After six decades of boarded up windows and vacant seats, the historic Moore’s Opera House in Laconia’s Lakeport Square is back in business with a new name and a new look.
The Lakeport Opera House opened on June 12 with a sold-out concert by the Flutie Brothers Band — the first live show there since 1960 — and will continue to host a variety of entertainment, including music, theater, comedy and magic shows.
Owner and developer Scott Everett, who grew up in Gilford and still spends his summers in the Lakes Region, was inspired to revive the 140-year-old performance venue while driving around with his teenage daughter.
“She asked me, ‘Why is every place around here nicer than Lakeport?’” Everett said. “I thought about it, and I remembered seeing original photos of [the Moore’s Opera House] and how beautiful it was back in the day. I thought, heck, we can restore that; that would be a great place to start.”
Everett, president and founder of Supreme Lending in Dallas, Texas, bought the building and started working with the city to renovate it. Surprisingly, he said, it was still in “terrific” shape and had very little structural damage.
“When I bought the building, it was sight unseen; I had never been in it before,” Everett said. “I just thought it would be a great hub for the city. … The locale is perfect … and the size is perfect. It’s big enough to do some cool things, but not too big. It was the perfect mix of everything we needed it to be.”
Over the next three years Everett invested more than $1 million to restore the building’s original wood floors, tin ceilings, stage and curtains and to install updated electric, sewage and water systems.
“It became a collective effort,” Everett said. “We got a lot of assistance from the municipalities, the police officers — everyone in the city — to make this happen. Everyone was really excited about it.”
Spanning 30,000 square feet, the Lakeport Opera House offers floor and mezzanine seating for up to 200 people, with a mezzanine skywalk and VIP section for up to 12 people. A separate lounge features a full bar and large windows overlooking the lake.
“From a viewing perspective, every seat in the house is awesome,” Everett said.
The addition of contemporary lighting, metal and crystal accents, original artwork and a vibrant color scheme give the theater what Everett described as a “modern-chic” interior design.
“We wanted it to have a certain look: not quite traditional; like nothing you’ve ever seen before,” he said.
The Lakeport Opera House has nearly a dozen shows lined up between now and early August, including two comedians, two country music artists, a magic duo, a medium, a costumed Disney music cover band, drumming group Recycled Percussion and tribute bands performing the music of U2, ABBA and Billy Joel. The venue is also available for private, corporate and community events; weddings and local school productions.
“We’re going to run a plethora of things,” Everett said. “Right now, we’re just trying to open ourselves up to events that are fun and will bring people out again.”
Lakeport Opera House Location: 781 Union Ave., Lakeport Square, Laconia More info: Call 519-7506 or visit lakeportopera.com Summer schedule: • Lenny Clarke, comedian – Thursday, June 17, 8 p.m. • A Night of Magic with Adam Wilber and Evan Northrup – Friday, June 25, 7:30 p.m. • Unforgettable Fire, U2 tribute band – Saturday, June 26, 8 p.m. • David Nail, country music artist – Friday, July 2, 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 3, 8 p.m. • Houston Bernard Band, country music band – Friday, July 9, 8 p.m. • The Little Mermen, Disney music cover band – Sunday, July 11, 3:30 and 7 p.m. • Dancing Dream, ABBA tribute band – Saturday, July 17, 4 and 8 p.m. • Songs in the Attic, Billy Joel tribute act – Saturday, July 31, 8 p.m. • Steve Sweeney, comedian – Thursday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. • Recycled Percussion – Friday, Aug. 6, 8 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m. • Maureen Hancock, medium – Sunday, Aug. 8, 4 p.m.
Featured photo: Photos courtesy of Lakeport Opera House/ DVISION Media.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
“Cat of Nine Tales” by Gail Smuda, featured in “Fur & Feather/Paws and Claws” exhibit. Courtesy photo.
• Welcome back: After being closed for 15 months, MainStreet BookEnds (16 E. Main St., Warner) is reopening to the public on Tuesday, June 15. “We have reorganized, and it feels like our grand opening back in 1998,” the store stated in a recent email newsletter. “We are only here now because of all the support and encouragement you so generously gave during this time.” Store hours will be Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit mainstreetbookends.com or call 456-2700.
