The Weekly Dish 22/02/24

News from the local food scene

• Last call for LaBelle Lights: LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111) is closing out its inaugural LaBelle Lights outdoor light display with a special Mardi Gras celebration on Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 26, when there will be themed food and drink items available for purchase, as well as beads, Zydeco music and more. These will be the final two dates of the season that LaBelle Lights will be open on the winery’s golf course — the festive outdoor light show has been open since just before Thanksgiving and very quickly exceeded expectations with thousands of visitors in just the first month alone, owner Amy LaBelle told the Hippo in December. Plans are already underway to bring LaBelle Lights back to the winery next winter. Tickets to either of the last two dates this weekend are $15, and the hours are from 4:30 to 9 p.m. each evening. Visit labellewinery.com/lights to purchase tickets.

• Festival of wines: Speaking of Mardi Gras, there’s still time to get your tickets to A Mardi Gras Wine Festival, an event presented by St. Thomas Aquinas Church that’s happening at the Aquinas Center (26 Crystal Ave., Derry) on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. The evening is expected to include samplings and bottles for purchase from several New Hampshire-made wineries, including Zorvino Vineyards of Sandown, Appolo Vineyards of Derry and Flag Hill Distillery & Winery of Lee. There will also be live music, raffles, games, a door prize, food and more. Tickets are $40 per person or $70 per couple and can be purchased online or over the phone. Visit stthomasderry.org, find the event on Facebook or call the church office at 432-5000.

• Go Greek: Join St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St., Manchester), for An Apokreatiko Celebration, another Mardi Gras-themed event, happening on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 7 to 11 p.m. inside the church hall. There will be a variety of hors d’oeuvres available, in addition to a cash bar, Greek and American dancing, and a live performance from Greek DJs The Salonica Boys. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased either in advance or at the door. Children under the age of 12 receive free admission. In the coming months, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral has other upcoming drive-thru events planned, according to its most recent newsletter, including a lamb shank dinner on March 19, a fish dinner on April 17 and a gyro event on May 21. Visit stgeorgenh.org or call the church office at 622-9113.

On The Job – Dave Gambaccini

Dave Gambaccini

Commercial real estate advisor

Dave Gambaccini is a Certified Commercial Investment Member and the senior advisor at Colliers Financial Services in Manchester, a commercial real estate brokerage firm and investment management company.

Explain your job.

I secure commercial loans for commercial real estate owners, investors and developers. I structure and underwrite loans … evaluate development or redevelopment budgets and … source loan proposals from multiple lenders at once, saving time and maximizing lending options for my clients.

How long have you had this job? 

I [was previously] managing my own local firm, securing private equity and debt for commercial developments. I joined Colliers last year.

What led you to this career field and your current job? 

I began investing in real estate in 2006, creating my own portfolio of properties. Eventually, it became a career. … I started on the brokerage side of the business … and moved into capital markets, helping [clients] to secure private investor money and lender debt.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I have earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member Designation … [which] represents proven expertise in financial, market, user, and investment analysis, as well as negotiations. … CCIMs complete a rigorous program of advanced coursework and training in financial and market analysis and demonstrate extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry. Less than 10 percent of commercial real estate professionals are CCIMs.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

When the pandemic really set in, real estate developments came to a screeching halt. There was too much uncertainty, which created less demand for private equity and debt. As Covid restrictions and market fluctuations stabilized … the demand for private equity started coming back; however, investor confidence was still low, which brought an increased demand for debt. Now, with the looming threat of increasing interest rates, we are … helping our clients secure cash out refinancing to take advantage of the low cost to borrow capital.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

It took a while before I found my path. … I have a science degree [and] spent nearly 15 years in corporate America before turning personal investments into a career. … Finding industry mentors helped guide my path, and finding them sooner may have helped.

What do you wish other people knew about your job? 

