Category: Art & Theater

The Art Roundup 21/12/02

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

• Three weekends of Nutcracker: The Nutcracker will be performed at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Dr., Manchester) for the next three weekends by different local dance companies. Bedford Dance Center will perform on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25. Then, Dance Visions Network will perform on Sunday, Dec. 12, with shows at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22. Finally, Ballet Misha will perform on Saturday, Dec. 18, with shows at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, with shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets cost $26. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

• Experiential dance: Manchester art gallery Kelley Stelling Contemporary presents an experiential dance performance in partnership with the New Hampshire Dance Collaborative on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord). There will be four featured dancers — Kelly Diamond, Alyssa Desruisseaux, Anthony Bounphakhom and Sallie Werst — with catered hors d’oeuvres and drinks, complimentary with admission. The performance is an extension of Kelley Stelling’s new exhibit, “The Dysfunction of Social Practice,” which is on view in the Jill C. Wilson Gallery of the Estate now through Jan. 14. Tickets cost $50 and are available on the Kimball Jenkins website. Attendees must be fully vaccinated. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com and kimballjenkins.com, or call 225-3932.

• Open for the holidays: Several local studios and galleries are hosting holiday open houses this weekend. Stop by Studioverne Fine Art Fused Glass and Creative Framing Solutions (81 and 83R Hanover St., Manchester) on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., where you can browse and purchase work by local artisans and make your own fused glass snowman ornament for $15. There will be refreshments and live music. Visit facebook.com/verneorlosk.

The Picker Collaborative Artists (3 Pine St., Nashua) have a holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse handmade items including stained glass, jewelry, woodworking, quilting, fiber arts, pottery and more, and meet the artists. Visit pickerartists.com.

Visit Art Gallery 46, located at Remember This Antiques and Collectibles (46 Route 101A, Amherst) on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and browse paintings by seven local artists, who will be on site to talk about their work. Visit facebook.com/artgallery46.

• Festive projects: Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) will have a series of holiday craft workshops on Sunday, Dec. 5. From 10 a.m. to noon visitors can make a holiday boxwood tree centerpiece and decorate it with their choice of color theme, holiday decor and fresh flowers. The cost is $70. Then, from noon to 3:30 p.m., make a tiny book ornament that, when opened, transforms into a three-dimensional star. The cost is $75. The final workshop of the day, which runs from 1 to 3 p.m., is a wintry balsam door-hanging wreath. The cost is $70. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• Joyful chorus: Get in the holiday spirit with some choral music this weekend.

The Nashua Choral Society performs its holiday concert, “Season of Lights,” on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (216 E. Dunstable Road, Nashua). Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students. Admission is free for children. Visit nashuachoralsociety.org.

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus presents its holiday concert series, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Londonderry United Methodist Church (258 Mammoth Road, Londonderry), and Sunday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church (79 Clinton St., Concord). Tickets cost $20 for adults; admission is free for children ages 12 and under. Visit nhgmc.com.

Ring in the season

The Granite State Ringers handbell choir returns with its holiday concert series, “Who Has Seen the Wind?” with shows on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Methodist Church (335 Smyth Road, Manchester), and Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Sandown Town Hall (320 Main St., Sandown). Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door for the Dec. 5 show. The Dec. 11 show is free, but reservations are required. Visit granitestateringers.org or call 647-7322.

ART

Exhibits

• “WPA IN NH: PHILIP GUSTON AND MUSA MCKIM” Exhibit features a pair of 14-foot monumental murals painted by artist Philip Guston and poet and painter Musa McKim for the Federal forestry building in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1941. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Dec. 5. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com or nhartassociation.org.

• “SLEIGHBELL STUDIO” Annual holiday showcase at Twiggs Gallery featuring a wide selection of fine art, jewelry, cards, books, honeys, soaps and more, all locally made and priced affordably for gift buying. Now through Dec. 18. 254 King St., Boscawen. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• CRAFTWORKERS’ GUILD HOLIDAY FAIR Features seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, stained and fused glass, mixed media, jewelry and more by juried local artists and craftspeople. Now through Dec. 23. In-person shopping at the historic Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford), open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an online shop. Visit craftworkersguild.org.

