sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The classes have a registration fee plus a price based on the style of boat.

Concord Arts Market
The juried artisan and fine arts Summer Arts Market will open for the season on Saturday, June 3, at Rollins Park (3 Bow St. in Concord) and run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the market’s website, concordartsmarket.net. The market will continue with one monthly Saturday session throughout the summer and into the fall, running July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21, at the same times and location. The Concord Arts Market will also be at Concord’s Market Days Festival Thursday, June 22, through Saturday, June 24, the website said. About 65 vendors are expected at each market; find a list of participating art vendors on the website. At Saturday’s market, activities include Yoga in the Park with Blossom Yoga at 10 a.m.; live music by Concord Community Music School Folk ensemble (10 a.m. to noon) and Eyes of Age (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.); kids’ activities with Zenith Martial Arts and food for sale from Sleazy Vegan food truck and Batulo’s Kitchen.