The Art Roundup 22/09/22

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

Concord celebrates the arts: The Capital Arts Fest, a free event hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25, outside on south Main Street between Fayette and Concord streets in downtown Concord. The line-up for this two-day event includes a juried fine craft fair (running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday), a KidsCreate! Activity tent, a historic walking tour at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, an opening reception for the NH Potters Guild show “Storied in Clay” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, performances on the street (including Sindy Chown of Barranquilla Flavor Multicultural Program, the Concord Coachmen Chorus and the NH Scot Pipe Band and Scottish Highland Dance) and performances on the Capitol Center for the Arts Fest stage, according to the schedule at nhcrafts.org. The music lineup on Saturday includes Symphony NH Jazz Quartet at 12:30 p.m., Andrew North and the Rangers at 3 p.m. and Firefall at 5 p.m. On Sunday, the lineup includes Concord Community Music School Jazz Ensemble at 12:30 p.m., the school’s Folk Ensemble at 1:15 p.m. and Screaming Orphans Celtic Performance at 2:30 p.m., the schedule said. The Fest will also feature food from Chubba Wubba, Holy Moly, Col’s Kitchen and Batulo’s Kitchen, the website said.

Mr. Wolf on stage: Theatre Kapow presents Mr. Wolf at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord), with showtimes on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. The show follows a 15-year-old girl who has just been returned to her family after having been abducted as a toddler, according to tkapow.com. “Pulitzer finalist Rajiv Joseph unfurls Theresa’s new life, as she and her family struggle to make sense of a shattered past and an uncertain future in the wake of a parent’s worst nightmare,” the description said. This production contains some adult themes and may not be suitable for all viewers, according to the website (which offers more details about some of the content). Purchase tickets, which cost $28 for adults and $23 for students, at ccanh.com.

Music at the museum
The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144) hosts local rock band Regals on Thursday, Sept. 22, as a part of its ongoing program Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights. The event, running weekly from 5 to 8 p.m., features free gallery admission and exhibition tours, live music, and a full menu available for purchase at the Winter Garden. Future musical guests include Kemp Harris and Adam O on Sept. 29, and Jessye DeSilva on Oct. 6. For more information, visit currier.org.

Meet Miss Holmes:The Milford Area Players will perform Miss Holmes, a play by Christopher M. Walsh based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Friday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mount Vernon St., Milford). The play explores what the iconic detective might have faced if he were instead a woman. Performances will take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit milfordareaplayers.org.

The music of Disney: The Anselmian Abbey Players will present Disney Cabaret Night at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester) on Friday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available at tickets.anselm.edu.

Call to artists: Entries are being accepted online for the 23rd Annual Joan L. Dunfey Open-Juried Exhibition to be held in November at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery on State Street in Portsmouth. The theme of this year’s show is “Magnificence of The Mundane.” This juried show is open to all regional artists, including NHAA members and non-members. This year’s juror is Kurt Sundstrom, Senior Curator of the Currier Museum in Manchester. The deadline for submission of one to three entries online in digital format is Thursday, Oct. 6, by 11:59 p.m. The exhibit will be held at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery from Nov. 2 through Nov. 27. Cash awards and honorable mentions will be announced during the show’s opening reception on Nov. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

Art and a mystery
Kimball Jenkins will host “Get A Clue: A Murder Mystery” on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. on its campus at 266 N. Main St. in Concord. This night will benefit Positive Street Art and will feature artists, fortune tellers, musicians and local food, as attendees face a whodunnit mystery when a guest is found murdered. An interactive mystery, the event will include drinks, food, jazz music and sleuthing. Tickets are $65, though need-based discount rates are available by contacting [email protected]. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kimballjenkins.com.

Hannah Turtle


ART

Events

BRIDGES & CONNECTIONS SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM The Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline, 673-7441, andresinstitute.org) hosts its annual Bridges and Connections Sculpture Symposium through Oct. 2. For three weeks, invited artists from all over the world will stay in Brookline to create sculptures for permanent installation at the Institute’s 140-acre outdoor sculpture park and trails. The public is invited to meet the artists and watch them work at designated times, TBA. A presentation of the completed sculptures at their permanent sites will take place on Sunday, Oct. 2. Visit andresinstitute.org/symposium-2022.