• “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit in-person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Now through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

• “LET IT SNOW” The New Hampshire Art Association presents its holiday exhibition. Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth). Now through Jan. 2. Features works in a variety of media, as well as books and cards for sale. Opening reception on Fri., Dec. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• EMILY NOELLE LAMBERT Solo exhibition by New York City artist Emily Noelle Lambert. Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). On view now through Jan. 9. Masks required inside the gallery. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities or call 641-7700.

THEATER

Shows

•​ PETER PAN The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. Now through Dec. 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Dec. 3 through Dec. 19. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE The Players’ Ring Theatre presents. 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Dec. 4 through Dec. 19, with showtimes on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors age 65 and up and $15 for kids under age 12. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS The Pinkerton Players present. Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St., Derry). Fri., Dec. 10, and Sat., Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Visit stockbridgetheatre.com.

• SCROOGE IN LOVEThe Majestic Theatre presents. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 11, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors age 65 and up and students age 17 and under. Visit majestictheatre.net.

•​ RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER The Palace Youth Theatre presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Dec. 14, and Wed., Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., Now through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

• SCENE CHANGES Produced by New World Theatre. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Jan. 7 through Jan. 23. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• MARY & ME Produced by Glass Dove Productions. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Jan. 28 through Feb. 13. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Classical

• GRANITE STATE RINGERS Handbell choir presents its holiday concert series. Shows on Sun., Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s Methodist Church (335 Smyth Road, Manchester); and Sat., Dec. 11, 2 p.m., at 320 Main St. in Sandown. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for kids age 10 and under for the Nov. 28 show and $10 in advance and $12 at the door for the Dec. 5 show. The Dec. 11 show is free, but reservations are required. Visit granitestateringers.org.

• HOLIDAY POPS The New Hampshire Philharmonic performs holiday music. Sat., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 19, 2 p.m. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for students. Visit nhphil.org.

• “IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR” The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus presents its holiday concert series. Shows on Sat., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., at Londonderry United Methodist Church (258 Mammoth Road, Londonderry); Sun., Dec. 5, 4 p.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church (79 Clinton St., Concord); Sat., Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (22 Fox Run Road, Newington); and Sun., Dec. 12, 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. Visit nhgmc.com.

• HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra performs. Fri., Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., at Colonial Theatre of Laconia (617 Main St., Laconia); and Sat., Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 12, at 3 p.m., at the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium (Route 25, Meredith). Tickets cost $10 to $20 for students and $20 to $30 for adults for the Dec. 10 show, and $10 for students and $25 for adults for the shows on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12. Visit lrso.org.

• HOLIDAY POPS Symphony NH performs. Sat., Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m., at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua); and Sun., Dec. 12, at 3 p.m., at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). Tickets range from $20 to $60 for adults, from $18 to $55 for seniors age 65+, and are free for children. Visit symphonynh.org.

• “A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS” The Souhegan Valley Chorus performs its holiday concert. Sat., Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. Souhegan High School (412 Boston Post Road, Amherst). Tickets are available at the door and cost $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Visit souheganvalleychorus.org.

Shop festively

Midnight Merriment returns to downtown Concord

After a year without Merriment, shoppers looking for unique, local gifts are invited to return to downtown Concord’s traditional Midnight Merriment event for a night of shopping along with holiday festivities like caroling, s’mores and photos with Santa.

Happening Friday, Dec. 3, from 5 p.m. to midnight, the event has been Covid-modified to keep it safe. The Concord Arts Market Winter Giftopolis, for example, is typically held in the atrium at Eagle Square, but this year the artists will be stationed at businesses in and around downtown. And Santa will be there, but he’ll be wearing a mask, and photos will be taken from afar to allow for social distancing.

“We definitely took into consideration where we’re at right now with Covid,” said Jess Martin, Director of Intown Concord. “But a lot of the businesses depend on this event. … The real highlight is the shopping.”

Martin said a lot of downtown stores will be offering sales and specials that night.

“We’re really trying to encourage people to shop local, especially after last year … [and we’re] trying to create a festive shopping experience,” she said.