The Trumpet Gallery (8 Grove St., Peterborough) reopened last week and is celebrating its return with a meet-the-artists day on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery’s resident artists represent a variety of media, including jewelry, sculpture, wood, drawing, painting, watercolor, wax and more. Gallery hours are Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit trumpetgallery.com or call 801-4502.
• All about animals: An animal-themed art exhibit, “Fur & Feathers/Paws & Claws,” will open at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) on Saturday, June 12, with an artist reception from 1 to 3 p.m. It will feature paintings, drawings, prints, photography, jewelry and one-of-a-kind artist books by eight artists reflecting on the world of domesticated pets, work and farm animals. The exhibit will remain on display through Sunday, July 18. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• Nature reimagined: The New Hampshire Art Association’s exhibition “Transformations: Nature and Beyond” featuring the work of digital artist William Townsend remains on view at the gallery in the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St.) until Thursday, June 17. Townsend uses digital tools and techniques to alter line, form and color in photographs of natural objects, such as trees in a forest or seaweed on a beach. In some pieces, Townsend duplicated and inverted parts of the photograph and merged the parts into a symmetrical form, or converted the scene into an oval shape. “These effects transform the original photographed objects into images beyond nature,” an NHAA press release said about the exhibit. “His goal is to reveal the mystery and wonder that live within the realm of the mystical imagination.” All works are for sale. Viewing hours at the Chamber gallery are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• Young performers at the Palace: The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents James and the Giant Peach Jr., performed by its youth company, on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 12, at noon. Based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story, the musical follows a boy named James who discovers a magic potion that grows a giant peach, which he takes on a journey across the ocean with a group of singing insects. The Palace Theatre’s teen apprentice company will perform Xanadu Jr.on Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by the 1980 film of the same name starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, the musical comedy follows a struggling artist, Sonny Malone, who is visited by a Greek muse disguised as a mortal named Kira, who inspires him to build a disco roller skating rink. Tickets for both shows cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
Art
Exhibits
• NEW HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTISTS’ 21ST ANNUAL EXHIBIT Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord). On view through June. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit kimballjenkins.com.
• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com.
Fairs and markets
• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.
Special events
• 14TH ANNUAL NASHUA INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM Three renowned sculptors are creating three outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. The public can watch the sculptors work and interact with them during breaks (masks and social distancing required). Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through June 12. A closing ceremony and sculpture reveal will take place June 12 and will be recorded for online viewing. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.
• “FIRED UP!” OUTDOOR CERAMICS SHOW AND KILN OPENING Hosted by Kelley Stelling Contemporary at the studio of NH Potters Guild artist Al Jaeger (12 Perry Road, Deerfield). Sat., June 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.
Theater
Shows
• THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE The New Hampshire Theatre Project presents. Virtual. Thurs., June 10, through Sat., June 12, 8 p.m., and Sun., June 13, 2 p.m. Tickets $20. Visit nhtheatreproject.org.
• PIPPIN Seacoast Repertory Theatre PAPA Jr. presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. June 10 through July 18. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• DISCOVERING MAGIC WITH ANDREW PINARD The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Wed., June 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.
• BETRAYAL The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. June 16 through July 3, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $27 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• QUEEN CITY IMPROV The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Thurs., June 17, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.
• XANADU JR. Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Thurs., June 17, and Fri., June 18, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• STEEL MAGNOLIAS The Majestic Theatre presents. Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester. June 18 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.
• COMEDY OUT OF THE ’BOX The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Thurs., June 24, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.
• PIPPIN The Palace Teen Company presents. Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Thurs., June 25, and Fri., June 26, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• BRING IT ON Kids Coop Theatre presents. Fri., June 25, and Sat., June 26. More information is TBA. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.
• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., now through June, and September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.
• SLEUTH The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. June 30 through July 17, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Wed., June 30, and Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.
• SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 6, through Thurs., July 8, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• PETER PAN The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 13, through Thurs., July 15, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• ‘TIL BETH DO US PART The Majestic Theatre presents. Virtual and in person at Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester. July 16 through July 25, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.
• WIZARD OF OZ The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 20, through Thurs., July 22, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. July 22 through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• THE LITTLE MERMAID The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., July 27, through Thurs., July 29, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 3, through Thurs., Aug. 5, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 10, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 17, through Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 24, through Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com.
• THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW: A PUPPET PARODY at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Sat., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.
Classical
Concerts
• “GATHER AT THE RIVER” A performance by Pemigewasset Choral Society and New Hampshire Master Chorale. Sat., June 19, 6:30 p.m., and Sun., June 20, 4 p.m. Rotary Amphitheater, Riverfront Park, behind Main Street, Plymouth. Admission is free. Donations appreciated.
• SUZUKI STRINGS Violin students perform. Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury). Sun., Aug. 15, 4 p.m. Suggested donation $10 per person. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.
Full-scale productions return to the Hatbox Theatre
The stories of Sherlock Holmes come to life in Phylloxera Productions’ Holmes and Watson, opening June 11 for a two-week run at the Hatbox Theatre in Concord.
Director and producer Gary Locke long dreamed of bringing a Sherlock Holmes play to the New Hampshire stage but was disappointed by the scripts he found. An avid fan of the classic mystery series, he had high standards, and he wasn’t prepared to settle.
“Most Sherlock Holmes plays are just dreadful. They have their own ideas of how the characters act and look, and they make it into a joke,” Locke said. “I’m a person who wanted to do absolute justice and fealty to Conan Doyle and his world and his characters. I wanted to do the best Sherlock Holmes play possible.”
Then, he came across Holmes and Watson, a play written by Jeffrey Hatcher, published in 2017. Hatcher “knew his stuff,” Locke said; he had written a number of Sherlock Holmes adaptations for stage and screen throughout his career, including the screenplay for the 2015 feature film Mr. Holmes,starring Ian McKellen as the iconic detective. Locke was sold.
“I started reading it and was so excited, like a little kid at Christmastime. I just couldn’t believe how good it was,” he said. “I said to myself, ‘I’ve finally found it. I’ve found my Sherlock Holmes script. I can finally tick this box on my bucket list.’”
Interweaving three Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes and Watson is set in 1894 England, following a scuffle between Holmes and his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty that resulted in Holmes going over the Reichenbach Falls. The detective is assumed by most to be dead, though his body is never found. While mourning the loss of his best friend, Dr. Watson receives a telegram informing him that three men being held in a remote asylum off the coast of Scotland have claimed to be Holmes, still alive. The detective work falls on Watson now, as he must discover which one of the men, if any, is the real Holmes.
“It’s a story about friendship, loyalty and solving a very strange puzzle, with lots of surprises,” Locke said.
Locke said he’s confident the play will earn the approval of Sherlock Holmes purists like himself.
“If you know Holmes, you’ll see how Hatcher’s encyclopedic knowledge of the Holmes stories shines through,” he said. “He’s got the characters and their voices down so good.”
For those not as familiar with the series, Locke said, Holmes and Watson is “a genuine crowd-pleasing puzzle” that engages the audience in trying to solve the mystery themselves.
“It’s loaded with clues, and if you really pay attention you can follow the clues and figure it out,” he said.
The Hatbox Theatre’s first mainstage production of the year, Holmes and Watson marks the theater’s “re-re-opening,” theater owner and operator Andrew Pinard said; after the initial Covid shutdown, the Hatbox reopened in July 2020 with a mainstage production of Phylloxera Productions’ Copenhagen, with plans to follow with Holmes and Watson,but the strict capacity limitations being enforced at that time, combined with the public’s reluctance to start attending live shows again, made it impossible to generate a profit, and Pinard decided to reclose the theater.
“Holmes and Watson … got pushed back until audiences were ready and we could accommodate enough audience members safely,” Pinard said.
