Category: Visual Arts

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

• Stories of ballooning: Hear the stories of balloonists who explored New Hampshire skies in the 19th century at the presentation “Lighter Than Air” on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 6699-4877). Leah Dearborn, the museum’s assistant director, will discuss balloonists such as Eugene Goodard, Thaddeus Lowe (an aeronaut for the Union Army during the Civil War) and others, according to a press release. “Early pioneers of local skies took to balloons and other lighter-than-air vessels for a host of reasons. Some were intended to pursue military reconnaissance and scientific inquiry, while others were simply daredevil stunts designed to attract a crowd,” the release said. Admission costs $10.

• Paint night: Katrina Reid will lead the “Bearly Winter Paint Nite” at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Reid brings the materials and the know-how to teach the art of painting, according to the website. Admission costs $35; reserve a spot online.

• Call for art: The Lakes Region Art Association is looking for pieces for its upcoming exhibit “Love, Passion & Chocolate,” which will run Thursday, Feb. 2, through Friday, Feb. 25, at the Lakes Region Art Gallery (120 Laconia Road, Suite 300, in the Tanger Outlets, Tilton), according to a press release. An artists reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. featuring chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate, the release said. The rules for submission: Each artist can submit up to five unframed pieces no larger than 8 inches by 8 inches, artwork music be dry and ready to be bagged, all artwork must be for sale, there is an entry fee of $25 and artwork must be received by Jan. 28 by mail or dropped off on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from noon to 6 p.m., the release said. See LRAANH.org.

• Upcoming auditions for Cue Zero:Cue Zero Theatre Company will hold auditions for its April production of The Wolves, a gritty drama by Sarah DeLappe directed by Erin Downey, on Monday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire in Salem. All characters in the production are female/female presenting, according to the press release. Sign up for an audition slot at CZTheatre.com and those auditioning should prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue and be prepared to read sides on request; callbacks are Sunday, Feb. 5, the release said. Get information about the character breakdowns on the website.

Other Cue Zero auditions on the horizon include for Be More Chill, which is based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, and the CZT Lab Series productions Empathy and Join, original pieces. Auditions for Be More Chill, which will be presented at the Derry Opera House on Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25, will be Wednesday, March 8, and Thursday, March 9, at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire in Salem. Auditions for the Lab pieces, which will be presented in August, will be Sunday, March 12, also in Salem. See cztheatre.com for all the details and to sign up for auditions.

• “Winter Frost” winners: The Seacoast Artist Association announced the winners of its “Winter Frost” show, which can be viewed through Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Association’s gallery at 130 Water St. in Exeter (the gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.), according to a press release. Martin Lamon of Stratham won Best in Show for his painting “Winter Sunset” and Mark Leavitt won the People’s Choice Award for his watercolor “New Snow in Vermont,” the release said.

The Seacoast Artist Association’s next show is “Let Me Show You What I Love,” with a dropoff for local artists to submit their works on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (see the rules and find the application at seacoastartist.org), the release said. A reception for that show will be held Friday, Feb. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Painting and photography: The new exhibit by Center for the Arts in New London will open Friday, Feb. 3, at Bar Harbor Bank and Trust (321 Main St. in New London) as part of the Center’s First Friday Gallery Stroll. The show, “Where Painterly Art and Photography Converge,” will feature 15 paintings and one sculpture displayed with photographs used as reference images, according to a press release. The exhibit will hang at Bar Harbor Bank for three months, the release said. The exhibit will feature the works of 12 painters and four photographers, the release said.

The February First Fridays from the Center for the Arts (centerfortheartsnh.org/first-fridays) will run from 5 to 7 p.m. and include four other galleries: the New London Inn with the work of Kim Schusler, the New London Barn Playhouse Fleming Center Gallery for Contemporary Art, the Tatewell Gallery and the Candita Clayton Gallery; the Blue Loon Bakery (open from from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) also features the work of Susan D’Appolino, the release said.

• Sculpture: 3S Artspace (319 Vaughan St. in Portsmouth; 3arts.org) will feature the architectural sculptures of Frank Poor in the exhibit “Relics,” which opens Friday, Feb. 3, and runs through Sunday, April 2. There will be an opening reception on Feb. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m, according to a press release.