The event officially starts at 5 p.m., and there will be strolling carolers and piped-in holiday music. At 5:30 p.m., the hot cocoa and s’mores stations will open up, DJ Nazzy’s Holiday Dance Party will begin, and Santa will set up shop at New Hampshire Federal Credit Union for socially distanced photo opportunities. Santa’s helpers will be there to collect gift cards and homemade holiday cards for the Santa for Seniors donation drive, which will go to seniors in the local community.

Throughout the event, visitors can participate in the Winter Giftopolis Art Walk, which takes the place of the Winter Giftopolis in Eagle Square that typically sees large crowds in the confined space.

“We were always just packed to the gills. … It didn’t seem Covid-safe,” said Christa Zuber, producer of the Concord Arts Market. “So we changed it to an art walk around the city, on Main Street [or nearby].”

She said some artists will be set up in busier retail locations, like Gondwana, while others will be at places like the Concord Chamber of Commerce office — “not your typical shopping spot,” Zuber said.

There are a couple dozen vendors this year, about the same as usual, Zuber said.

“We have everything from jewelers to … homemade personal care, soaps, paintings, traditional holiday crafts … a knitter who makes her own yarn … a little bit of everything,” she said.

Zuber is hopeful that the change in format will introduce new customers to the Concord Artists Market, since the artists will be more integrated into the community this year. She said people going to Concord Craft Brewing Co. for a beer, for example, might not be thinking about Christmas shopping or art, so having an artist there could inspire them; likewise, someone who’s never been to Concord Craft Brewing might go in to see the artist and decide to grab a drink.

“I think the biggest challenge is just making sure people know where to find our artists,” Zuber said.

Each of the vendors will have a map, and there’s one on the Concord Arts Market’s Facebook page too.

Sue McCoo, owner of Capitol Craftsman Romance Jewelers, Viking House and Hilltop Consignment, has been taking part in Midnight Merriment since it started almost 30 years ago and is looking forward to the event’s return.

“It was just strange not having it [last year],” she said. “It’s fun to come downtown when there’s bustling crowds. … It’s also fun when people aren’t in a hurry.”

McCoo said the Halloween Howl was very well-attended, so she said as long as the weather is OK, it should be a good night for businesses.

“The holiday season is always fun just across the board,” she said. “Midnight Merriment always, to me, feels like you’re waiting for Jimmy Stewart to show up.”

Midnight Merriment

When: Friday, Dec. 3, 5 p.m. to midnight
Where: Downtown Concord
Holiday activities: Shopping and the Winter Giftopolis Art Walk will be open throughout the event. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., DJ Nazzy will host his Holiday Dance Party. S’mores and hot cocoa stations will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Santa will be at New Hampshire Federal Credit Union for socially distanced photo opportunities from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. All activities are free.

Featured Photo: Midnight Merriment. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/11/25

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

• Unique art and crafts: The Sanbornton Community Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Old Town Hall (19 Meetinghouse Road, Sanbornton). More than 30 local artisans will be selling unique handmade items, including jewelry, stained glass, cards, quilted wall hangings, birdhouses, baby blankets and knitted clothing, home decor, soaps, tie dye shirts, gourmet treats, handbags and totes, candles, ornaments, flower arrangements and more. The festival will be held again on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the same time and location. Search “Sanbornton Community Arts Festival” on Facebook for more information.

A Novel Discussion
The Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) welcomes Manchester author Ernesto Burden on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m., for a reading and discussion of his new novel, Slate. The story centers on Mike Clayton and his personal journey from his high life in 1990s Boston back to his small hometown in Vermont after learning that his father is dying. The event is free and open to the public. Visit bookerymht.com or call 836-6600.

