Category: Visual Arts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Mozart and Friends: The Nashua Chamber Orchestra (nco-music.org) will wrap up its season with “Mozart and Friends” on Saturday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St., Judd Gregg Hall, in Nashua) and on Sunday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Milford Town Hall (1 Union Square on the Milford Oval). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and college students; students under 18 get in free. Tickets can be purchased on the orchestra’s website or at the door. The show will feature David Feltner, music director, performing as a viola soloist in the premiere of his new work “From the Depths” as well as “Five Woodland Sketches” by Edward MacDowell and Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, according to a press release.

• Memorial Day Weekend theater: Looking for some theater this holiday weekend? The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) and Not Too Loud Productions present Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It opens this Friday, May 26, and runs through Sunday, June 11. Performances will run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22, $19 for seniors and students.

The Kids Coop Theatre will present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical at the (29 W. Broadway in Derry; derryoperahouse.org) Friday, May 26, and Saturday, May 27, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 28, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $15.

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St. in Portsmouth; seacoastrep.com) is also raising the curtain on its production of Disney’s Newsies The Musical, which will open with a show Thursday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. That production will run through Saturday, July 8, with shows Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $37 to $62.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Get your tickets now for the Palace Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which will begin Friday, June 2. The production, which will feature a live orchestra for this sung-through musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, will run through Sunday, June 25, at the Palace (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) with shows on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $46.

• Audition calls: The Nashua Theatre Guild (nashuatheatreguild.org) has “a secret project a la Shakespeare in the Park coming but shhh! We can’t tell you yet!” according to its website. Actors of all experiences are welcome to audition for the production (performance dates Aug. 6 and Aug. 13) on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Academy of Science and Design (486 Amherst St. in Nashua). Come prepared for a cold reading. For details, contact Valerie at [email protected].

Performers age 14 and up can audition for the Friends of the Amato Center’s production of Guys and Dolls, according to the website. Auditions will be held Tuesday, June 6, and Wednesday, June 7, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley/Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford). The production will be Aug. 18 through Aug. 20, according to a press release. Email [email protected] with questions. Go to amatocenter.org to register.

• Theater in June: Tiny Beautiful Things, a production based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, will be presented by Theatre Kapow on Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16. S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $33.75, $26.75 for students (the play contains mature subject matter and language), according to tkapow.com.

Also in June, Cue Zero Theatre (cztheatre.com) will present the musical Be More Chill at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry; derryoperahouse.org) Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25.

The Wild Women of Winedale
The Majestic Theatre Studios (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469) will present the comedy about three women at crossroads in their lives, The Wild Women of Winedale, Friday, June 2, through Sunday, June 4, according to a press release. The play will run Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $17 for 65+ and 17 and under, the release said.

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

• Sculptors at work: See the four artists participating in this year’s Nashua International Sculpture Symposium at work on their pieces at Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua), where they are working Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on this year’s pieces. The artists are Anna Rasinska from Poland, Parastoo Ahovan from Iran, Tanya Preminger from Israel and Jim Larson, who grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in Maine, according to nashuasculpturesymposium.org, where you can sign up to donate to or pick up a meal for the artists. The pieces, which will become part of Nashua’s townwide exhibit of sculptures, will be unveiled in their installation locations on Sunday, June 3.

• A trip to Narnia: The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts (Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469) will present The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe featuring children and teen performers on Friday, May 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 20, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for 17 and under.

Jack of Diamonds
Pittsfield Players (Scenic Theatre, 6 Depot St. in Pittsfield; pittsfieldplayers.org, 435-8852) presents Jack of Diamonds, a comedy mystery set at a retirement home where a group of skilled residents realize the man who has stolen their nest eggs has newly moved in, according to the website. The show runs Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 (call or go online to reserve).

• Drama on skates: Teen performers with the Peacock Players (peacockplayers.org) will present the musical Xanadu on Friday, May 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 20, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. at their theater at 14 Court St. in Nashua. Tickets start at $15 for adults ($12 for students and seniors).

• On view downtown: New Hampshire Art Association Artist Michelle Peterson has her paintings on display in an exhibit called “Threads and Where They Lead” at the Concord Chamber of Commerce (49 S. Main St. Suite 104 in Concord; concordnhchamber.com) through Friday, July 7. “In the artwork string is depicted in patterns and shapes that reference the playground pastime of cat’s cradle. ‘By using symbols such as a water bottle, rocks, birds and hands interspersed and oriented around visible and invisible strings, I begin to map a personal psychogeography,’ says Peterson,” according to a press release. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Spring show: The Seacoast Artist Association will feature new artwork from its members in the show “Primavera: The Art of Spring,” which wraps up this weekend when it is open Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Exeter Town Hall gallery (10 Front St. in Exeter; the gallery is on the second floor). See seacoastartist.org.