Opening

• “STORIED IN CLAY” The New Hampshire Potters Guild presents its biennial exhibition Storied in Clay” at the exhibition gallery at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord) Sept. 26 through Oct. 27, with an opening reception on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Visit nhpottersguild.org.

• “THE WOODS WRAP AROUND YOU” Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford, creativeventuresfineart.com) will have an exhibition, “The Woods Wrap Around You,” on display during October, featuring hand-colored monoprints by Loretta CR Hubley. A reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 14, with wine and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation by the artist and a live piano performance inspired by the exhibition.

• “FROM THE HIPPIE TRAIL TO THE SILK ROAD” exhibit fromTwo Villages Art Society will run at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) Oct. 21 through Nov. 12. This is an exhibition by Kathleen Dustin that includes her original artwork, inspired by and juxtaposed with jewelry and textiles from around the world that Dustin has collected during her travels. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 2 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Exhibits

• “COLORS OF AUTUMN” The September show for New Hampshire Art Association members runs through Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (139 State St. in Portsmouth; nhartassociation.org). The gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

• “OUT OF THE WOODS” fromTwo Villages Art Society at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) is on display through Oct. 8 and features a series of collaborative vignettes paying tribute to the seasonal changes of New Hampshire, created by a group of five local artists known as the 9th State Artisans. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• “STILL: THE ART OF STILL LIFE,a contemporary art exhibit at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; twiggsgallery.wordpress.com, 975-0015), will feature work by artists Caleb Brown, Shela Cunningham, Bess French, Marcia Wood Mertinooke, Barbara Morse, Shawne Randlett and Marlene Zychowski and will run through Saturday, Oct. 29.

• “GEE’S BEND QUILTS” exhibit, on display at the Currier Museum of Art (50 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org), features five quilts from Gee’s Bend in Alabama, where several generations of women collectively developed a distinctive style of quilt making, according to the website. 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 age 12 and under 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.

• “MEMOIRS OF A GHOST GIRLHOOD: A BLACK GIRL’S WINDOW” In the exhibit on display at the Currier Museum of Art (50 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org), “artist Alexandria Smith has created an immersive multimedia environment using wallpaper, paintings on wood, found objects and sculpture. It will be accompanied by an original site-specific composition, //windowed// by Liz Gre,” according to the website. 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 age 12 and under 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.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].

Fairs and markets

CAPITAL ARTS FEST The Capital Arts Fest, a free event hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25, outside on Main Street in Concord. There will be a fine art and craft fair, live music and dance performances, a historic walking tour of downtown Concord and more. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.

CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the last market scheduled for Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

MAJESTIC-OPOLY The Majestic Theatre presents Majestic-opoly, its 17th annual auction and performance fundraiser, on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester). The evenings will feature silent auctions, raffles and refreshments as well as performances from the company’s adult, teen and youth actors. Tickets cost $20 per person. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7649.

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR​ The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) will present The Government Inspector, presented by Phylloxera Productions, Oct. 7 through Oct. 23. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.

FREAKY FRIDAY Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presents Freaky Friday on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS The Community Players of Concord present The Wind in the Willows at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $15.

DISNEY’S THE ARISTOCRATS KIDS The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, peacockplayers.org) youth theater company presents Disney’s The Aristocrats Kids Oct. 14 through Oct. 23. Showtimes are on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

RED RIDING HOOD Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presents Red Riding Hood on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.

TITANIC THE MUSICAL The Manchester Community Theatre Players present Titanic the Musical at the Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester). Showtimes are on Fridays, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Saturdays, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, and Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at manchestercommunitytheatre.com.

GREASE The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) presents Grease Oct. 21 through Nov. 12. Showtimes are on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., with one Thursday-at-7:30 p.m. show for each production ( Nov. 10 for Grease). Tickets cost $25 to $46.

Classical

Events

•​ DUO BALDO The Concord Community Concert Association presents a classical concert, “Duo Baldo,” featuring violinist Brad Repp on his 1736 Testore violin and pianist Aldo Gentileschi, at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 at the door or $23 online. Call 344-4747 or visit ccca-audi.org.