“Schooner at Sunset,” a photograph by NHAA artist Robert Morin, featured in an exhibit at Creative Framing Solutions in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

• Three NHAA artists in Manchester: The New Hampshire Art Association has three installations up at Creative Framing Solutions (89 Hanover St., Manchester) now through Nov. 30, showcasing work by NHAA artists. “Dawn to Dusk” is a collection of observational paintings by Lennie Mullaney exploring the therapeutic effects of natural light and being outdoors during the pandemic. “Light nourishes us, calming our anxiety and loneliness,” she said in a press release. “The healing powers of nature … guide us as we trod softly, finding our way back to what matters.” Robert Morin’s exhibition, “Gilded Images: Prints over Gold Leaf,” includes a mix of digital photography and scans from original photo negatives. “I have always had a great interest in alternative photographic processes,” Morin said in the release. “The final effect of the translucent vellum over the gold/silver leaf produces a print of unique and beautiful luminescence.” “Edge of the Ocean” features paintings by Barbara Adams that capture the ocean in various forms, including the way in which it meets the New Hampshire coast. “These paintings range from depicting the depths of the ocean to the beaches and rocks upon which the beautiful waves crash on the shore,” Adams said in the release. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 320-5988 or visit nhartassociation.org.

• Poetry inspired by local history: The Literary Arts Guild of the Center for the Arts Lake Sunapee Region will host a poetry reading on Saturday, Nov. 27, at 4 p.m. at the Warner Town Hall (5 E. Main St., Warner). Poets will read their original poems featured in Visual Verse III: Snapshots in Time, a collection of poems written about historic photographs and objects found at town historical societies in New Hampshire, including Warner, Andover and Sutton. The photographs that inspired the poetry will also be on display at the event. Admission is free. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Masks are required. Visit literarynorth.org or call 456-2437.

Carpet art
The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) has a special exhibition, “As Precious as Gold, Carpets from the Islamic World,” on view now through Feb. 27. On loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, the exhibition features 32 carpets with various geographical origins, dating from the 15th century to the 19th century, including a Spanish rug, three Egyptian rugs, Lotto and Holbein patterned carpets, a 16th-century Ushak Medallion and a late 17th-century Small Medallion carpet. 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 members and children under age 13. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Youth theater audition for girls: The Peacock Players, a youth theater company based in Nashua, is holding auditions for its upcoming mainstage production of The Wolves on Tuesday, Nov. 30, with time slots from 6 to 9 p.m. The 2016 off-Broadway dramatic comedy by Sarah DeLappe follows six Saturday mornings in the lives of the nine teenage girls on the Wolves soccer team in suburban America. The audition is open to female-identifying actors ages 14 through 18. Actors should memorize and prepare a one-minute contemporary monologue in the style of the show that highlights their vocal and physical acting abilities, and bring a headshot and resume or list of theater experience, if any. Schedule an audition online in advance. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 1, with time slots from 7 to 10 p.m. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, from 2 to 8 p.m., beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 4. The show will run for two weekends from Feb. 11 through Feb. 20 in Nashua. Visit peacockplayers.com.

A picture of New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Historical Society and New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists present “New Hampshire Now,” a collaborative photography project on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state, now through Feb. 12. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.

ART

Exhibits

• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION Features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. Now through Nov. 28. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “WPA IN NH: PHILIP GUSTON AND MUSA MCKIM” Exhibit features a pair of 14-foot monumental murals painted by artist Philip Guston and poet and painter Musa McKim for the Federal forestry building in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1941. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Dec. 5. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com or nhartassociation.org.

• “SLEIGHBELL STUDIO” Annual holiday showcase at Twiggs Gallery featuring a wide selection of fine art, jewelry, cards, books, honeys, soaps and more, all locally made and priced affordably for gift buying. Now through Dec. 18. 254 King St., Boscawen. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit in-person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Now through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

• EMILY NOELLE LAMBERT Solo exhibition by New York City artist Emily Noelle Lambert. Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). On view now through Jan. 9. Masks required inside the gallery. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities or call 641-7700.

• “SALON 2021” Exhibition features offbeat and experimental works in a variety of media by regional artists with diverse studio practices and artistic approaches. The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com). Now through Jan. 14. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening and weekend visits available by request.

• “BIG GIFTS IN SMALL PACKAGES” The Seacoast Artist Association’s annual holiday exhibit, featuring a variety of small works of art priced under $100 for gift buying. Now through Jan. 7. 130 Water St., Exeter. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org or call 778-8856.

• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Feb. 27, 2022. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA” Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.

• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit 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].

