Category: Art & Theater

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

• Still time for The Nutcracker: Manchester-based professional dance company Ballet Misha will present its production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester; anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities). The cast of more than 100 dancers includes professional dancers, apprentice company members and students from Dimensions in Dance, according to a press release. Tickets cost $34 and are available at balletmisha.com and in the lobby at the Dana.

• Christmas with Charlie: The Peacock Players will present A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St. in Nashua; peacockplayers.org) on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2, 4 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets for adults cost $15 and $18. Find more about this show, with its story familiar to Peanuts fans, in our story in last week’s issue of the Hippo. Find the e-edition at hippopress.com; the story is on page 14 of the Dec. 8 issue.

• Make it yours: Calligraphy artist Adele Sanborn will add a name or word to a handmade ornament at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen; twiggsgallery.wordpress.com) on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. (which is also the final day of the Sleighbell Studio).

• More pops: The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will perform two “Family Holiday Pops!” concerts this weekend: Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m., both at Portsmouth High School. The shows will have a family sing-along portion, according to a press release. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for students, the release said. See portsmouthsymphony.org.

Celebrating Hanukkah
The first night of Hanukkah starts at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 18. The Chabad of New Hampshire will be lighting the menorah on the Statehouse lawn in Concord every night of the week at sundown. The first lighting ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. The Chabad is also having its annual Chanukah at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. The performance will have a mentalist, a magician, live Hanukkah music and more. Tickets cost $18 for people ages 13 and older, $12 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children younger than 3. For more information or to buy tickets, visit palacetheatre.com.

Shop the arts markets

Before we get to the line-up of craft fairs and holiday markets this weekend, let’s take a quick look at a few of the arts shows with pieces made for gifting that are opening or closing in the next week:

• “The Holiday Small Works Show” at Main Street Art (75 Main St., Newfields) has two remaining gallery days: Wednesdays, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. Visit mainstreetart.org.

• Sleighbell Studio is open at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen; twiggsgallery.wordpress.com) through Saturday, Dec. 17. The show has crafts and artworks for sale throughout the day at the Spriggs Shoppe, inside the gallery. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

• “SALON 2022” is on display now at Kimball Jenkins (266 Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com, 225-3932). The exhibit features small works in all media and runs through Saturday, Dec. 17. The gallery is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The Craftworkers’ Guild Holiday Craft Fair continues its run through Thursday, Dec. 22 — open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the building at the bottom of the hill in the Bedford Library parking lot (the address is 5 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford). The fair is also open online; see thecraftworkersguild.org.

• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 232-5597, 550arts.com) will hold its Handmade Holiday Market Monday, Dec. 19, through Friday, Dec. 23 (closed Wednesday, Dec. 21). Studio 550 will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on the four days it’s open; items will include handmade mugs, bowls, ornaments, stained glass and more.

Craft fairs

This is the final weekend of those one- or two-day holiday craft fairs — at least for this season. Let me know about upcoming winter craft fairs and specialty pop-up markets at [email protected].

• Bazaar Craft Fairs will hold a Holiday Craft Fair at 10 Spruce St. in Nashua on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The fair will feature more than 40 crafters and vendors as well as sweets and raffles, according to a Facebook post for the event.

• The Santa’s Stocking Stuff Craft Fair takes play Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Doubletree Hilton in Nashua (2 Somerset Parkway). The fair features 75 vendors selling handmade jewelry, inlaid cutting boards, pet toys and portraits, holiday scented candles, and more. See joycescraftshows.com.

• The YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown (116 Goffstown Back Road) will wrap up its series of holiday markets on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with “It’s Sparkle Season” featuring winter apparel, accessories, decor and holiday cookies and treats, according to the Y’s Facebook post about the event.

• The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St. in Manchester; factoryonwillow.com) is hosting a Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See the story on page 25 for details.

Two local productions bring holiday classics to the stage

By Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

Two Christmas classics will be brought to the stage this holiday season with the Majestic Theatre’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Peacock Players’ A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run at the Derry Opera House from Friday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec. 11, while A Charlie Brown Christmas is happening the following weekend at the Janice Streeter Theatre in Nashua from Friday, Dec. 16, through Sunday, Dec. 18.

Originally a book published in the 1970s by Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever puts a musical spin on a classic story.