WINDS OF TIME Symphony New Hampshire presents “Winds of Time,” with performances on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center in Nashua and on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 3 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). It features Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4, Du Puy’s Quintet for Bassoon and Strings in A minor III, Weber’s Clarinet Concertino in E-flat and Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings. Tickets cost $10 for youth ages 13 to 17 and full-time students age 29 and under and range from $20 to $60 for adults and from $18 to $55 for seniors age 65 and up. Admission is free for youth under age 13. Visit symphonynh.org.

PIANIST RICHARD DOWLING​ The Concord Community Concert Association welcomes pianist Richard Dowling to Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $23. Call 344-4747 or visit ccca-audi.org.

ORCHESTRAL SHOWCASE “NATURE & MYTH” at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sun., Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Sat., Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring sounds from Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

NATURE & MYTH​ The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra opens its 118th year with an orchestral showcase, “Nature & Myth,” featuring music by Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius, on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem). Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for kids. Visit nhphil.org.

BEETHOVEN AND FRIENDS The Nashua Chamber Orchestra presents its fall concert “Beethoven and Friends,” with performances on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St., Nashua) and Sunday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. at Milford Town Hall (1 Union Square, Milford). The program will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F, as well as Symphony No. 1 in G by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges; Impromptu Op. 5 by Jean Sibelius; and Andante and Rondo ongarese, Op. 35 by Carl Maria von Weber. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors age 65 and up, military and college students. Admission is free for youth under age 18. Visit nco-music.org.

Taking you under the sea

How the Palace’s The Little Mermaid created its own underwater fairy tale

By Hannah Turtle

[email protected]

The Little Mermaid is in the headlines.

Just as the Palace Theatre prepared to kick off its production of the musical based on the classic Disney animated movie, the first teaser trailer dropped for Disney’s 2023 live-action film version of the story.

“We had no idea that was going to come out so close to opening, but the cast has been so excited about it,” said Sebastian Goldberg, assistant artistic director and choreographer of the production. “Everyone loves to try that riff that she [Halle Bailey, the actress playing Ariel] sings.”

The Palace’s The Little Mermaid runs at the Manchester theater through Oct. 2, with shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Without the benefit of animation or CGI, the Palace’s production team had to get creative, tasked with designing a set that looks and feels as though it is deep in the ocean. In addition to strategic lighting, the set uses some unexpected materials.

“There’s this stuff, it’s called The Great Stuff, it’s normally used for insulation or as a gap filler in construction projects, but we’ve been using it a lot to design the set. When we let it dry and paint over it, it looks a lot like coral,” Goldberg said.

The set, though, is only half the battle in giving the show the impression of being “under the sea.

“Every show has its own unique challenges. For our actors, it takes a lot of practice to give the impression of being underwater,” Goldberg said. “One thing they do is move their arms as though they’re treading water, so while they’re doing a scene, they also have to be conscious of that.”

Even without the unique challenges of designing a show that takes place underwater, The Little Mermaid is still somewhat out of the ordinary for the Palace, whose later mainstage productions this season include more traditional “adult” shows like Grease and A Christmas Carol.

“During our regular season, we don’t usually do these types of shows, but The Little Mermaid is such a big show and such a big part of so many people’s lives and childhoods,” Goldberg said.

To Goldberg, it’s a production that can be enjoyed by all ages.

“Ariel is a special character. She’s fiercely independent, she follows her heart, sometimes to a fault, but she has that endearing naivete that makes her so loveable,” he said. “That’s something the audience will be able to feel, and want to be on this journey with her while they watch the show.”

As they prepared for opening night on Sept. 16, Goldberg was hoping audiences will get something special out of seeing The Little Mermaid live.

“I hope that any time someone leaves the Palace that they remember there’s nothing quite like live theater. We’re all going through so much these days and theater is such an escape, and so I’m excited for people to let themselves get lost in the story, and to leave feeling a little lighter, maybe wanting to sing and dance through the street,” he said.

The Little Mermaid
Where: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester; 668-5588
When: Now through Sunday, Oct. 2. Show times are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., plus Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 to $45 at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/09/15

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

Part of your world: The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) kicks off its season with Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which will have its opening night Friday, Sept. 16, and run through Sunday, Oct. 2. This professional production will be presented Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. throughout its run as well as Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.