• “9/11” Exhibit features images of the September 11 attacks and the aftermath, taken by war photographer Jim Nachtwey. On view now. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “THE DYSFUNCTION OF SOCIAL PRACTICE” Kelley Stelling Contemporary presents an exhibition featuring paintings, sculpture and performance works by five New Hampshire artists. Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord). Nov. 20 through Jan. 14. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening and weekend visits available by request. Experiential dance performance presented in partnership with the New Hampshire Dance Collaborative at the mansion on Thurs., Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. Event will include catered hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Tickets cost $50. Attendees must be fully vaccinated. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.

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.

Workshops and classes

• WINTER 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 begin Nov. 29. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

• 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.

THEATER

Shows

•​ PETER PAN The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. Now through Dec. 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Dec. 3 through Dec. 19. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE The Players’ Ring Theatre presents. 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Dec. 4 through Dec. 19, with showtimes on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students and seniors age 65 and up and $15 for kids under age 12. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS The Pinkerton Players present. Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St., Derry). Fri., Dec. 10, and Sat., Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Visit stockbridgetheatre.com.

• SCROOGE IN LOVEThe Majestic Theatre presents. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 11, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors age 65 and up and students age 17 and under. Visit majestictheatre.net.

•​ RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER The Palace Youth Theatre presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Dec. 14, and Wed., Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., Now through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

• LIFESPAN OF A FACT Produced by Lend Me a Theater. The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord). Feb. 18 through March 6. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Classical

• HOLIDAY BRASS Symphony NH performs holiday brass music. Sat., Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, 39 Chandler St., Nashua. Tickets range from $20 to $60 for adults, from $18 to $55 for seniors age 65+ and are free for children. Visit symphonynh.org.

• GRANITE STATE RINGERS Handbell choir presents its holiday concert series. Shows on Sun., Nov. 28, 3 p.m., at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry); Sun., Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s Methodist Church (335 Smyth Road, Manchester); and Sat., Dec. 11, 2 p.m., at 320 Main St. in Sandown. Tickets $20 for adults and $15 for 10 and under for the Nov. 28 show and $10 in advance and $12 at the door for the Dec. 5 show. The Dec. 11 show is free, but reservations are required. Visit granitestateringers.org.

Photos from film

New business is a center for old-style photography

Back when most people were transitioning from film photography to the more instant gratification of digital photography, Jason Lane of Brookline was still using a point-and-shoot camera. He considered going digital, but as an optical engineer who designs lenses for aerospace and defense, he didn’t think it would be much fun to take photos using the same kinds of technology that he used at work all day.

Lane eventually set up a darkroom in his basement, taking his film photography hobby to the next level ― and then the next, as he started to make dry plates.

Photo Retro Shop. Photo courtesy of Jason Lane.

“Dry plates are what photographers used to take pictures with before film was developed,” Lane said. “Pun not intended.”

In 2017, under the business name Pictoriographica, Lane started selling these handmade glass plate negatives. He now ships them around the world.

“The business got to the point where I had to move out of my basement,” Lane said.

Enter Photo Retro. While Lane was looking at space to expand Pictoriographica, he found what he was looking for, and more, in Amherst.

“It was kind of set up really nicely to be a public darkroom,” he said. “It used to be a spa so the space is set up into a bunch of rooms that have running water in them.”

That seemed like a sign to Lane.

“Photo Retro sort of spun out of that realization that I’ve got enough room in this space that I can expand the dry plate making part of the business but also, at the front of the shop, set up a retail store to sell film and also set up these darkrooms … and also do things like have workshops and have a little gallery for guest photographers and kind of make it a center for analog film,” Lane said. “With the film photography popularity kind of coming back … I think there’s a need for it.”

Photo Retro, which is co-owned by mechanical engineer Max Affleck of New Boston, opened on Nov. 5.

“It’s kind of a niche thing so people aren’t beating down the doors, but we have had a steady stream of people coming in,” Lane said.

Dry Plate Ambrotype on Black Glass photo of Jason Lane. Photo by Sid Ceaser.

Lane said he gets the sense that the appeal of digital cameras and their instant gratification are no longer quite as important to people who are interested in the art of photography as the process of taking the picture.