I secure purchase loans, refinancing, cash out refinancing, permanent and construction loans and even bridge or mezzanine loans. Working directly with a lender is common; however, I can source multiple lenders at the same time [so that] you are getting the most competitive offer from multiple sources.

What was the first job you ever had?

I started working for my father when I was 12 … [at his] landscape [and] construction company.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received? 

Always conduct yourself as if your name is on the door. Who you are is more important than what you do. Your reputation and how you treat people and conduct business is what gets you through life.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. The kids love it.
Favorite movie: Any Pixar movie — full of adult humor, yet kid-friendly.
Favorite music: All the music I grew up listening to while working with my dad — Dean Martin, Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Jerry Reed, outlaw country and, of course, ’90s hair bands.
Favorite food: Italian, specifically our authentic family recipes.
Favorite thing about NH: Easy access to mountains, lakes, beaches, oceans and my family in Massachusetts.

Featured photo: Dave Gambaccini. Courtesy photo.

Treasure Hunt 22/02/24

Dear Donna,

We have been using this weight for a door stop. It’s super heavy and has a 4K on it. I think it is brass but I’m not sure.

Can you give us any information on it? We know it’s old because it belonged to my husband’s father. That’s all we know other than it works for a door stop.

Stacey from Tilton

Dear Stacey,

It took me a minute and some research to figure out your door stop, so thanks for the opportunity to learn something new!

What you have is a piece of sports memorabilia. It’s called a shot put and the 4K is the weight of it. That translates into about 8 pounds. It’s meant to be thrown. Then the distance is measured in field competition.

The value of older brass ones is in the range of $100, so you have a treasure for a door stop. I’m glad you have a new use for your shot put.

Kiddie Pool 22/02/24

Family fun for the weekend

High-flying show

• The Grand Shanghai Circus will show off their acrobatic feats in shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) this Saturday, Feb. 26, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $24.50 to $54.50. Search “Grand Shanghai Circus” to see clips of their shows featuring aerial acrobatics, juggling and more.

Fun with pool noodles

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (2 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) is open Tuesdays through Sundays, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon all six days as well as from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Admission costs $11 per person, $9 for 65+ (no charge for children under 1). On Thursday, Feb. 24, catch the second day of the Pool Noodle Workshop with Homeslice Puppetry. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the museum will host a virtual class by Eric from Homeslice and provide materials so kids can make a puppet to take home, according to the website, which says the workshop is included in admission to a Thursday session. The website describes the project as being good for ages 3 and up with a grownup to help. Or head to the museum on Friday — both Feb. 25 and March 4 have “Science Friday” programming on the schedule. Reserve admission for the museum online.

Science outing

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is open daily through Sunday, March 6, with sessions from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. There will be four planetarium shows daily, according to the website, which recommends purchasing timed tickets in advance. Admission costs $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors and $8.50 for kids ages 3 to 12 (admission is free for children 2 and under; masks required for visitors over the age of 2). Planetarium show tickets cost $5 per person (free for children 2 and under); see the website for the schedule of planetarium shows.

• Though normally closed on Mondays, the SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) will be open Monday, Feb. 28, as well as Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Purchase reservations in advance via the website (masks are required for all visitors age 2 and up); admission costs $10 per person ages 3 and up.

Winter fun

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court in Manchester; 622-6159, mcintyreskiarea.com) has holiday hours: The lift is slated to operate daily through Saturday, March 5, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The snowtubing Bonneville Thrill Hill hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 3 p.m., 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. daily through Saturday, March 5. See the website for daily updates on weather and ski conditions.

• NH Audubon is holding a “Winter Woodland Wander” on Tuesday, March 1, at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org, 668-2045). A $15 ticket covers a family of four. During the hour-long program, attendees will hit the trails in search of tracks and other signs of wildlife, according to the website, where tickets can be purchased.

• Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road in Warner; indianmuseum.org, 456-2600) is holding a Snow Snake Winter Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 26, and Sunday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Learn to play the Abenaki outdoor game Snow Snake, featuring a wooden snake. The outdoor event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature a used book sale. Admission to the museum itself costs $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $7 for children 6 to 12 and $26 for a family of two adults and children under 18.

Seed shopping

A few ideas to get you started

When I was a young man my mailbox was often blessed with seed catalogs at this time of year. Now? Not so much. Back then I pored over them. I drooled over the listings. I wrote checks for small amounts and mailed them off to the companies offering the best-sounding varieties.

Now? Most seeds are sold online. Yes, my favorite feed-and-grain store, some hardware stores and the local food coop still sell seeds over the counter. And I do get a few catalogs in the mail. But seeds are largely sold through the internet.

One company that still sends me a catalog in the mail is called “Seeds from Italy” (also at GrowItalian.com). I’ve been following this company, which is based in Lawrence, Kansas, since a friend of mine bought it in 2011. His son, Will Nagengast, just took over and I called him to chat a bit after I got his catalog.

According to Will, the American palate is just discovering bitter vegetables. Italians, however, have been eating and enjoying those distinct flavors for a long time. So they feature many vegetables that are not commonly sold by other seed companies; they market seeds from Italy.

One I have tried is Cima di Rapa or broccoli raab, which I often see in cooking magazines, but not at the grocery store. It is unpleasant unless cooked, but cooked it is much like broccoli. It does not form a big head like broccoli, however — it’s all side shoots.

Do you like arugula? They sell five kinds, including a wild arugula (which can seed in if you let it). Then there are a dozen kinds of radicchio, including a pink-leafed one (Radicchio del Veneto) that Will says is very popular. Never grown radicchio? It can be eaten raw in a salad, or fried with bacon and shrimp, or put in a stir-fry or soup. Grilling or cooking it makes the flavor sweeter. Most varieties are red-leafed and round, but some are elongated like romaine lettuce.

I’m ordering seeds for a winter squash Will recommended: Butternut Rugosa. He says it is much larger than the Waltham butternut I normally grow: up to 30 or 40 pounds! He said it keeps for up to four months in a cool, dry place. He oven-roasts them and then freezes most of these big squash. Will uses the sweet, creamy meat for making homemade ravioli.

Fruition Seeds in the Finger Lake Region of New York State was started in 2012 by Petra Page-Mann and Michael Goldfarb. They are fully organic farmers, and most of what they grow are heirloom seeds, but they have developed a few varieties themselves through their breeding program. They encourage their customers to save seeds and use their own. I called Petra recently to see what they have added to their seed line.

August Ambrosia is a short-season watermelon that Fruition developed over a six-year period in collaboration with Cornell University. They tested it each year with visitors to the farm to get just what people wanted: sweet, juicy melons that, even if planted in June, will produce ripe melons in August. The rinds are thin and the seeds are small. Petra told me on the phone that you can eat the seeds — or have fun spitting them!

“Food is so social. Growing and sharing food is how we remember to be human,” Petra told me. So she welcomes visitors to the farm, and shares her food — and her fantastic enthusiasm — with her visitors. And she learns what appeals to her customers, which is good business.

Fruition sells seed for two interesting cabbages: Kalibos is a deep purple cabbage, cone shaped, with big hips. According to the website, it is best as a fall cabbage; sow in early or mid-July for best results. You can seed them in six-packs in early July and transplant them into the garden in early August at two-foot spacing. Harvest them in October and November to get heads of optimal size and sweetness.

Mermaid’s Tale is a cross between Kalibos and early green cone-headed cabbage. Each one is unique in color, shape and flavor: lime green to emerald with lavender to burgundy veining. Sharp or subtle flavor.

Another specialty of Fruition Seeds is their “Hope is a Verb” dahlia. Each seed is unique and each flower is different, made from innumerable crosses of dwarf and semi-dwarf collarette-style dahlias. Petra explained to me that dahlias have eight sets of chromosomes, and consequently have many ways of expressing their genes. The plants are 2 feet tall or less, with blooms 1 to 3 inches across. She said they are fabulous for short seasons and lower light conditions. I shall start some.