Music at the Andres
Support the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Brookline; andresinstitute.org, 673-7441) with a night of music from the Soggy Po’ Boys on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Institute’s welcome center. General-admission tickets cost $25; a five-seat table in the first row costs $200 per table, according to a press release. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served before the show and a cash bar will be available, the release said.

• Circus with a Chance of Meatballs:The High Mowing School middle schoolers (Pine Hill Campus, 77 Pine Hill Drive in Wilton; highmowing.org/hilltop, 654-6003) will show off their circus skills with their show Circus with a Chance of Meatballs Thursday, Feb. 16, at 4 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 for adults, $5 for children; bring a donation for the Wilton’s Open Cupboard Food pantry for free popcorn, according to a press release.

• “Comic thrill ride”: That’s how the Community Players of Concord describe their production of The 39 Steps, a comic riff on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock movie, which will run Friday, Feb. 17, through Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets cost $20 for adults and students, $18 for seniors. The performances are slated for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, according to a press release. See communityplayersofconcord.org for tickets.

• Music at the Andres: Support the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Brookline; andresinstitute.org, 673-7441) with a night of music from the Soggy Po’ Boys on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Institute’s welcome center. General-admission tickets cost $25; a five-seat table in the first row costs $200 per table, according to a press release. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served before the show and a cash bar will be available, the release said.

• The faculty presents: The Manchester Community Music School’s Faculty Performance of “Chanson d’Amour” featuring Harel Gietheim on cello and Piper Runnion on harp has been rescheduled (it had been slated for Jan. 19) for Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. at the school, 2291 Elm St. in Manchester. Admission is free but pre-register at mcmusicschool.org to attend in person or online.

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

• Opening weekend: The Palace Theatre’s new show The All New Piano Men opens Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. The show features the music of Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Freddy Mercury and is an original production of Carl Rajotte, artistic director at the Palace (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588), according to the website. The show will run through Sunday, Feb. 5, with showtimes on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Last chance to see the show: It’s the final weekend for Scene Changes, a play about a traveling theatrical production,at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315). The show runs through Sunday, Jan. 22, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.

• A trip to the Pond: The Seacoast Repertory Theatre’s production of On Golden Pond wraps up this weekend with shows Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $37 (plus fees). The Seacoast Repertory Theatre is at 125 Bow St. in Portsmouth. See seacoastrep.org.

• Printmaking on display: The Art Center (1 Washington St. Suite 1177 in Dover; theartcenterdover.com, 978-6702) has its “Worldwide Printmaking Exhibition” on display now through February. The exhibit features works of more than 40 artists from 11 countries, according to a press release. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An artist reception will be held for the exhibit on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m.

CATS: Young Actors Edition
See the brief adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical made just for younger actors — CATS: Young Actors Edition — at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry) Friday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Jan. 29. Presented by the Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts, the shows will run Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $13 for 65+ and $10 for 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or go to majestictheatre.net for tickets, which are also available at the door before the performance, according to a press release.

• Craft for gardening: ManchesterMakerspace(36 Old Granite St. in Manchester;manchestermakerspace.org) has a class called “Woodshop 101 — Cedar Plant Box” scheduled for Friday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday, Jan. 28, from 1 to 5 p.m. Registration starts at $150. Go online to register in advance.

• Work out your theater skills: Theatre Kapow will hold its monthly “Training” session, open to participants age 16 and up with any level of experience and working on “acting, movement, improvisation, voice, speech, object work, viewpoints, and more,” according to tkapow.com. The session will take place at Studio 550 in Manchester on Saturday, Jan. 21, from noon to 2 p.m. and the cost is $5. Register via the website, where you can also download and fill out the waiver from the website in advance.

• Hunchback of Notre Dame auditions: Community theater organization Actorsingers is holding auditions Sunday, Jan. 22, and Monday, Jan. 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. each night for their May production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Auditions will be held at Actorsingers Hall (219 Lake Ave. in Nashua); see actorsingers.org for audition requirements, character details and the audition form.