Now, as long as masks are worn and seats are distanced at least three feet apart, the Hatbox is able to operate at around 85 percent capacity.
“This enables us to … get to a point where productions not only break even but might actually come out ahead a little for their next production,” Pinard said.
For Locke, the reward of this show comes not from making a profit, he said, but from giving New Hampshire theater artists and theater-goers an opportunity to return to what they love.
“The cast is having the time of their lives, and I know that the audience is going to be really appreciative of the show we put on,” he said. “Obviously I don’t want to lose money, but if I do, at least I know it was well-spent.”
Holmes and Watson Where: Hatbox Theatre, Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord When: June 11 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: $22 for adults; $19 for students, seniors and members; and $16 for senior members Info: Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com
Featured photo: Holmes and Watson at the Hatbox Theatre. Courtesy photo. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
“Along the Marginal Way,” a watercolor by Frederick Dobrowolski, on display at Creative Framing Solutions. Courtesy photo.
• NHAA comes to Manchester: The New Hampshire Art Association has partnered with Creative Framing Solutions, located across from the Palace Theatre at 89 Hanover St. in Manchester, to provide an additional venue for members to exhibit and sell their work. “After the city reopened last year, I moved … to this larger venue [in Manchester], with plenty of wall space,” Grace Burr, Creative Framing Solutions owner and NHAA member, said in a press release. “I was thinking it would be great to expand the [NHAA] group and have a presence in Manchester.” NHAA artists are now able to rent two 12×12-foot walls in the frame shop and gallery, rotating on a monthly basis. June exhibitors include watercolor artists Claudia Michael and Frederick Dobrowolski, sharing one of the walls, and photographers Dennis Rainville and Nicki French, sharing the other wall. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• Sculptures in progress: The 14th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium is happening now, with three renowned sculptors in Nashua creating three outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. This year’s sculptors, all coming from the U.S., are Gavin Kenyon from New York, Sam Finkelstein from Maine, and Nora Valdez from Boston, Mass., originally from Argentina. They’re working Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., outside The Picker Artists studios (3 Pine St., Nashua) now through Friday, June 4, and then at the sculpture installation site in the courtyard at the corner of Church and Court streets from Saturday, June 5, until the closing ceremony on Saturday, June 12.During those times, the public is invited to watch the sculptors work and interact with them during their breaks (masks and social distancing required). The closing ceremony, at which the finished sculptures will be revealed, will take place at the installation site and will be available for the public to watch online. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.
• Last chance to see “Retablos”: The “Retablos Reconsidered” exhibit at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) will remain on view through June 6. It features works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. “[The works] reveal themes that personally, socially and politically affect [the artists’] lives,” the gallery stated in a press release. “Some reflect traditional religious themes within a contemporary context. Others are non-religious but are created to draw awareness to broad issues in our times and some reveal deeply personal stories.” Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.
• A prince’s tale: The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents Pippin at its home theater (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) from June 10 through July 17, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The musical, based on the book by Roger O. Hirson, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is the story of a young prince searching for meaning in his life, as told by a traveling theater troupe led by the mysterious Leading Player. Tickets cost $32 to $50. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• Live classical: The Rockingham Choral Society returns from its Covid hiatus with a spring concert, “In Meeting We Are Blessed,” on Saturday, June 5, at 7 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal (43 Pine St., Exeter). It will feature Mozart’s Missa Brevis in d minor with a chamber orchestra, as well as some shorter selections by composers Elaine Hagenberg and Troy Robertson. “As a way of maintaining our connection to each other and the choral music we love, we’ve spent the last year enriching and expanding our understanding of choral music and composers [and] learning new music,” Alex Favazza, the group’s director, said in a press release. “I’ve been impressed with the dedication and commitment of the choral society members over the past year, and it will be so satisfying to showcase their talents and passion for choral music for a live audience.” The concert is free and open to the public. Visit rockinghamchoral.org.
Art
Exhibits
• “RETABLOS RECONSIDERED” Exhibit features works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). On view now through June 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.