Lastly I shall order Spotlight Snow Peas from Fruition Seeds. Some will be green, some purple, some mixed colors. They are very early (or late if planted in early August for a fall crop), very sweet, and 3 feet tall or less. Petra says they taste great and only take 52 days to harvest!

Every company has something unique and wonderful. Buy your seeds now, as some seed companies will sell out before summer. And if you haven’t tried starting seeds indoors, I’ll tell you about that next week.

Featured photo: Hope is a Verb dahlia. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/02/24

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

• Wild Salamander owners retiring: Wild Salamander Creative Arts Center (30 Ash St., Hollis) will close its doors in June, according to an announcement on its website. Owners KC Morgan and Charlie Morgan said in the announcement that, after 10 years of running the art center, they have decided to retire. “It has been an honor, a privilege, and a great deal of fun to be a part of the journey for artists both young and old, seasoned and beginner, student and teacher,” they said. “We have made friends who will forever be a part of our lives. We look forward to finding new ways to bring awareness to the arts in our local community.” Over the last decade, Wild Salamander has hosted 2,300 classes and camps, where more than 6,000 students have been taught by 100 artists, and the center’s Whitty Gallery and Wild Little Art Shop have generated more than $120,000 for local artists, the announcement stated. Registration is open for in-person and online classes and workshops that will continue being offered through June. Programs are offered for kids and adults and include working with clay, felting, drawing, jewelry making and more. February hours for the gallery and shop are Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit wildsalamander.com or call 465-9453.

Art for bid
The New Hampshire Art Association’s permanent collection auction is open for online bidding now through Saturday, Feb. 26, closing at 5 p.m. The auction features 75 pieces acquired by NHAA over the last 40 years, including pieces by former and current NHAA members. “Over the years, NHAA has been home to some very talented artists, and we are pleased to be able to offer some of their pieces to the public at very reasonable prices,” NHAA board president Renee Giffroy said in a press release. Bidders can see the pieces in person at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. To 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Last call for these fabric art exhibits: Catch the “Translating Nature Into Fabric” exhibit at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua) before it’s gone on Saturday, Feb. 26. It features 15 art quilts by Hollis artist Ellen Fisher, with nature-based designs, such as trees and streams, inspired by Fisher’s career as a landscape designer and conservationist. “I am not as interested in making other people’s designs but very interested in figuring out my own, and I do this with great respect for the traditional quilting world,” Fisher told the Hippo last month. “I have a real root system in traditional quilting that I have just interpreted in my own way.” Most quilts are for sale. The exhibit can be viewed during library hours, which are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit nashualibrary.org or call 589-4600.

See the special exhibit “As Precious as Gold, Carpets from the Islamic World” at the Currier Museum of Art(150 Ash St., Manchester) before it closes on Sunday, Feb. 27. On loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, the exhibit features 32 carpets with various geographical origins, dating from the 15th century to the 19th century, including a Spanish rug, three Egyptian rugs, Lotto and Holbein patterned carpets, a 16th-century Ushak medallion and a late 17th-century small medallion carpet. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17, and is free for members and children under age 13. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are required for visitors age 2 and up, and proof of vaccination is required for visitors age 5 and up (at least one dose for visitors under age 12, and at least two doses for visitors age 12 and up). Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• A dance through life: Manchester-based theater company Theatre Kapow presents Dance Nation at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry), with showtimes on Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. The Pulitzer Prize-finalist play by Clare Barron follows a group of pre-teen competition dancers, played by adult actors, as they navigate the challenges of growing up. “Just reading Dance Nation was like being struck by lightning,” director Wanda Strukus said in a press release. “It’s bold, intense, and fierce. It’s filled with an adolescent urgency, joy, and terror that truly feels like a force of nature.” Attendees must present proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid test and must wear a mask to enter the theater. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors age 62 and up and students. Visit tkapow.com/dancenation.