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

• MLK Day: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org) will hold a free community celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Hampshire artist Richard Haynes will lead a public discussion and mural project (starting at 11 a.m.; the community mural painting will start at noon and go through 4 p.m.), according to a Currier newsletter. Tours will meet in the lobby at 1 and 2 p.m., a reveal of the mural will be at 4 p.m. and there will be a screening of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in the auditorium at 4:15 p.m., the newsletter said. The Currier will also be collecting new socks, comfortable clothing and personal hygiene items for Waypoint, according to the website.

• Also at the Currier: The Currier is slated to start a series of conversations over Zoom examining a piece of artwork from the museum’s collection and exhibitions on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. (with “Cityscape with Mill” by Tim Portlock). The free 30-minute program, geared to adults, runs Wednesdays at 1 p.m. The Wednesday, Jan. 18, focus is “Boy Holding Grapes and Hat” by Judith Leyster; on Wednesday, Jan. 25, the focus will be “Yellowave” by Jiha Moon from the exhibit “State of the Art 2020: Locate,” according to a museum newsletter. Registration is required and accepted until noon on the day of the event; see currier.org.

The Sky Within
The Concord Chorale will present “The Sky Within,” a concert celebrating the themes of sky, flight and letting go and showcasing musical styles including works by Brahms, Renaissance madrigals and contemporary works, on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m. The concerts will take place at South Congregational Church (27 Pleasant St. in Concord) and the Sunday show will also be livestreamed. See concordchorale.org for tickets, which cost $20.

• Two actors, 19 roles: Kari Buckley and Maria Jung play 19 roles — including two best friends — in Is Edward Snowden Single?, a “volcanic comedy about pretty lies and ugly truths” at the Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth; playersring.org, 436-8123) Friday, Jan. 13, through Sunday, Jan. 29. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $27 general admission, $24 for students and 65+.

• Mandy Patinkin: Tickets are still available for “Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive” at the Capitol Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $40 through $95 (plus fees).

• Hitchcock comedy: The New Hampshire Theatre Project will present The 39 Steps, a comic riff on the Alfred Hitchcock movie, Friday, Jan. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 5, at the company’s 50-seat black box theater at 959 Islington St. in Portsmouth. The show, which is directed by Blair Hundertmark and stars Shawn Crapo and Courtney St. Gelais, will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $30 general admission, $26 for students, seniors and veterans. See nhtheatreproject.org.

Guys and Dolls
The Educational Theater Collaborative (based at Plymouth State University) will present Guys and Dolls at the Flying Monkey Performance Center (39 S. Main St. in Plymouth; flyingmonkeynh.com, 536-2551) Wednesday, Jan. 18, through Sunday, Jan. 22. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $25.

• Be a jellicle cat: The Palace Youth Theatre will hold auditions for performers in grades 2 through 12 for Cats: Young Actors Edition on Friday, Jan. 20, with sessions at 5, 6 and 7 p.m., according to a press release. “Expect to stay for your entire one-hour audition slot. You will learn a dance and be asked to sing after,” said the release, which instructed auditioners to come prepared to sing a short section of a song a cappella (musical theater or Disney preferred). The show will run at the Palace Theatre in Manchester Tuesday, March 7, through Wednesday, March 15. To schedule an audition time, email meganalves@palacetheatre.org with performer’s name, age and preferred time. The auditions will be held at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St. in Manchester).

• Looking for Wolves: Cue Zero Theatre Company will hold auditions for its April production of The Wolves, a gritty drama by Sarah DeLappe directed by Erin Downey, on Monday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Arts Academy of New Hampshire in Salem. All characters in the production are female/female presenting, according to the press release. Sign up for an audition slot at CZTheatre.com and those auditioning should prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue and be prepared to read sides on request; callbacks are Sunday, Feb. 5, the release said. Get information about the character breakdowns on the website.

• Camp Encore: The Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth has announced the dates and productions for its three multi-week summer camp sessions. Session 1, Theatre Creatures, will run three weeks, Monday, June 19, through Sunday, July 9, and feature Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids and The Aristicats Kids with public productions Saturday, July 8, and Sunday, July 9 at 11 a.m. Session 2, Stage Folks, runs two weeks, Monday, July 10, through Sunday, July 23, with productions on Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23, at 11 a.m. Sessions 1 and 2 are open to ages 7 to 17. Session 3, Prescott Teens (Teen Musical Theatre Intensive), runs two weeks, Monday, July 24, through Sunday, Aug. 6, with shows Saturday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m. See prescottpark.org for pricing, including sibling and multi-camp discounts, and to register.