“[The story] centers around the Bradley family, who is … a typical suburban churchgoing family … getting ready for the Christmas season. … The mother, Grace Bradley, ends up in charge of directing the church’s annual Christmas pageant,” said Katie Gifford, the director of the show. “The town bully children, [the Herdmans] … show up at church [and] demand to be a part of the Christmas pageant.”

This is something that Helen Armstrong, the usual director of the pageant, is very unhappy with.

“She’s quite the control freak. … She’s trying to control the whole show [from her hospital bed],” said Bethany Layne, who plays the part of Helen.

By the end of the play, Helen and the rest of the characters eventually come around to the Herdman children.

“The Herdmans put their own take on the classic Christmas story, which ends up being even more endearing than the traditional Christmas story,” Gifford said. “They’re the ones who end up teaching the town the true meaning of Christmas. It’s just a really heartwarming story.”

Peacock Players will bring Charles Schulz’s 1965 classic Christmas special to life with their production of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

“If anybody’s ever seen the holiday special, it’s basically just like that,” said Kendall Toupin, who plays the role of Snoopy. “At Peacock Players we are adding on the actual Christmas pageant [scene]. [Snoopy] gets to be all the animals in the Christmas play and that’s very exciting for him.”

Being a nostalgic classic that is sentimental to many, this is a show that is sure to spread holiday cheer and get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

“Audiences will love this show because it is just so wholesome,” Elle Millar, the show’s director, said in an email. “It has a lovely sense of nostalgia and warmth that is so fun for this season.”

Featured photo: From The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: Jonathan Kaplan as “Bob,” Suzy Denu as “Grace” and Gavin Abbott as “Charlie.” Photo by Matthew Morin.

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

• The next generation of actors: The Palace Youth Theatre (Palace Youth Theatre at Forever Emma Studios, 516 Pine St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org/pyt) has a lineup of classes this winter and for 2023 vacation camps. Classes that run in January and February include stage makeup (for grades 5 to 12), teen improv (grades 10 to 12), improv and acting games (grades 2 to 5, and grades 6 to 9) and mini-camp: musical edition (grades 2 to 6). The winter vacation camp (Feb. 27 through March 3) will perform Sleeping Beauty and the spring vacation camp (April 24 through April 28) will perform Pinocchio. Registration is open now.

• Not a fragment of underdone potato: Ebenzer Scrooge continues to be haunted by three ghosts at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) this weekend, with shows of A Christmas Carol Thursday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 11 (7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; the show runs through Friday, Dec. 23).

The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com) also continues its Dickens’ A Christmas Carol this weekend with shows Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. The production runs through Sunday, Dec. 18.

Other productions offering up the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come this weekend include the New Hampshire Theatre Project, which presents a one-woman theatrical performance of A Christmas Carolby Jennifer Munro at the West End Studio Theatre (959 Islington St. in Portsmouth; nhtheatreproject.org), with showtimes on Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $26 for students, seniors and veterans, with a livestream option also available for $20. The Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester; rochesteroperahouse.com) presents A Christmas Carolfrom Dec. 9 through Dec. 17, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $22 to 28. The Garrison Players present Inspecting Carol, a riff on A Christmas Carol that features that play within a play about a theater company seeking grant funds,at the Garrison Players Arts Center (449 Roberts Road in Rollinsford; garrisonplayers.org) Dec. 9 through Dec. 18, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for students and $20 for adults.

Made by you
Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; twiggsgallery.org, 975-0015) is holding a free make & take holiday ornament craft this Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. Mixed media artist Shela Cunningham will have the materials to help make and embellish an ornament, according to a press release, which said the activity is family-friendly.

• A joyful noise: The Souhegan Valley Chorus (souheganvalleychorus.org) performs its holiday concert, “Sharing Christmas Joy,” on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church (10 Union St., Milford). Tickets cost $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are free for children ages 12 and under.

The Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra presents its holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Ste. Marie Parish (378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester), and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at Manchester High School Central (535 Beech St., Manchester). Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and are free for children. Visit mcsnh.org.

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus wraps up its holiday concert series, “Suddenly Silver Bells,” with shows Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at The Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey) and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at The Derryfield School (2108 River Road, Manchester). Tickets cost $20 for adults; admission is free for children ages 12 and under. See nhgmc.com.

The Granite Statesmen will perform at Pinkerton Academy’s Stockbridge Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for kids.