• Supporting art with music: The Andres Institute of Art Center (106 Route 13 in Brookline, 845-9174; andresinstitute.org) will present kNowhere Kids, a band playing New England rock with a mix of blues-flavored originals and covers, on Sunday, May 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., according to a press release. See the band at theknowherekids.com. Tickets to the concert cost $25; purchase them online. The next show will be The Soggy Po Boys on Sunday, June 25.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) and Not Too Loud Productions will present Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from Friday, May 26, through Sunday, June 11. Performances will run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22, $19 for seniors and students.

• Art with your museum visit: The Children’s Museum of NH (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) is displaying the exhibit “Thirteen Moons — An Abenaki Child’s Year” in its Gallery 6 through the end of May. The exhibit features photographs, drawings, diagrams, scale models and stories to illustrate the daily life of a child in an Abenaki village before the arrival of Europeans, according to a press release. The gallery is open when the museum is open (you can visit just the gallery at no charge; museum admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+). The museum is open Sundays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon; Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

• 75 years of work: The DublinArts and Muse Gallery (1459 Main St in Dublin; musegallery.art) will present a retrospective of Sylvia Nicolas on display through Tuesday, June 6. Nicolas, a Netherlands native who came to the U.S. in the late 1930s and now lives in Mont Vernon, has paintings, drawings, sculptures and stained glass, the press release said. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Strings celebration: The New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble — a community orchestra of fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, basses, harps and cellos — has a concert this Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Exeter Town Hall (9 Front St. in Exeter). Tickets in advance cost $16 for adults, $7 for seniors and students and are free for kids 8 and under, but in all cases reserve seats at nhfiddleensemble.org/concerts. Tickets will be available at the door for an additional $2. The ensemble also has a concert scheduled for Sunday, June 4, at Franklin Opera House (316 Central St. in Franklin).

Exeter Arts & Music Fest
Find live music, an arts market, kids’ activities, food and more during the Exeter Arts & Music Fest on Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main music stage, food trucks and kids’ activities will be at Town House Common (6 Bow St. in Exeter) and the artist market and singer-songwriter tent will be at the front portion of Swasey Parkway near Water Street, according to a press release. Scheduled for the main stage are Tim Parent & The Grim Bros. (11 a.m.), Marcus Rabb Quartet (12:30 p.m.), a Musical Arts Showcase (1:45 p.m.), WoodWind & Whiskey (2:30 p.m.), and Cold Engines (4 p.m.). The food trucks scheduled to appear include Cafe El Camino, Memories Ice Cream, Fat Pockets and Cosmic Kettlecorn, the release said. The artist market will feature more than 30 vendors, the press release said. There is a suggested donation of $10, $20 per family, the release said. See teamexeter.org.

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

• Hollywood in Africa: The New Hampshire Philharmonic will present its spring pops concert, “Hollywood in Africa,” on Saturday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 21, at 2 p.m. featuring Mamadou Diabate, a Grammy-nominated musician who will play the balafon, a xylophone-like instrument, according to a press release. See videos of Mamadou Diabate singing and playing the balafon at mamadoudiabate.com. The concerts will take place at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive in Salem). Tickets are available at nhphil.org and cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for students. The Sunday show can also be streamed live; a streaming pass costs $15.

Meet the Marches
The Majestic Academy Teens will present Little Women The Musical, telling the story of March sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy based on the Louisa May Alcott novel, Friday, May 12, through Sunday, May 14, at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry). Shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 14. Tickets cost $18 for adults, $15 for 65+ and $12 for 17 and under and can be purchased at 669-7469, at majestictheatre.net or at the door.

• Meet the artist: Andrew Freshour is a Manchester illustrator whose work is on display at Framers Market (1301 Elm St. in Manchester; 668-6989, framersmarketnh.com). Framers Market will hold a reception for Freshour on Saturday, May 20, from noon to 3 p.m. See andrewfreshour.com for more on the artist and his work. The Framers Market is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to its website.

• Romance and fantasy: Based on the 1990 movie, Ghost The Musical wraps up its run at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St. in Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org) with shows Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 12, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 13, at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 14, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $37 including fees and can be purchased on the website.

• Oil and cold wax: Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St. in Exeter; seacoastartist.org) will hold an artist reception on Friday, May 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. for the show “Just Above a Whisper” featuring the works of Lynn Krumholz. The exhibit features Krumholz’s paintings of oil and cold wax and small books, according to a press release. “Oil and cold wax is a relatively new process that combines oil paint and a cold wax medium…. When varnished, it dries to a hard, durable surface with a velvety, matte finish,” the press release said. The reception will feature refreshments as well as music by Cheryl Sager and Neal Zweig. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Spring fair
The Craftworkers’ Guild spring fair (Kendall House, 3A Meetinghouse Road in Bedford; thecraftworkersguild.org) is open now through Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Items for sale include jewelry, fine art, fashion accessories, glass arts, candles, soaps, ceramics, pottery, photography, paper arts and more, according to a video on the group’s Facebook page. You can also shop online via the guild’s website.