Toy planes and model aircraft
The “Holiday Festival of Toy Planes and Model Aircraft” exhibit has been extended at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820) through Sunday, Jan. 22, according to the museum’s newsletter. The exhibit features more than 2,000 aviation toys and models. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 per person ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and ages 65 and up; ages 5 and under and veterans and active military get in free, the release said.

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

• New exhibit at Art 3: “Multi-Mediums,” an exhibit featuring works on canvas and panel, wall reliefs in ceramic and metal and sculptures in stone and wood, is open now at the Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St. in Manchester; 668-6650), according to a press release. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and a virtual exhibit should be available soon, the release said.

• Photo exhibit: The 23rd annual New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists Member Exhibit and Sale will open Saturday, Jan. 7, with a reception from noon to 4 p.m. at the Exeter Town Hall Gallery (10 Front St. in Exeter), according to a press release. Some of the photographers with works in the exhibit will be on hand to answer questions, the release said. The exhibit will run through Sunday, Jan. 29, and the gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.

The Society recently established a permanent studio space at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art in Concord that gives members access to studio lighting, printers and more. See nhspa.org for membership information.

• Sing! The Rockingham Choral Society will hold an open rehearsal on Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Exeter High School for its spring concert, which will feature works by Beethoven and Brahms, according to a press release. The group is open to singers age 16 and up and a brief placement audition for new members will take place at the end of the rehearsal; dues are waived for high school and college students, the release said. See rockinghamchoral.org.

• January at Gibson’s: Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) has several recently announced events on the January schedule. James T. McKim Jr. will be at the bookstore on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss his book The Diversity Factor: Igniting Superior Organizational Performance; the event is free and no registration is required.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 6:30 p.m, Honorable John T. Broderick Jr. (former chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court and current senior director of external affairs at Dartmouth Health) will be at Gibson’s to discuss his book Backroads and Highways: My Journey to Discovery on Mental Health.

On Friday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. the bookstore will be part of a virtual event featuring author and director Joyce Chopra discussing her book Lady Director: Adventures in Hollywood, Television and Beyond with journalist Annie Berke. See the store’s website for a link to the event page, where you can purchase a ticket/book bundle.

Save the date for Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m. when Farzon A. Nahvi, MD, an ER physician at Concord Hospital, will be at Gibson’s to discuss his book Code Gray, a memoir about his life in medicine.

New Art Show
“Beginnings,” the first group show at the art studio Girl from Mars (135 Route 101A in Amherst), is opening on Friday, Jan. 6, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Melissa Richard, the owner and chief artist at the studio, said she was excited to have 14 local artists showing 24 pieces of new work.

“Some are artists I knew; some I met through other galleries and shows along the way,” Richard said, adding that she’s “hoping to rotate between group and solo shows in the space.”

All of the artwork on display will be available for purchase either online at the gallery’s website or at the show. The show will run from Jan. 6 through the end of February. The Gallery’s hours are Thursday through Saturday by appointment. Visit marsartstudio.weebly.com.

• Book and film: Eva’s Promise, a documentary about Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss (whose mother married Anne Frank’s father after the war), will have its New England premiere at the Park Theatre (19 Main St. in Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org, 532-8888) on Friday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. The film’s director (Steve McCarthy) and the producer (Susan Kerner) will attend the Sunday, Jan. 15, 4 p.m. screening of the film and hold a discussion after the film that will include a special video message from Eva Schloss, according to a press release. When Eva and her brother Heinz Geiringer were put on a train to Auschwitz in 1944, Heinz, who was 17, told her that he’d hidden paintings and poetry he’d created in the family attic and asked her to retrieve them if he didn’t survive the war, the release said. Eva (who is 93 and lives in London) wrote a book, The Promise, in 2006, and signed copies will be available at the theater (as well as at Toadstool Bookshops), the release said. Tickets for the Sunday event cost $10 to $15; tickets for regular screenings cost $8 to $9. In addition to the Friday and Sunday screenings, the film will also screen Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Jan. 17, through Thursday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m.