“Younger people are sort of more interested in getting their hands dirty, so to speak,” he said. “For that, it’s not as important to see the image right away. … There’s sort of an anticipation of not finding out right away whether you got a good picture [and that] anticipation appeals to people.”

Lane referred to the “magical moment” in the darkroom when the image starts to form. He thinks that for anyone who wants to get more serious about photography, it’s moments like that in the film process that make it worth trying out.

Photo Retro has some film cameras and photo supplies for sale, though Lane said that stuff is readily available online too. He doesn’t want people to think of the space as a store, but more of a hub for analog photography. The darkrooms are available to the public and have everything needed to develop color or black and white images. There’s a photo studio with special lights and backdrops for early-style portraits, and a small gallery will be available for film photographers to show their work on a revolving basis. For local photographers who shoot film but don’t want to use the darkroom themselves, Photo Retro has partnered with film processor Tomorrow’s Studio of Nashua for processing and scanning.

Lane said they’ve already had their first round of classes but are planning more, to teach the basics of film photography as well as more advanced topics and alternative processes.

Lane thinks of traditional photography and digital photography not as opposing methods but as different options, like oil painting versus acrylic painting.

“It’s just a different art form,” he said.

Photo Retro

Where: 141 Route 101A, Unit B7 (around the back of the plaza), Amherst
Hours: Photo Retro will be open Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. As the business grows the hours will expand.
More information: photoretro.biz or find it on Instagram

Featured Photo: Photo Retro Shop. Photo courtesy of Jason Lane.

The Art Roundup 21/11/18

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

“Fake News” by Rosemary Mack, featured in “The Dysfunction of Social Practice.” Courtesy photo.

• New art at the Mansion: The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) will have an opening reception for two new exhibitions on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. “Salon 2021” is on view now in the Carolyn Jenkins Gallery in the Carriage House and features a curated collection of offbeat and experimental small works in a variety of media by regional artists with diverse studio practices and artistic approaches. “The Dysfunction of Social Practice,” which opens that Saturday, will be housed in the Jill C. Wilson Gallery in the Kimball Jenkins Mansion. A collaboration between Kimball Jenkins and Manchester art gallery Kelley Stelling Contemporary, the exhibition will feature paintings, sculpture and performance works by New Hampshire artists Zach Dewitt, Emmett Donlon, Rosemary Mack, Heather Morgan and Meghan Samson. The reception is free and open to the public, with masks requested. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening and weekend visits available by request. As part of the “The Dysfunction of Social Practice” exhibit, there will be an experiential dance performance presented in partnership with the New Hampshire Dance Collaborative at the mansion on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. featuring dancers Kelly Diamond, Alyssa Desruisseaux, Anthony Bounphakhom and Sallie Werst. The event will include catered hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Tickets cost $50 and are available on the Kimball Jenkins website. Attendees must be fully vaccinated. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com and kimballjenkins.com, or call 225-3932.

• Reimagined kids art: Local artist Curt McGill will be at the Weare Real Food Market (65 N. Stark Highway, Weare) on Friday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., doing his reimagined children’s drawings. Kids are invited to bring a piece of their original artwork to McGill, who will talk with them about their artistic vision, then create a new work of art inspired by their piece. Space may be limited, so RSVPs are encouraged. McGill is also available to do reimaginings remotely for families who are not able to attend that day. Visit realfoodmarkets.com or send an email to [email protected].

Reimagined children’s art by Curt McGill. Courtesy photo.

• Winter art classes: Art classes for teens and adults are starting up at Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). The next five-week session begins on Nov. 29 and offers Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. All classes meet for two hours each week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• New York City artist exhibit: The Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) has a special exhibition featuring the paintings and sculpture of New York City artist Emily Noelle Lambert on view now through Jan. 9. Lambert has shown her work nationally and internationally in solo exhibitions in New York City, Chicago and South Korea as well as a number of group exhibitions. “I love swimming in a kind of visual mystery of things between abstraction, landscape and figuration,” Lambert said of her work in a press release from Saint Anselm. “I search for interactions between materials, colors and forms and often switch things up to keep my curiosity fresh.” The exhibition was curated by Fine Arts Professor Kimberly Kersey-Asbury, with assistance from fine art students on the layout and installation process. Visitors must wear masks inside the gallery. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities or call 641-7700.