Auto oil
See “Vehicular Narratives,” an exhibition of paintings by local artist William Turner, at The Art Center (located inside the Washington Mill, 1 Washington St., Suite 1177, Dover) before it’s gone on Monday, Feb. 28. Turner worked in the auto body restoration business for 30 years before becoming a full-time painter, earning BFA and MFA degrees in visual arts and painting from the former New Hampshire Institute of Art (now the Institute of Art and Design at New England College). His oil paintings, which he describes as “narrative realism,” have depicted distressed vehicles and machinery, vintage toys and stories from Greek and Roman mythology and folklore told through imagery of automobiles. All works are for sale. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with private appointments available by request. Visit theartcenterdover.com.

ART

Auctions and sales

• NEW HAMPSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION PERMANENT COLLECTION AUCTION Fundraiser auction features 75 pieces acquired by NHAA over the last 40 years, including pieces by former and current NHAA members. Pieces will be on view starting Wed., Feb. 16, at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth). Online bidding will run Fri., Feb. 18, through Sat., Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Masks are required indoors. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230 to learn more.

Exhibits

• “FOR THE LOVE OF IMPRESSION” Exhibit features prints created using traditional techniques and materials, combined with contemporary aesthetics, new materials, and technology by eight local artists who are members of the group New Hampshire Printmakers. Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Now through March 5. All pieces are for sale. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• “SETTING THE STANDARD” Exhibit features new work from League jurors in all media areas. League of New Hampshire Craftsmen headquarters, 49 S. Main St., #100, Concord. Now through March 31. Regular exhibition hours are Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Visit nhcrafts.org.

• “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 view April 14 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 under age 13 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.

• “ECHOES: ABSTRACT PAINTING TO MODERN QUILTING” Exhibit features abstract paintings inspired by the bold colors, asymmetry, improvisational layout, alternate grid work and negative space in composition of modern quilting. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). April 22 through May 14. Visit twovillagesart.org.

“NATURE AT NIGHT: PAINTINGS BY OWEN KRZYZANIAK GEARY” Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). May 27 through June 18. Visit twovillagesart.org.

Workshops and Classes

• PASTEL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Feb. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.

• WINTER ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. 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.

• 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.

THEATER

Shows

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

• DEADLY Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents an original movement-based theater piece by Crystal Rose Welch. Granite State Arts Academy (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, Salem). Fri., March 4, through Sun., March 6. Visit cztheatre.com.

• LITTLE WOMEN The Franklin Footlight Theatre presents. Franklin Opera House (316 Central St., Franklin). Thurs., March 10, through Sat., March 12, 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., March 13, 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. Visit franklinoperahouse.org or call 934-1901.

• BYE BYE BIRDIE Mainstage production by The Palace Theatre. 80 Hanover St., Manchester. March 11 through April 3. Tickets range from $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• CHICKEN LITTLE presented by Upside Arts. The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). March 12 through March 20, with showtimes on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $15 for kids under age 12. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• PUFFS! OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A CERTAIN SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND MAGIC Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents. Granite State Arts Academy (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, Salem). Fri., April 29, through Sun., May 1. Visit cztheatre.com.

• MUSICAL MOM Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). May 5 through May 15. Showtimes are 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. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• LAST GAS Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., May 6, through Sun., May 8. Tickets cost $18 for adults, $16 for youth ages 17 and under, $16 for seniors age 65 and up. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• THE BALD SOPRANO Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). June 17 through June 26. Showtimes are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Classical

• WINTER MAINSTAGE CONCERT The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra performs. The Music Hall Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth. Sun., March 13, 3 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $35 for adults, $20 for students and $25 to $30 for seniors age 60 and up. Call 436-2400 or visit themusichall.org.

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