Call for artists: The Beaver Brook Association (beaverbrook.org, 465-7787) is looking for artists to participate in the Fall Festival & Art Show on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25. The theme this year is “untouched beauty.” The call is open to amateurs and professionals who would like to enter photography, paintings, collage and mixed media. Awards will be presented. The entry fee is $10 for one work, $15 for two and $20 for three works. Find the application form and the dropoff dates online; the dropoff deadline is Monday, Sept. 19, at noon.

Ode to NH: Symphony New Hampshire also opens its season this weekend with “Ode to NH” on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua). The program, which kicks off the 100th anniversary season, will feature historical and modern pieces written about or in New Hampshire, including Oliver Caplan’s Lunastella Fuga, John Adams’ “Shaking and Trembling” from Shaker Loops, Amy Beach’s Bal Masque and Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite. Tickets cost $10 for youth ages 13 to 17 and full-time students age 29 and under and range from $20 to $60 for adults and from $18 to $55 for seniors age 65 and up. Admission is free for youth under age 13. See symphonynh.org.

Seasonal views: Two Villages Art Society hosts “Out of the Woods” at the Bates Building (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org, 413-210-4372) opening Friday, Sept. 16, with an opening reception on Saturday, Sept. 17, from noon to 2 p.m.. It features a series of collaborative vignettes paying tribute to the seasonal changes of New Hampshire, created by a group of five local artists known as the 9th State Artisans. It will remain on display through Oct. 8. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Currier updates
The Currier Museum of Art’s second-floor galleries have gotten a revamping, with new acquisitions mixed with old favorites, all reorganized and reimagined to provide new context to the work and space. The East Gallery now contains 19th-century collections, and the West Gallery introduces “Nature and Nostalgia,” which focuses on New Hampshire landscapes. To see the newly reworked exhibits, visit the Currier (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144), during regular gallery hours Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Thursdays open until 8 p.m. For more information, visit currier.org.

Buy art: The Concord Arts Market holds its second to last summer market of the season on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market features juried artisans and artists and is in Rollins Park (33 Bow St. in Concord). See concordartsmarket.net.

Fall classes: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org) has announced its fall season of adult art class offerings, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 24, including both in-person and online classes, weeks-long courses and single-day workshops. Offerings include “The White Line Woodcut and Beyond” with Kate Hanlon, an in-person workshop on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; “Art Sampler for Adults” with Robin Deary, an in-person six-week class on Thursdays, Sept. 29 through Nov. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m.; “Drawing and Painting the Landscape” with Rachael O’Shaughnessy, an in-person five-week class on Thursdays, Oct. 20 through Nov. 17, from 1 to 3 p.m., and many more.

Back to school: The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth; playersring.org) presents Seminar, a comedy from Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck, through Sept. 25. The show follows a series of aspiring novelists as they take classes with an unorthodox teaching style. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $27, $24 for seniors.

Sparrows
The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551) will screen Sparrows, a silent film starring Mary Pickford, on Wednesday, Sept. 21, with live musical accompaniment. The classic film is a thriller following orphans who flee an evil caretaker. Local composer Jeff Rapsis will accompany the work with music. The film will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or at the door. For more information, visit flyingmonkeynh.com.

Hannah Turtle


ART

Events

BRIDGES & CONNECTIONS SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM The Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline, 673-7441, andresinstitute.org) hosts its annual Bridges and Connections Sculpture Symposium through Oct. 2. For three weeks, invited artists from all over the world will stay in Brookline to create sculptures for permanent installation at the Institute’s 140-acre outdoor sculpture park and trails. The public is invited to meet the artists and watch them work at designated times, TBA. A presentation of the completed sculptures at their permanent sites will take place on Sunday, Oct. 2. Visit andresinstitute.org/symposium-2022.

Opening

• “STORIED IN CLAY” The New Hampshire Potters Guild presents its biennial exhibition Storied in Clay” at the exhibition gallery at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord) Sept. 26 through Oct. 27, with an opening reception on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Visit nhpottersguild.org.

• “FROM THE HIPPIE TRAIL TO THE SILK ROAD” exhibit fromTwo Villages Art Society will run at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) Oct. 21 through Nov. 12. This is an exhibition by Kathleen Dustin that includes her original artwork, inspired by and juxtaposed with jewelry and textiles from around the world that Dustin has collected during her travels. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 2 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Exhibits

• “LAYERED: COLOR AND TEXTURE” runs at Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester, 668-6650, art3gallery.com) through Sept. 15. Featured works highlight the interplay between color and texture, how the tactile quality of an object’s surface appeals to the sense of touch, and how the depths of light and color appeal to the sense of sight. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend viewing available by request.