The Canterbury Singers will sing holiday Shaker songs at the Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org) on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted.

• The pops: The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performs its Holiday Pops concert at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

Symphony NH performs its Holiday Pops concerts on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua), and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets are free for youth under age 12 and start at $10 for students, $18 for seniors age 65 and up and $20 for adults. Visit symphonynh.org

Craft & art fairs

More fairs and art shows offer shopportunities this weekend. Know of any coming up? Let me know at [email protected].

• Main Street Art (75 Main St. in Newfields; mainstreetart.org) will hold a reception for their annual “Holiday Small Works Show” on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. Additional gallery days are Wednesdays, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, from noon to 3 p.m.

• The Great Holiday Shopping Extravaganza is being hosted by The Great New England Craft and Artisan Shows at the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road in Milford) on Friday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• Bishop Brady High School (25 Columbus Ave. in Concord; bishopbrady.edu) will hold its Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The Holly Jolly Craft Fair will bring more than 75 artisans to the DoubleTree Hilton (2 Somerset Plaza in Nashua) on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. See joycescraftshows.com.

• The Canterbury Community Farmers Market Association (canterburyfarmersmarket. com) will hold a market with food, fine arts and more on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the gymnasium of Canterbury Elementary School (15 Baptist Road).

• The Holiday Food & Arts Market focus this Saturday, Dec. 10, at the YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown (116 Goffstown Back Road) is “Holiday Hodge Podge” with assorted festive crafts, according to a post on the YMCA’s Facebook page. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s Holiday Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; haudubon.org). The fair will feature local handmade crafts and other products and the food truck The Spot To Go, which serves Puerto Rican street food.

• The annual Hudson Holiday Fair will take place at Dr. H.O. Smith Elementary School (33 School St. in Hudson) on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 to 4 p.m. and feature pictures with Santa and the Grinch as well as crafters and vendors, according to an event Facebook post.

• The Wrong Brain Holidaze Bizaare (facebook.com/wrongbrain) will take place Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Millspace (55 Main St. in Newmarket) featuring artwork and artisan crafted items: “We aim to bring the strange, unconventional, underground, and alternative to the Seacoast, serving the fledgling and under-represented artists from our area and beyond,” according to the group’s Facebook page. Admission costs $1 and masks are required.

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

• Joy of the season: The Nashua Choral Society will present their annual holiday concert “Rejoice! ’Tis the Season!” on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (216 E. Dunstable Road in Nashua). The event will feature Handel’s Messiah, a Christmas carol sing-along and more performed by the chorus with accompaniment by a pianist and small chamber orchestra, according to a press release. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students (free for children) and are available at the door and online at EventBrite, among other places. See the Nashua Choral Society’s Facebook page or email [email protected].

Russian Ballet Academy performance
The Epping Community Theater will host the Russian Ballet Academy’s Winter Showcase featuring excerpts from The Nutcracker and other famous ballets as well as original pieces at the Epping Playhouse (38 C Ladd’s Lane in Epping; eppingtheater.org) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and tickets will only be sold at the door; tickets cost $12 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under (cash only), according to a press release.

• For makers: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) has a Community Makers’ Series of workshops on Thursdays in December during Art After Work (5 to 8 p.m. every week). The workshops include “Felted Treasures” and “Bookmaking” on Dec. 1; “Embroidered Hoops” and “Bookmaking” on Dec. 8, and “Bookmaking” on Dec. 15 (each Bookmaking class has a different focus). Register for the workshops (which vary in price) on the website.

A little a cappella
The Souhegan Valley Chorus will perform their holiday concert “Sharing Christmas Joy” with special guests, the a cappella group REHarmonix, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 10 Union St. in Milford. Tickets can be purchased at the door and cost $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are free for ages 12 and under, according to a press release.

• Art shopping: Among the many craft fairs and arts markets and open houses this weekend, head to the Bates Building (846 Main St. in Contoocook) for an artists’ reception of the Two Villages Art Society’s “Winter 2022 Members Art Show” on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The show features works of more than 30 artist members including oil and watercolor paintings, ceramics, prints, photos, jewelry, woodworking, glasswork, felted animals, wearable art and more, according to a press release. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and the show runs through Saturday, Dec. 24. This weekend the show will be open extended hours for Hopkinton’s “Starry, Starry Weekend,” which runs Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Suddenly Silver Bells
The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus kicks off its holiday concert series, “Suddenly Silver Bells,” with shows this weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m., catch the performance at Christ the King Lutheran Church (3 Lutheran Drive, Nashua). Then on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., the chorus will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (22 Fox Run Road, Newington). The chorus also has two performances next weekend. Tickets cost $20 for adults; admission is free for children ages 12 and under. Visit nhgmc.com.