• Continuing show: Neil Simon’s The Gingerbread Lady, presented by the Players’ Ring (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth; playersring.org), continues this weekend and next, through Sunday, May 21, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $27, $24 for students at 65+.

• Cruising history: With historical markers in the news, now might be the time to check out the Hollis Social Library’s (2 Monument Square in Hollis; 465-7721, hollislibrary.org) event featuring Michael Bruno, who will discuss his 2018 guide to the state’s 279 historical markers, Cruising New Hampshire History, on Saturday, May 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. Register online for the event.

• Seeking peace: The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway in Derry; derrypl.org, 432-6140) will present author Susan Lynch to discuss her book Life After Kevin: A Mother’s Search for Peace and the Golden Retrievers that Led the Way on Wednesday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. Register for the event online.

Festival of art, music and food
More than 60 artists, crafters, farmers and food makers are scheduled to attend the Henniker Handmade & Homegrown festival on Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Community Center Park (57 Main St. in Henniker), according to a press release. Items to peruse and purchase include pottery, jewelry, candles, knitwear, woodworking, fine art illustrations, hand-printed textiles, photography, plants (including fresh-cut tulips), flowers and more, the release said. The weekend will also feature live music from Walker Smith, The Honey Bees Trio, Decatur Creek, The Danny Savage Band and Beechwood — at the Angela Robinson Bandstand, the release said. Scheduled food trucks include Taco Beyondo and RJ Texas Style BBQ. A kids’ area will feature a bounce house, lawn games and more. Parking will be available at Henniker Community School with a shuttle bus running to and from the event, the release said.

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

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame:Actorsingers (actorsingers.org) will present the musical The Hunchbakc of Notre Dame this weekend — Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m. — at Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students. “The production features a cast of 49 including a 27-person choir and a live orchestra,” according to the organizers.

• Spring ballet: Northeastern Ballet Theatre will present The Sleeping Beauty on Sunday, May 7, at 4 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $35.75; $23.75 for seniors and under 12.

• Jazz jam: The Ted Herbert Music School will host an open mic jazz jam on Sunday, May 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. open to students and musicians of all ages and abilities, according to a press release. The cost to participate is a suggested donation of $5 (free for Ted Herbert students) and the event will take place at the Majestic Theatre Studios (880 Page St. in Manchester), the release said. No sign-up is needed; just show up with your instrument (drums, piano and guitar amp will be provided), the release said. See tedherbert.com or call 669-7469.

• Calling young performers: The Palace Theatre’s Youth Ensemble will hold auditions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat on Saturday, May 6, at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. for students in grades 2 to 12, according to a press release. Bring a headshot and resume, prepare a short section of a song to sing a cappella and expect to stay for the one-hour slot, the release said. There is a production fee of $75 for performers who are cast. Rehearsals will take place in May for this Professional Production in June. Auditions will be held at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St. in Manchester). Email [email protected] with the performer’s name, age and preferred audition time, the release said.

Not A Word
The Community Players of Concord will close out their 95th season with the original comedy Not A Word, written and directed by Wallace J. Pineault, according to a press release. The nine-character comedy is called “a valentine to his love of Hollywood history, set in 1920 at the peak of silent movies’ popularity,” the release said. The show runs Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m and Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets cost $20 for adults and $18 for 17 and under and 65+. See communityplayersofconcord.org.

• Finding a Nemo: The Children’s Theatre Project of the Community Players of Concord will hold auditions for Finding Nemo Jr. on Saturday June 3, and Sunday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Players’ Studio (435 Josiah Bartlett Road in Concord) with rehearsals to start after Labor Day for performances in October, according to a press release. The auditions are open to actors ages 8 to 18, the release said. Secure an audition spot by contacting director Karen Braz at [email protected]. Auditioners should prepare one verse and one chorus of a song and bring a recent photo, the release said. There is a participation fee of $100 per cast member, with a family cap of $150, the release said. Kids age 12 and older can also register to work as stage managers, set builders or in other tech positions, the release said. See communityplayersofconcord.org/auditions.

• 35-year retrospective: New Hampshire Theatre Project’s (959 Islington St. in Portsmouth; nhtheatreproject.org, 431-6644) founder Genevieve Aichele is stepping down as executive director and the company will finish up its 2022-2023 season with a retrospective honoring the productions she has directed, acted in or written over the last 35 years, according to a press release. Gen-erations! will run Friday, May 5, through Sunday, May 21, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $30 general admission, $26 for students, seniors and veterans.