Van Gogh dance

The DanceWorks Movement Design Performance Company presents its fall performance of “Starry Night” at The Amato Center for The Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon Road, Milford) on Sunday, Nov. 21, with showtimes at 3 and 6 p.m. Performed under the artistic direction of Tanya Bosse, “Starry Night” is a visual representation of the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh as interpreted through dance. Tickets are for reserved seating and cost $30 for adults and $15 for children, students and seniors. They can be purchased at the door, but purchasing them online in advance is recommended. Visit buy.tututix.com/danceworksmovementdesign.

•​ Modern take on a classic tale: Peter Pan will run at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) from Nov. 18 through Dec. 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The classic tale will be performed with “a new treatment to modernize this magical piece of the Broadway canon,” according to the Seacoast Rep website. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Masks are required. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

Family first

The Majestic Theatre presents Over the River and Through the Woods at The Majestic Theatre Studios (880 Page St., Manchester), with showtimes on Friday, Nov. 19, and Saturday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. The play by Joe DiPietro follows the story of Nick, an Italian-American man from New Jersey who has been offered the job of his dreams in Seattle. Nick’s grandparents — both sets — with whom he shares dinner every Sunday, aren’t too keen on the idea of him moving, however, and the four of them hatch a scheme to keep him in New Jersey. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors age 65 and up and youth age 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or visit majestictheatre.net.

ART

Exhibits

• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION Features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. Now through Nov. 28. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “WPA IN NH: PHILIP GUSTON AND MUSA MCKIM” Exhibit features a pair of 14-foot monumental murals painted by artist Philip Guston and poet and painter Musa McKim for the Federal forestry building in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1941. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Dec. 5. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com or nhartassociation.org.

• “SLEIGHBELL STUDIO” Annual holiday showcase at Twiggs Gallery featuring a wide selection of fine art, jewelry, cards, books, honeys, soaps and more, all locally made and priced affordably for gift buying. Now through Dec. 18. 254 King St., Boscawen. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit in-person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Now through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

• “BIG GIFTS IN SMALL PACKAGES” The Seacoast Artist Association’s annual holiday exhibit, featuring a variety of small works of art priced under $100 for gift buying. Now through Jan. 7. 130 Water St., Exeter. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org or call 778-8856.

• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Feb. 27, 2022. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA” Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.

• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit 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].

• “9/11” Exhibit features images of the September 11 attacks and the aftermath, taken by war photographer Jim Nachtwey. On view now. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

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.

THEATER

Shows

• THE WEDDING SINGER Presented by The Peacock Players. Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua). Now through Nov. 21, with showtimes on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit peacockplayers.org.

•​ 9/12 New World Theatre presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Now through Nov. 21, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW: A PUPPET PARODY at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Sat., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• THE NUTCRACKER The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents. Fri., Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 20, 11 a.m., 4 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., Nov. 21, noon and 4:30 p.m. Tickets $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Call 668-5588 or visit palacetheatre.org.

• DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Dec. 3 through Dec. 19. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., Now through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

• SCENE CHANGES Produced by New World Theatre. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Jan. 7 through Jan. 23. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• MARY & ME Produced by Glass Dove Productions. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Jan. 28 through Feb. 13. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• LAST GAS Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Feb. 11 through Feb. 13. Tickets $18 for adults, $16 for ages 17 and under, $16 for ages 65 and up. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• LIFESPAN OF A FACT Produced by Lend Me a Theater. The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord). Feb. 18 through March 6. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Classical

• HOLIDAY BRASS Symphony NH performs holiday brass music. Sat., Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, 39 Chandler St., Nashua. Tickets range from $20 to $60 for adults, from $18 to $55 for seniors age 65+ and are free for children. Visit symphonynh.org.

• HOLIDAY POPS The New Hampshire Philharmonic performs holiday music. Sat., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 19, 2 p.m. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for students. Visit nhphil.org.

Showing her roots

Concord author talks about the inspiration for her award-winning book

A children’s book born out of divorce, a trip to a garden center and an itch to write has won two 2021 Biennial New Hampshire Literary Awards, two years after it was self-published by Kayla Fisher — a surgical technician with “a writer’s heart.”