Craft fairs

It’s a big weekend for craft fairs. If you know of one coming up, let me know at [email protected].

• Starry Starry Weekend takes place in Contoocook Village from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, starting at 10 a.m. each day. In addition to an artisan craft fair, local shops and artists will have pop-ups around town. Visit contoocookchamber.com.

• Winter Giftopolis by the Concord Arts Market is one of the many shopportunities at Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment on Friday, Dec. 2. Giftopolis will run from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Atrium at 7 Eagle Square. See concordartsmarket.net

• The Pine Hill Holiday Fair at High Mowing School (77 Pine Hill Drive, Wilton) features an artisan market for adultson Friday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and family festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See pinehill.orgn.

• The First Baptist Church of Nashua (121 Manchester St. in Nashua; fbcnashua.org) will hold an Olde-Fashioned Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be handmade crafts as well as food and other activities.

• The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Milford (20 Elm St. in Milford; uucm.org) will hold a holiday fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring handcrafted items (such as jewelry, ornaments, handmade cards, gnomes, knitted items, pet items and more), a bake shop, a boutique of gently used items and a cafe serving breakfast and lunch, according to an email.

• Arlington Street United Methodist Church (63 Arlington St., Nashua; asumc.org, 882-4663) holds its Holly Town Fair Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring vendors with handmade items, crafts, candies, baked goods and a cookie walk and to-go lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• The Amherst Lions Club holds its Craft Fair Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Amherst Middle School (14 Cross Road) featuring more than 80 juried craftsmen, a shopping bag (while supplies last), a food bar, raffle, a scratch ticket tree and more, according to e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh.

• The Somersworth Festival Association will host a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive in Somersworth) featuring wood crafts, pottery items, wreaths, paintings, metal work, mugs, tote bags, gnomes, wind chimes, kids’ items, jewelry, knitted and crocheted items and more as well as food and raffles, according to a press release. See nhfestivals.org.

• The Gilford High School Craft Fair (88 Alvah Wilson Road in Gilford) will run Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the event’s Facebook page.

• The Holiday Food & Arts Market focus this Saturday, Dec. 3, at the YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown (116 Goffstown Back Road) is “All Creatures Great & Small” with animal lovers accessories, items for cats and dogs and baked goods for people and pets, according to a post on the YMCA’s Facebook page. The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• The Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St. in Manchester; uumanchester.org) will hold its annual holiday faire on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall.

• You can also catch the Concord Arts Market this weekend with its annual Holiday Arts Market on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St. in Concord). See concordartsmarket.net.

• The Picker Artists Holiday Shopping Day at the Picker Artists building (3 Pine St. in Nashua) on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with handmade gifts, live music, snacks and more, according to pickerartists.com.

• The Grinnell School PTA will hold a Holiday Craft Fair at Grinnell Elementary School (6 Grinnell Road in Derry) on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring more than 30 vendors as well as raffles, baked goods and more, according to a PTA facebook post.

• The 7th Annual Nashua Holiday Fair at Broad Street Elementary School (380 Broad St. in Nashua) will run Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school and feature more than 40 crafters and vendors as well as Santa and the Grinch on site taking photos, according to a New England Vendor Events Facebook post.

• The 33rd annual Christmas in Strafford, an event featuring 24 locations and pieces from more than 50 artists and craftspeople, runs Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days; see the map at christmasinstrafford.com.

• The Nashua Holiday Craft & Vendor Festival Fair will be held Sunday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Eagles Wing Function Hall at 10 Spruce St. in Nashua. The fair will feature more than 40 crafters and vendors, sweets and treats, raffles and more, according to the Bazaar Craft Fairs Facebook post.

Also check out the story in this issue about the Made in NE Expo (page 25) and see last week’s big Holiday Guide for a listing of multi-week fairs and art exhibits filled with gift-ready items. See hippopress.com for the e-edition of the Nov. 24 issue.