• “MANAGING MISCELLANEA” The Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy (11 Tan Lane, Exeter) hosts “Managing Miscellanea,” an art exhibition that draws from the gallery’s “undefined” collection. It centers around questions of defining and maintaining collections, and showcases unseen works from the storage vault, including works by Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell. The exhibition runs through Sept. 24, available for viewing during the gallery’s normal hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. For more information, visit www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.

• “COLORS OF AUTUMN” The September show for New Hampshire Art Association members runs through Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (139 State St. in Portsmouth; nhartassociation.org). The gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Fairs and markets

CAPITAL ARTS FEST The Capital Arts Fest, a free event hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25, outside on Main Street in Concord. There will be a fine art and craft fair, live music and dance performances, a historic walking tour of downtown Concord and more. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.

THEATRE

Shows

•​ THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) professional company presents The Conference of the Birds through Sept. 17; tickets cost $29 to $39.

MURDER FOR TWO The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 9; tickets cost $25 to $42. Showtimes are on various dates and times, Tuesday through Sunday.

MAJESTIC-OPOLY The Majestic Theatre presents Majestic-opoly, its 17th annual auction and performance fundraiser, on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester). The evenings will feature silent auctions, raffles and refreshments as well as performances from the company’s adult, teen and youth actors. Tickets cost $20 per person. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7649.

MR. WOLF Theatre Kapow presents Mr. Wolf at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) with showtimes on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $23 for students. Visit ccanh.com.

MISS HOLMES The Milford Area Players present Miss Holmes at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford) Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Visit milfordareaplayers.org.

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR​ The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) will present The Government Inspector, presented by Phylloxera Productions, Oct. 7 through Oct. 23. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.

FREAKY FRIDAY Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presents Freaky Friday on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS The Community Players of Concord present The Wind in the Willows at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m., and tickets cost $15.

DISNEY’S THE ARISTOCRATS KIDS The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, peacockplayers.org) youth theater company presents Disney’s The Aristocrats Kids Oct. 14 through Oct. 23. Showtimes are on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

RED RIDING HOOD Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presents Red Riding Hood on Tuesday, Oct. 18, and Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for youth and $15 for adults.

Classical

Events

•​ DUO BALDO The Concord Community Concert Association presents a classical concert, “Duo Baldo,” featuring violinist Brad Repp on his 1736 Testore violin and pianist Aldo Gentileschi, at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 at the door or $23 online. Call 344-4747 or visit ccca-audi.org.

WINDS OF TIME Symphony New Hampshire presents “Winds of Time,” with performances on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center in Nashua and on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 3 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). It features Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4, Du Puy’s Quintet for Bassoon and Strings in A minor III, Weber’s Clarinet Concertino in E-flat and Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings. Tickets cost $10 for youth ages 13 to 17 and full-time students age 29 and under and range from $20 to $60 for adults and from $18 to $55 for seniors age 65 and up. Admission is free for youth under age 13. Visit symphonynh.org.

PIANIST RICHARD DOWLING​ The Concord Community Concert Association welcomes pianist Richard Dowling to Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $23. Call 344-4747 or visit ccca-audi.org.

NATURE & MYTH​ The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra opens its 118th year with an orchestral showcase, “Nature & Myth,” featuring music by Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius, on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem). Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for kids. Visit nhphil.org.

Welcoming weekend

Multicultural festivals celebrate the cultures of Nashua and Concord

By Hannah Turtle

[email protected]

This weekend, the region will host two events, one in Nashua, the other in Concord, but the celebration is a global one. Each city hosts its annual multicultural festival, Nashua’s in Greeley Park on Saturday, and Concord’s in Keach Park on Sunday. The events are part of a wider initiative, Welcoming Week.

“Our philosophy is to be welcoming to the refugees who have settled here, the immigrants who decide to resettle here. It’s about being open and welcoming to them as our neighbors, as part of our community, and making sure that the city government and the institutions here are welcoming as well,” said Jessica Livingston, the director of the Concord Multicultural Festival. “The festival is one of the ways to do that.”

Both festivals will include representation from different groups and cultures that make the two cities their home.