Rootbound Rescue won the Children’s Picture Book category and the People’s Choice Award in that category, the only book out of the 80-plus submitted to win two awards. It’s about a hellebore rose named Helen who is uprooted from the life she expects and learns how to flourish in her new life with the help of some animal friends.

“She’s packed in the back of a truck, on her way to be planted in a spectacular garden, when the truck hits a bump and she falls off and lands in a ditch,” Fisher said. “A lizard comes … and says, ‘You are where you are. You’re here. This is where you landed, like it or not [so] be here and grow here.’”

The idea for the book came during a trip to a local garden center, when Fisher saw the owner, Dennis, grab a plant that was too big for its pot, tear out some of its overgrown roots, and settle it into a bigger pot.

“It just hit me, this analogy of having your roots ripped up,” she said.

Fisher saw her own life in that moment. Newly divorced, she’d been feeling unrooted herself, worried about how she was going to grow in this new life that she hadn’t expected.

“You put your roots down with a person and it [doesn’t] work and you basically just got torn out of the ground,” she said. “After I saw [Dennis] pull that plant out I thought, that’s my story. It clicked so heavily, it surprised me.”

Fisher wasn’t new to writing; her first career was in marketing and PR, and she wrote for magazines as a freelancer. She took time off to raise her children, but when she was ready to get back into the workforce, technology and social media had changed marketing as she knew it. So she decided to go back to school to get into the medical field.

“I graduated high school 1985, when AIDS was really coming to light, and I really wanted to get into medical research and I really wanted to solve this problem,” she said.

But her English teacher pointed out that her grade in chemistry was a D+ and encouraged her to stick with what she excelled at.

An illustration by Rebeka Chase from Rootbound Rescue.

“She said, ‘That is the gift that you have — go be a writer,’” Fisher said.

So while Fisher transitioned to the medical field and trained to be a surgical technician, it was important to her to continue writing, as a hobby rather than a job.

“I used to write for money, and now I write for love,” she said. “I have a writer’s heart.”

It had been a lifelong dream to write a children’s book, so that’s where her heart took her with Rootbound Rescue. She worked on the book over the course of a year, writing for at least 15 minutes a day.

When the writing piece was done, Fisher reached out to Beka Chase, a graphic designer she’d worked with when doing PR.

“I always stayed in touch with her because she was just brilliant,” Fisher said.

It took a couple of years for the two to finish the book, incorporating the illustrations into the text.

“It was just a really great creative process; she would do these beautiful boards and creative development,” Fisher said. “She was very intuitive. … The characters jumped off the page the way she developed [them].”

The end product isn’t your typical children’s picture book, Fisher said. It’s more than 50 pages long, and the message is one that likely resonates with adults, too. Fisher likened it to the message in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, and to pretty much any Disney movie, with content and concepts that are more adult but with characters and visuals that are appealing to children.

“I think that for kids it’s an opportunity to look at how you grow and how you have to change,” Fisher said. “[It] has sort of this timeless message of growth.”

Rootbound Rescue was published in July 2019, but Fisher said that was more for herself and her sense of accomplishment. But as a member of the New Hampshire Writers’ Project, she was aware of the biennial New Hampshire Literary Awards, and the 2021 awards accepted for consideration any book written in New Hampshire from 2019 on. So she went for it, and the feedback and two awards were beyond her expectations.

“This is my piece of art, [and] I’ve been thrilled with how it’s been received,” she said.

Knowing that people see value in her book has prompted Fisher to start promoting it, which she had never really done before, so to her it almost feels like the book is newly published. She’s thinking about writing another one, too.

“In my mind I’m working on another children’s book with my 16-year-old daughter, Olivia, [who is] an amazing writer,” Fisher said.

The two of them had been pondering the marvels of their golden retriever’s face one day and started throwing out story ideas. The title, if they do turn it into a book, will be Saggy Baggy Dog Jaw.

“I think she’s working on it in her head too,” Fisher said.

Rootbound Rescue

You can find Kayla Fisher’s children’s book in Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, on Amazon and on lulu.com.

Featured Photo: Kayla Fisher. Courtesy photo.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!