• Jazz and classical: The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will head to Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth with their “Up Close & Personal” chamber music and dinner series on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. The PSO Brass quintet will explore the boundaries between jazz and classical music, according to a press release. The show will feature a tribute to Stephen Sondheim, music from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, selections from Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller and the score to George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, the release said. Tickets cost $90 per person and include the concert, appetizers, dinner and dessert, the release said. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. See portsmouthsymphony.org to purchase tickets.

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

• Join the Bee: The Palace Youth Theatre is holding auditions for performers in grades 2 through 12 for its upcoming Small Cast production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, according to a press release. Auditions will be held on Monday, Jan. 2, at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St. in Manchester) with rehearsals starting the second week of January for performances at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester) on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and Thursday, Feb. 23, the release said. Performers will learn a dance and be expected to sing (come prepared to sing a short section of a song of your choice a cappella), the release said. To schedule an audition time, email MeganAlves@palacetheatre.org with the performer’s name, age and preferred audition time; if cast (not all who audition will be cast) there is a $125 production fee, the release said.

• An exhibit of printmaking: New Hampshire Art Association fine printmaker Kate Higley will have her work on display at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center (49 S. Main St., Suite 104, in Concord) Friday, Jan. 6, through Friday, March 3. The gallery hours are general Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Behind the Carol: The play Scene Changes will open at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) on Friday, Jan. 6. In the show, a traveling production of A Christmas Carol loses its Bob Cratchit when he gets ill in Burlington, Vermont, and the show has to hire a new actor when it comes to Concord, causing “a clash of wills,” according to the website, which also says that the play contains adult language. The show will run Friday, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 22 with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.

Recycled Percussion
Recycled Percussion was slated to begin its 13-show run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Tickets start at $37 for what’s billed as an all new show that “brings music, comedy and off the charts energy.” After opening night, the show will hit the stage Thursday, Dec. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 1, at 3 and 7 p.m.; Monday, Jan. 2, at 3 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 7, at 11 a.m.

• Call for actors: The community theater group Nashua Theatre Guild will hold auditions for its spring show, Pandemonium, described as a “modern mythology mystery” according to a post on the Guild’s Facebook page, on Saturday, Jan. 7, and Sunday, Jan. 8, at Broadway Bound (501 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack) from 1 to 4 p.m. on both days. The audition will be a cold reading, the post said. For more on the group, see nashuatheatreguild.org.

• More voices in theater: Theatre Kapow will continue its “Expanding the Canon” playreading circle focused on highlighting Black, Latinx, indigenous and global playwrights, according to tkapow.com. The event will be Sunday, Jan. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. over Zoom. Register on Kapow’s website.

• A Neil Simon: The Epping Community Theater (performance space is the Epping Playhouse, 38c Ladd’s Lane in Epping; eppingtheater.org) will present Neil Simon’s Rumors Friday, April 14, through Sunday, April 16, and is holding auditions Thursday, Jan. 19, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Watson Academy (17 Academy St. in Epping). Go online for signup information and a rundown of the characters.

•Teens on skates? Teen performers ages 14 to 18 can schedule in person (or virtual) auditions for the Peacock Players’ upcoming production of the musical Xanadu. Go to peacockplayers.org to schedule an audition for Sunday, Jan. 22, or Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. on either day at the 14 Court Street Theater in downtown Nashua. The production will run Friday, May 12, through Sunday, May 21, with night performances Fridays and Saturdays and matinees Saturdays and Sundays.

• Next generation of theater: Registration is open now for the Peacock Players (peacockplayers.org) April vacation camp, which will run Monday, April 24, through Friday, April 28, at the Peacock Players space in downtown Nashua, 14 Court St. The camp runs daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for grades 1 through 8; tuition costs $350.

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

• Last-minute art shopping: The big craft fairs are finished for this holiday season but there are still some places to do some last-minute shopping for arts and fine crafts. (Call to confirm hours for Christmas Eve.)

The Craftworkers’ Guild Holiday Craft Fair continues its run through Thursday, Dec. 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (the address is 5 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford; see thecraftworkersguild.org).

Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 232-5597, 550arts.com) will hold its Handmade Holiday Market through Friday, Dec. 23 (closed Wednesday, Dec. 21) from noon to 8 p.m.

The “Winter 2022 Members Art Show” will run through Saturday, Dec. 24, and is open Thursdays through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bates Building (846 Main St. in Contoocook) for Two Villages Art Society.

At Creative Ventures Fine Art (411 Nahua St. in Milford; creativeventuresfineart.com, 672-2500) “Small Works — Big Impact” is on display through Saturday, Dec. 31; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m; Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Studioverne Fine Art Fused Glass (412 Chestnut St. in Manchester; studioverne.com) is cohosting “The Art of Gifting Art” with Creative Framing Solutions through Saturday, Dec. 31. The studio is open Wednesday, noon to 5 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 7 p.m.; Friday, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Expert Design Solutions (Ripano Stoneworks, 90 E. Hollis St., Nashua; nashuaarts.org) has its “Joyful Giving” exhibit on display through Jan. 29.

• One more Nutcracker: Get an extra serving of the classic ballet after Christmas when the New Hampshire School of Ballet presents The Nutcracker Suiteon Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Sunday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased via the Palace’s website. See nhschoolofballet.com for more on the school.

• Art with your coffee: If you stop for coffee (and a doughnut, or maybe two doughnuts) at Flight Coffee Co. (209 Route 101 West in Bedford; 836-6228, flightcoffeeco.com) check out the photographs by Jennifer Fishbein, the shop’s spotlighted artist for December. See jenniferfishbeinphotography.com to see more of Fishbein’s work, which often highlights landscapes and animals.

Know of an exhibit at a coffee shop, restaurant, bank or other location? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

An evening with art
Take a break before the holiday weekend with the Currier Museum of Art’s “Art After Work” this Thursday, Dec. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. when admission to the museum (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is free and you can enjoy live music as you check out the exhibits. The museum’s shop is also open (should you be in need of a last-minute gift). On Dec. 22, the scheduled performers are Kemp Harris & Adam O and the exhibit tours are “State of the Art 2020: Locate” (at 5:30 p.m.) and “Cold Snap: Winter in the Currier’s Collection” (6:30 p.m.). Current exhibits also include “Gee’s Bend Quilts” and “Memoirs of a Ghost Girlhood: A Black Girl’s Window.”

• Young actors auditions: Auditions for the Peacock Players production of Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition will be Sunday, Jan. 15, and Monday, Jan. 16 (from 6 to 8 p.m. on both days) for the March 17 through March 26 production of the show, according to peacockplayers.org. Auditions are open for ages 6 to 14 and will take place at 14 Court St. in Nashua. Online submissions are also welcome and due by 6 p.m. on Jan. 16, the website said. Go online to sign up for an audition time.

• Seymour in the summer: For those dreaming of warmer days, the Prescott Park Arts Festival has announced its summer 2023 musical —The Little Shop of Horrors. The show will open in the Portsmouth waterfront park on Friday, June 23, according to a press release. Virtual auditions for the musical are due Saturday, Feb. 4. Would-be Audreys and Audrey IIs can go to prescottpark.org/about/auditions for information.

Carol at the Palace
The Palace Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol wraps up with shows on Thursday, Dec. 22, and Friday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 to $51. After the Christmas weekend, the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will return with one night of the Nutcracker (Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m.) followed by Recycled Percussion’s run of shows from Wednesday, Dec. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 7.

• Save the date for Burns Night: Celebrate poet Robert Burns at the Burns Night event on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Castleton (58 Enterprise Drive in Windham) starting at 5 p.m. The event will feature such Burns Night traditions as the Salute to the Haggis and To the Lasses, according to a press release. The evening will also include a traditional Burns Night supper and the music of Celtic Beats and the New Hampshire Pipes and Drums (with Scottish country dancing). The event encourages attendees to BYO Quaich (a traditional drinking bowl) for the whisky toasts, which will be on sale at nhssa.org/burns-night, where you can also find tickets, which cost $70 per person.

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 adiaz@hippopress.com.

• 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

listings@hippopress.com

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 adiaz@hippopress.com.

• 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 info@nashuachoralsociety.org.

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 adiaz@hippopress.com.

• 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.