“We have performances and vendors from many different cultures, and we also have the flag parade, which has flags from over 70 countries, and they all represent people from our own community,” Livingston said.

Since the early 1980s, more than 7,000 refugees have made New Hampshire their home, according to Livingston. She said they come from countries all over the world, but many in the area come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, fleeing civil war, or from Bhutan and Myanmar, fleeing ethnic cleansing.

“Before we started accepting refugees in the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s, Concord was a much whiter community. Bringing in people from other cultures was very new to everyone, so in the early years, it was also a way to introduce the receiving community to new cultures through food and music and art,” Livingston said. “The festival was created in the early 2000s as a way to welcome the refugees that were being settled here, and by continuing to do this we continue to show that we embrace all the new neighbors we have here. … Over the years, it’s evolved. It’s now a place for everyone to share their culture, from the various African countries who have just recently seen settlers here, as well as Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Ukraine, the indigenous communities, and all the people whose ancestors immigrated here.”

In Concord, the festival will include performances from a whole host of different groups, including Emperor T-Jiga and the Akwaaba Ensemble, a group that brings West African drumming and dance to the community; Barranquilla Flavor, a Colombian dance group that specializes in traditional Colombian folkloric dances; and performers of Irish step dance, traditional Nepali dance, Argentinian tango, and much more.

These festivals, however, have a larger purpose than just celebration.

“While it’s a celebratory event, our goal is ultimately to address the racism and intolerance that can come about when we talk about refugees and immigrants, so it’s a way to bring people together over shared values, and mitigate some of the things that pull us apart,” Livingston said.

The festivals allow local community members to get involved in welcoming efforts, support immigrant businesses, and get to know each other. For Livingston, it’s a vitally important event, as well as one of personal significance.

“I’m an event planner by trade, but this is by far my favorite event to do. It’s so much more than an event. There’s all these smaller moments, and they’re wonderful,” Livingston said. “There are some people in this community that came here as refugees and may not have felt welcome, but then seeing the way we celebrate them, it makes them feel seen. There’s a lot of beautiful connections between people.”

Multicultural Festival weekend
When: Sunday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Keach Park
More information: concordmulticulturalfestival.org

Nashua Multicultural Festival
When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Greeley Park
More information: cgsnashua.org/events/nashua-multicultural-festival

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/09/08

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

Art by the sea: As a part of this year’s Hampton Beach Seafood Festival (which runs Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11, on Ocean Boulevard at Hampton Beach; see page 34 for more on the event), the festival hosts its second annual Pop-up Art Show right on the beach.

“It was such a success last year, so we’re really excited to do it again,” Alyssa Pine, founder of the art show, said. “Having the art on the beach bar is so great for people, because it’s something to do while they enjoy the food and the music.”

The art show will showcase 15 local artists. On Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be a live painting event where visitors can watch the artists create in real time. After the artists are finished with their pieces, visitors can vote for their favorite.

The artists will paint on canvases and have their pieces auctioned off on Sunday at 11 a.m. At the auction, the winner of the people’s choice vote will also be announced and awarded.

In addition, the pop-up show will feature a private art gallery showing on Saturday starting at 6 p.m. Attendees at the ticketed event will be the first to see the unveiling of the finished artwork and will have the opportunity to buy artwork at a set pre-auction price. There will be hors d’oeuvres and a private cash bar. “It’s a real art gallery opening — just in the sand,” Pine said. Visit seafoodfestivalnh.com/art.

Dancing about New Hampshire
New Hampshire Dance Collaborative presents an event called “Excerpts and Investigation” on Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Factory on Willow, at 252 Willow St. in Manchester. The event will feature three brief segments of a dance called “The Shire” by NSquared Dance and will conclude with a moderated discussion led by Matt Cahoon, artistic director of theatre KAPOW and former director of The Stockbridge Theater. “The Shire” is NSquared’s Zackery Betty’s bioregional exploration of the state of New Hampshire. To learn more about NHDC or register for free to attend Excerpts and Investigation, visit nhdancecollaborative.com.

