The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• “I wish I were big”: The Majestic Theatre presents Big – The Musicalon Fridays, July 8 and July 15, at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, July 9 and July 16, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway, Derry). Adapted from the 1987 film of the same name, Big follows Josh, an awkward kid who wishes to a Zoltar machine to become an adult and soon realizes it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and up and $15 for youth 17 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 669-7469 or visiting www.majestictheatre.net, or at the door.
• Owls in focus: The photography exhibit “All Things Owl in New England Habitats” featuring the work of Howard S. Muscott opened on July 1 at the New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; nhaudubon.org, 224-9909) and will be on display through Wednesday, Aug. 1. The exhibit is available during the center’s hours, Tuesdays through Fridays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursday, July 7, the center will host an opening from 4 to 6 p.m. Find more about Muscott and his nature photography at chasingthegoldenlight.com.
Through the fire
For one night and one night only, the Village Players present Through the Fire, Victor Almanzar’s newest work. On Friday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m., Almanzar will give a preview performance of the production at the Player’s theater (51 Glendon St. in Wolfboro). Almanzar, seen in Homeland, Empire and Pulitzer prize-winning Between Riverside and Crazy, shares his own life’s story through this hip-hop-filled production developed by Wolfeboro local Estelle Parsons, an Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated actress. The show, which follows Almanzar as he immigrates from the Dominican Republic to New York and spends time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Kosovo and Iraq, will be headed to New York City in the coming weeks, and this preview performance at the Village Players Theater will benefit the theater. Tickets are $25 each, available online at village-players.com and at the door.
• Students on stage: The kids of the Palace Youth Theatre summer camp will present High School Musical 2 Jr. on Friday, July 8, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for kids. The young performers range in age from second grade to high school, according to the website.
• Toys and art: Author and illustrator Sandy Steen Bartholomew drew some of her favorite toys for her “My Year of Toys” project. Some of these drawings are now on display at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) in their Gallery 6 space. The show, perfect for kids who love toys and comics, is on display through Oct. 16 and Gallery 6 can be viewed for free during museum hours without purchasing museum admission. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission to the museum costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months (65+ is $10.50) and advance online registration is required, the website said.
• Summer theater: The Peterborough Players’ 2022 summer season continues with Circle Mirror Transformation, opening on Thursday, July 7, and running until Sunday, July 17, at the Players’ stage at 55 Hadley Road in Peterborough. The dramedy by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker follows a group of acting students in Vermont as they learn more about each other and themselves through a series of seemingly outrageous exercises. Tickets are $47 each, available online or at the door. The Friday, July 8, show will allow for ‘pay what you can’ ticketing, for patrons to pay what they are able. See peterboroughplayers.org or call the box office at 924-7575
Just like the Doobies
Concerts on the Common features “What a Fool Believes – A Doobie Brothers Experience” on Wednesday, July 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the Londonderry Town Common (265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry). The performance features vocalist Sean Byrne as well as a host of performers to perform Doobie Brothers top hits. In case of bad weather, the concert will relocate to the Londonderry High School cafeteria. For a complete schedule and more details visit concertsonthecommon.org
• Art as a response: Ukrainian sculptor Natasha Dikareva opens an exhibition called “From Whispering to Screaming” at the Seacoast Artist Association gallery at 130 Water St. in downtown Exeter, as a “response to war on her country with art.” Dikareva, an internationally acclaimed sculptor who now lives in Newmarket, describes the collection as a reaction to both the pandemic and the war in her homeland. The works are on display at the gallery during regular business hours for the month of July, and a reception will be held for the public on Friday, July 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit seacoastartist.org.
• Strings in the garden: Saint-Gaudens National Park in Cornish kicks off its summer concert series with The Fischers and The Jennings, a program of classical works for violin, cello and piano, on Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. The summer concert series will run every Sunday through August. The concerts will take place in Little Studio on the grounds at 139 Saint Gaudens Road, which include a large lawn space for listeners to sit and enjoy. Tickets are $10 per person, which includes a seven-day pass to the grounds. Visit saint-gaudens.org.
• Be a part of Shrek: The Epping Community Theater (38c Ladd’s Lane in Epping; eppingtheater.org) will present Shrek the Musical Oct. 21 through Oct. 30 at the Epping Playhouse and is holding auditions on Sunday, July 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, July 19, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. See the website for the audition form, the signup form and the play’s production schedule. The show is a “family fun musical with casting opportunities for ages 8 to 108,” according to a press release.