• “GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION THROUGH CUT AND PASTE” City Arts Nashua and The Nashua Telegraph present an exhibition featuring the works of Meri Goyette, including statement collages and collectible greetings cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. On display in the windows and lobby of the Telegraph offices (110 Main St., Suite 1, Nashua). Now through June 11. Visit cityartsnashua.org.
• “TRANSFORMATIONS: NATURE AND BEYOND” The New Hampshire Art Association presents works by digital artist William Townsend. Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 49 S. Main St., Concord. On display now through June 17. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 1. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through fall. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.
• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. Opens in June. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].
Fairs and markets
• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.
Special events
• 14TH ANNUAL NASHUA INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM Three renowned sculptors will spend three weeks in Nashua creating three outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. The public will be able to watch the sculptors work and interact with them during their breaks (masks and social distancing required). Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., now through Fri., June 4, outside The Picker Artists studios (3 Pine St., Nashua), and Sat., June 5 through Sat., June 12, at installation site. A closing ceremony and sculpture reveal will take place on Saturday, June 12 and will be recorded for the public to watch online. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.
• “FIRED UP!” OUTDOOR CERAMICS SHOW AND KILN OPENING Hosted by Kelley Stelling Contemporary at the studio of NH Potters Guild artist Al Jaeger (12 Perry Road, Deerfield). Sat., June 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.
Theater
• JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH JR. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) June 4 through June 12, with showtimes on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m., except for Sunday, June 12, which is at noon. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• QUEEN CITY IMPROV The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Fri., June 4, and Thurs., June 17, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.
• CONCORD DANCE ACADEMY ANNUAL RECITAL Livestream presented by The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. Sat., June 5, 1 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Visit ccanh.com.
• COMEDY OUT OF THE ’BOX The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Sat., June 5, and Thurs., June 24, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.
• THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE The New Hampshire Theatre Project presents. Virtual. Thurs., June 10, through Sat., June 12, 8 p.m., and Sun., June 13, 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Visit nhtheatreproject.org.
Two new sculptures to be installed in downtown Concord
Downtown Concord becomes an open-air art gallery through Art on Main, an initiative by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Creative Concord committee to commission public outdoor sculptures by professional sculptors from around New England for installation along Main Street.
Now in its fourth year, Art on Main is bringing in two new sculptures to be installed this month.
Both were created by Chris Plaisted, a Connecticut-based artist who was born and raised in Alstead, New Hampshire.
“This will sort of be a homecoming for me,” Plaisted said. “I still have many friends and family in the area, so part of the intent in participating was the hope that they will get to see my work.”
Plaisted’s large-scale, welded steel sculptures have appeared in dozens of outdoor art exhibits across the country. He described his work as being “primarily abstract, but often with figurative elements.”
His Concord-bound piece “Into the Wind” is a 12-foot-tall, 5-foot-wide and 5-foot-deep red steel sculpture that was prompted, Plaisted said, by a conversation he had with his friend about their shared sailing hobby and summer plans.
“I got to thinking about making a piece inspired by our boats, so this piece is an abstract of a sail cutting the wind,” he said.
At 9 feet tall, 32 inches wide and 32 inches deep, “Sunflower from Mars” is also red steel and was born out of Plaisted’s interest in the 1938 radio broadcast The War of the Worlds.
“The piece was then inspired by the idea that, what if Martians had actually landed in the U.S. and planted a seed? What would they have left behind?” he said.
The sculptures installed through Art on Main remain in Concord for one to two years, at the discretion of the Creative Concord committee. Plaisted’s piece will join several pieces that have been renewed for a second year. All are available to purchase, with 30 percent of the proceeds to be placed in a dedicated fund for Concord to acquire more permanent public art.
“The idea is that we’re bringing in new pieces on a fairly regular basis to keep sort of a fresh appearance of new art coming into the downtown,” Concord Chamber President Tim Sink said.
Sculptors are found through a call for art put out by Creative Concord in the winter. By the end of April, the committee makes its decision.