From the garden: BJ Eckardt, a New Hampshire Art Association artist, is the featured September artist at Creative Framing Solutions (410 Chestnut St., Manchester) with the exhibit titled “Inspirations from the Garden,” a show of oil paintings, according to nhartassociation.org. The show will run through Friday, Sept. 30; an opening reception will be held on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. The gallery’s most recent hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open until 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays) and the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Double feature: The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) will present “Martin and Osa Johnson: Adventure’s First Couple,” a combination lecture and movie screening, on Thursday, Sept. 15. The Johnsons were “a Kansas couple who gained worldwide fame in the early 20th century for far-flung exploits combining adventure, aviation and wildlife photography,” according to a press release. The program starts at 6 p.m. and is open to the public and will feature Dick Jackson of Rochester, a longtime aircraft restoration expert who spent 40 years restoring a Sikorsky S-39 flying boat identical to the type used by the Johnsons, the release said. The event will also include a screening of Baboona, a 1935 documentary the Johnsons compiled from film they shot in Africa in the early 1930s, the release said. Tickets available at the door and cost $10 per person.

Hannah Turtle


ART

Exhibits

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 display now 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 age 12 and under 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.

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

BARBARA MATA will display her paintings in an exhibit, “Russia’s Illegal Invasion of Ukraine,” at The Art Center in Dover (1 Washington St., Suite 1177, Dover; nhartassociation.org, theartcenterdover.com) Thursday, Sept. 1, through Monday, Oct. 31.

THOM HINDLE The Art Center (1 Washington St., Dover; theartcenterdover.com, 978-6702) presents “Images of the Past: The Thom Hindle Collection” from Saturday, Sept. 3, through Friday, Sept. 30, along with an An Evening with Thom Hindle, an in-person book signing on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m., celebrating Hindle’s newest release, Dover, New Hampshire Through Time Volume Two. The collection, according to a press release, is “an insightful, historically significant exhibition dedicated to the rich history of Dover, New Hampshire, and surrounding areas.” Hindle has taught classes at UNH and is a past president of Dover’s historical society. He’s perhaps best known as a local photographer, the release said, with a longtime photography business on Atkinson Street in the Garrison City. The exhibit features photographs Hindle reproduced from original glass negatives representing the works of never-before-exhibited local and Boston-area photographers. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• “MANAGING MISCELLANEA” The Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy (11 Tan Lane, Exeter) hosts “Managing Miscellanea,” an art exhibition that draws from the gallery’s “undefined” collection. It centers around questions of defining and maintaining collections, and showcases unseen works from the storage vault, including works by Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell. The exhibition runs through Sept. 24, available for viewing during the gallery’s normal hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. For more information, visit www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.

• “MEMOIRS OF A GHOST GIRLHOOD: A BLACK GIRL’S WINDOW” In the exhibit on display at the Currier Museum of Art (50 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org), “artist Alexandria Smith has created an immersive multimedia environment using wallpaper, paintings on wood, found objects and sculpture. It will be accompanied by an original site-specific composition //windowed// by Liz Gre,” according to the website. 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 age 12 and under 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.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].

• “COLORS OF AUTUMN” This September show for New Hampshire Art Association members runs through Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (139 State St. in Portsmouth; nhartassociation.org). An opening reception will be held Friday, Sept. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. The gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m.

Fairs and markets

CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html.

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 for more information.

Workshops and classes

STAINED GLASS The League of NH Craftsmen — Meredith Fine Craft Gallery (279 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith) will host a beginner’s stained glass class with juried artist Susanna Ries on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class will have students cutting, copper foiling, soldering, and framing a stained glass panel in one day. Basic stained glass construction will be taught and students will go home with a finished piece ready to hang. Students should bring cork board, scissors, masking tape, an apron, latex gloves, safety glasses and covered shoes. Tuition is $55, with a $35 materials fee paid to the instructor on the day of class. Pre-registration is required by Sept. 4. To register, visit meredith.nh.crafts.org or call 279-7920.

SOLDERING The League of NH Craftsmen is holding a soldering class at its Meredith studio (279 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith) with Joy Raskin on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuition is $110 per student, with an additional materials fee of $10 to the instructor at the time of the class. Registration is required by Sept. 3. To register, call 279-7920 or visit meredith.nhcrafts.org

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 or email [email protected] more information.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, the season-opening musical at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588), will run Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 2. The shows run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., with a show also on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $46.