– Hannah Turtle
ART
Exhibits
• “WARHOL SCREEN TESTS” In the mid-1960s, American multimedia artist Andy Warhol had shot more than 400 short, silent, black-and-white films of his friends at his studio in New York City. Warhol referred to the films, which were unscripted and played in slow motion, as “film portraits” or “stillies.” The exhibition will feature 20 of those films, provided by the Andy Warhol Museum, in loops across four large-scale projections. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through July 24. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.
• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.
• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.
• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• ROBIN CORNWELL The New Hampshire Boat Museum will feature local artist Robin Cornwell in the museum’s gallery (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro; nhbm.org) in July. Cornwell produces art quilts as well as bark paper paintings and woven placemats and rugs. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about Cornwell, visit robincornwellembellishments.com.
• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Aug. 12 through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected] for more information.
• SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW Two Villages Art Society presents a mixed media art show at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) from July 1 through July 30.Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.
Fairs and markets
• CRAFT FAIR AT THE BAY More than 75 juried artisans from all over New England will feature their work. Sat., July 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., July 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community House and Waterfront (24 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay). Visit castleberryfairs.com.
Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour for more information.
Workshops and classes
• ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.
• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org or email [email protected] more information.
• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.
THEATRE
Classes/workshops
• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.
Shows
• THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith; winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) through July 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39.
• ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) presents the musical through July 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52.
• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth; prescottpark.org , 436-2848) presents this outdoor musical through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150.
• INTO THE WOODS RGC Theatre presents this musical at Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) July 8 through July 17, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members.
•THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members.
• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.
• LES MISERABLES presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) teen company from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for students and $30 for adults.
• CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE ’90s MUSICAL presented by the Actorsingers at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua; actorsingers.org) Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.
• SHREK THE MUSICAL presented by the Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford; svbgc.org/amato-center) from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.
• TITANIC THE MUSICAL Presented by the Manchester Community Theatre Players. Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester; manchestercommunitytheatre.com, 327-6777). Showtimes on Fri., Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Sat., Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.
• TRUE TALES LIVE Portsmouth-based storytelling showcase. Monthly, last Tuesday (no shows in July and August), from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Shows will be held in person (Portsmouth Public Media TV Studio, 280 Marcy St., Portsmouth) starting in April, and returning to the Zoom format for the winter, starting in November. Each month’s showcase is centered around a different theme. The series is free and open to all who want to watch or participate as a storyteller. Pre-registration for attendees is required for Zoom shows but not required for in-person shows. Visit truetaleslivenh.org and email [email protected] if you’re interested in being a storyteller.
CLASSICAL
Events
• LISTEN AND LUNCH presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival, David William Ross (guitar) performs at Depot Park in Peterborough, 12 Depot St, Thursday, July 7, from noon to 1 p.m., concert is free and open to the public. Visit monadnockmusic.org.
• DEERING VILLAGE VOCAL RECITAL Monadnock Music Summer Festival hosts vocalists Carley DeFranco and Aaron Engebreth for a recital including works by Debussy and Ravel on July 9 at 7pm at the Deering Community Church, 763 Deering Center Road, in Deering. Event is free and open to the public. Visit monadnockmusic.org. • SERGEI NOVIKOV PIANO RECITAL The NH Philharmonic’s Summer Concert Series will host accomplished pianist Sergei Novikov for two concerts this month, first on Friday July 15 at 7pm at the Kingswood Art Center, 21 McManus Rd, in Wolfeboro, then on Friday July 22 at 7pm at the Seifert Performing Art Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, in Salem. Part of ticket sales will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help assist Ukraine. Tickets are available online at speakingmusic.com or by calling (800) 595-4849.
• TOWN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival features a program of Weber and Schubert at Peterborough Town House, 1 Grove St, on Sunday, July 17, 3 p.m. Tickets: $35, Seniors- $25 Students and Under 18- $10. See monadnockmusic.org.
• PROGRESSIVE GARDEN PARTY Monadnock Music’s summer festival presents a botanical tour of Jaffrey set to classical music, performed live by soloists in 3 separate gardens, and featuring unique food and drink at each location, Saturday, July 23, noon to 5 p.m., location TBA. Tickets cost $100. Visit monadnockmusic.org.
• FAMILY CONCERTS Monadnock Music Summer Festival hosts three family concerts on July 27, titled “Moonstrike: Tellings of American Indian Legends.” The program features a string quartet with a narrator. The first is at noon at George Holmes Bixby Memorial Library, Francestown Old Meeting House, the second at 2 p.m. at Peterborough Library, 1833 Room, Peterborough, and the third at 4 p.m. at Olivia Rodham Memorial Library, Nelson Town Hall. Performances are free and open to the public. For more info, visit monadnockmusic.org.
Open calls
• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email [email protected] for more information.