“We’re not looking for statues of George Washington,” Sink said. “We’re looking for [pieces] that are more non-traditional; that are large and capture your eye as you’re walking or driving down Main Street; and that are rugged and durable — something that kids could climb on.”
The best way to experience the art, Sink said, is to park on South Main Street and walk, starting in the area of the Capitol Center for the Arts, up to the New Hampshire Statehouse on North Main Street.
“It’s a very pedestrian-friendly atmosphere with lots of outdoor dining and shops, and you’ll pass these pieces along the way,” he said.
You can engage more with the pieces on Creative Concord’s website, which features professionally shot videos of the artists introducing themselves and discussing their sculptures. Sink said Creative Concord is looking to expand the Art on Main initiative to have a new mural created in downtown every year. They’re on track to have one completed by the end of the summer, though they haven’t chosen a location yet.
“We have plenty of canvases,” Sink said. “If you walk through downtown, you’ll see there are probably 14 or so sides of buildings that are highly visible and would be great for a mural.”
Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord and visitconcord-nh.com/art-in-concord, or call the Chamber at 224-2508.
Featured photo: “Into the Wind” by Chris Plaisted. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
“The Haze of July Flowers” by Jess Barnett. Courtesy photo.
• Call for summer art: Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnett is seeking artwork entries now through June 30 for her gallery’s first group art exhibition. New England artists are invited to submit one or two works that interpret the exhibit’s theme, “Summer Haze.” Eligible media include paintings, drawings, collage, encaustic, fiber art, digital art, book and paper art, textiles, mixed media, photography, printmaking and 3D art. The exhibition will be on view at the gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building at 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord) from Aug. 6 through Sept. 3, with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 13 (TBD if it will be virtual or in person). Barnett, who does primarily abstract art, opened the gallery in December 2019 to provide a venue for herself and other local and regional abstract artists to show their work. Call 393-1340 or visit jessbarnett.com.
• Film festival continues: The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival continues virtually now through Thursday, June 10. The festival features 11 independent foreign films — all New Hampshire premieres — as well as a series of food-themed shorts, from the United States, Israel, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland and Switzerland. This week’s titles include Golda (documentary, 2019, Israel and Germany) on Thursday, May 27; Here We Are (drama, 2020, Israel) on Friday, May 29; Queen of Hearts: Audrey Flack (documentary/biography, 2019, United States) on Sunday, May 30; Thou Shalt Not Hate (drama, 2020, Italy and Poland) on Wednesday, June 2; and A Lullaby for the Valley (documentary, 2020, Israel) on Thursday, June 3. Each film has a 72-hour watch window. Additionally there will be Q&A events with the filmmakers held over Zoom for Golda on Sunday, May 30, at 3 p.m., and for Queen of Hearts on Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets are per household and cost $12 per film or $43 for a four-pack film pass. The shorts series, which includes five short films, is free and available to watch at any point during the festival. Visit nhjewishfilmfestival.com.
• Theater in the park: Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, a new theater program at the Belknap Mill and the resident theater company of the Colonial Theater in Laconia, partners with the Community Players of Concord to present the Park Play Festival at Rotary Riverside Park (30 Beacon St. E., Laconia) on Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, at 3 p.m. The festival will feature short original plays written by eight New Hampshire playwrights who participated in a 10-week playwriting workshop hosted by the two theater companies last fall. “With the weather warming up and vaccination rates increasing, we are happy to be able to step outside and bring people together to perform some live theater in a safe manner,” Powerhouse manager and festival producer Bryan Halperin said in a press release. The festival is free, with donations appreciated. Attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on the grass in designated socially distanced areas. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org and belknapmill.org
• A look at Juneteenth: The Music Hall in Portsmouth presents a virtual event over Zoom with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Annette Gordon-Reed on Thursday, June 3, at 7 p.m., as part of its Innovation and Leadership series. Gordon-Reed will discuss her new book On Juneteenth, an exploration of Juneteenth and its importance to American history and the ongoing fight for equality. The discussion, to be moderated by Dr. Reginald A. Wilburn, an associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, will be followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets cost $5. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.