TITANIC THE MUSICAL Presented by the Manchester Community Theatre Players. Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester; manchestercommunitytheatre.com, 327-6777). Showtimes on Fri., Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Sat., Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

TRUE TALES LIVE Portsmouth-based storytelling showcase. Monthly, last Tuesday (no shows in July and August), from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Shows will be held in person (Portsmouth Public Media TV Studio, 280 Marcy St., Portsmouth) starting in April, and returning to the Zoom format for the winter, starting in November. Each month’s showcase is centered around a different theme. The series is free and open to all who want to watch or participate as a storyteller. Pre-registration for attendees is required for Zoom shows but not required for in-person shows. Visit truetaleslivenh.org and email [email protected] if you’re interested in being a storyteller.

Classical

Events

ORCHESTRAL SHOWCASE “NATURE & MYTH” at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sun., Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Sat., Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring sounds from Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

HOLIDAY POPS at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sat., Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. Featuring Christmas carol sing-alongs and classical and popular holiday favorites, as well as an appearance from a special visitor from the North Pole. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

WINTER SERENITIES at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sat., Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. Featuring Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (by Vaughn-Williams). Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

DRAWN TO THE MUSIC: MUSICAL TALES at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sat., April 15, and Sun., April 16, at 2 p.m. Featuring Stravinsky’s Petrushka, the music for a ballet about puppets that come to life. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

SPRING POPS: HOLLYWOOD IN AFRICA at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sat., May 20, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., May 21, at 2 p.m. Featuring Grammy Award-nominated African musician Mamadou Diabate on the balafon, a xylophone-like instrument. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

Open calls

THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email [email protected] for more information.

Picture purrfect

Artists bring new works to Cat Alley

By Hannah Turtle

[email protected]

Located in the heart of downtown Manchester, Cat Alley has long been one of the city’s quirkier spots. Named by cotton mill workers in the early 1900s for its high population of dueling street cat mobs, it has since been host to all manner of cat-themed art and fun.

“It’s one of the first items in Manchester in and on Atlas Obscura,” said Liz Hitchcock, the Principal of Orbit Group, which now owns the real estate. “It became this really iconic place in Manchester, but after a number of years it started to chip and get graffitied. It was starting to look a little dull.”

Ten years ago, the previous owners of the space invited local artists to paint feline-themed murals to brighten up the space. However, over the course of time, those murals have begun to crack, fade and fall victim to vandalism.

“Quite frankly, it made my heart sad because it was this place we had so much reverence for, and it had fallen into disrepair,” Hitchcock said.

So this year Orbit Group decided to do something to revive the space, with the help of a Community Event and Activation Grant funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

“We decided, when the arts grant became available, to do something big and make the place better,” Hitchcock said. “We had already been doing smaller things, we did the cat arch, and the cat bike racks, and the cat crosswalk, but we really wanted to go big. We started by asking artists to submit ideas, and from there we have our finalists.”

Starting on Aug. 22, a team of 18 artists began work creating new murals and preserving and refurbishing some of the old ones. Their work will culminate in a ribbon cutting event on Sept. 12 at Bookery Manchester. There, the murals will be revealed, the artists will chat with viewers, and T-shirts will be for sale with the artists’ original work.

“There’s this great thing about having artists downtown that just resonates with me,” Hitchcock said. “When you have artists downtown doing their art, it’s a way for our community to show that we care deeply about the arts.”

As for Cat Alley’s future, Hitchcock hopes it will remain a vibrant and joyful part of the community, a part that for years to come will continue to be exactly what it has been for the past years: “just a fun area for people to come and hang out.”

Cat Alley revival
Where: 848 Elm St., Manchester
More info: Go to orbitgroup.com/cat-alley-revival for a look at the progress.

Ribbon-cutting event
Where: Bookery, 844 Elm St., Manchester
When: Monday, Sept. 12, 5 to 7 p.m.
Tickets: Free to attend for the public

Cat Alley Artists
Find links to these artists’ work on the Orbit website.

Merk Aveli
Mariana Beer
Aaron Cooper
Aimee Cozza
Mike Durkee
Emily Drouin
Max Gagnon
Melissa Griffin
David Hady
Liz LaManche
Gianna Masella
Taylor McClure
Arielle Peterson
Annabelle Meszynski
Lindsay Middleton
Kori “Quest 9” Thomas
Saddie Tupper
Brooke Van Gurp

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!