Can you provide me with any information on this pair of earrings? Are they gold?
Karen
Dear Karen,
Your set of earrings was put out in 1997 by the United States Postal Service, representing 32-cent stamps and characters from Warner Bros. They are not real gold but have a beautiful golden color to them. The top has Tweety Bird and the stamps have Bugs Bunny.
Yours appear to be in great shape, but the value of the ones I found is not very high, maybe because so many were made. It is possible that time might increase the values. For now, though, they are under $10. I would wrap them with this information and check on them in another 10 years, or pass them to someone who will.
All but the south-southeastern-iest parts of the state are decidedly past peak foliage, according to the state’s foliage tracker (visitnh.gov/seasonal-trips/fall/foliage-tracker) on Nov. 1. But there are still some fun autumnal views worth viewing out in the natural world. (And, as of Nov. 1, WMUR is predicting a mild weekend in the low 50s.)
• Find a list of the New Hampshire Audubon’s 39 wildlife sanctuaries across the state at nhaudubon.org/lands/sanctuaries. The sanctuaries are free and open to the public for “passive recreation” (like hiking) and rules about dogs vary by location. Find locations, descriptions and maps for the sanctuaries on the website.
• Beaver Brook Association’s (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) 35 miles of trails and 12 themed gardens are also free and open from dawn to dusk, the website said. Find trail guides on the website, as well as (on the “visit us” page) descriptions of four stroller-friendly hikes.
• And get some art and nature at the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Hollis; andresinstitute.org) open daily from dawn to dusk. There are printable trail maps online, where you can also find a rundown of all the sculptures in the park and view the sculptures on each trail.
Science on their day off
• Looking ahead to next Thursday, Nov. 11, when many schools may be closed: Check out the SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) from noon to 2 p.m. when the UNH students from Team Cooke, who are taking part in a research project that will go to the International Space Station, will be at SEE to discuss doing science experiments in space and lead hands-on activities, according to the website. Make reservations for museum admission online; sessions are available at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Admission costs $10 for visitors ages 3 and up. The center is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is open Fridays through Sundays (with admission times at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) during the school year. It will also be open Thursday, Nov. 11. Go online to reserve a time slot; admission costs $11.50 for adults, $8.50 for children (ages 3 to 12), $10.50 for students ages 13 through college and for seniors.
More midweek entertainment
• The Pembroke Town Library (313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke; 485-7851, pembroke-nh.com/library) will present the Toe Jam Puppet Band Variety Show in the library’s parking lot on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. Dress warmly and bring chairs for a show with the “wacky and wild” band, a release from the library said.
• The Palace Teen Company will present The Little Mermaid on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. The show will feature actors ages 12 to 18, according to the website. Tickets cost $12 to $15.
I love the winter, but by March I am ready for spring. I usually have some snowdrops blooming in March on a south-facing hillside, but they are subtle, not bodacious blooms. So I plant lots of bulbs indoors in the fall and keep them cool until it is time to bring them into the warmth of the house, and I get indoor tulips, daffodils and more in March. That’s what forcing bulbs is all about. It’s simple, really, but there are a few tips I can share since I do this every year.
Most bulbs are described on their packages as early, mid-season or late. Go to your local garden center and look for bulbs that are labeled as early bloomers — they are the best for forcing. Buy daffodils, some tulips and maybe some small bulbs like crocus or grape hyacinths. You can plant these bulbs in large pots or even in your window box if you bring it in.
You will also need some potting soil and compost. I make a mix that is half compost, half potting soil for forcing bulbs. I don’t use garden soil because it can be heavy and often stays wet. Bulbs can rot if they are left in wet soil for too long. I often reuse the potting mix that I used for growing annual plants outdoors in summer. I just pull up the summer’s plants, fluff up the soil, add some compost as needed, and make sure it is damp to start. If it is dry, I water it before I plant my bulbs.
Each year I plant about 25 daffodils in a window box that is about 30 inches long, 6 inches wide and deep. I prefer to get all of one kind so that they all bloom at once.
I fill the window box a little more than half full with my mixture of compost and potting soil and place the bulbs, pointy end up, in the soil. Once I have them all in place I push them down more and fill up the box with more potting soil-compost mixture.
Be sure to label each pot with the date planted, and what is planted. Later that will tell you when you can bring it into the warmth. Daffodils take about 12 weeks of dormancy before they should be brought into the warmth of the house, and tulips do better with 4 full months. Little things like crocus can be forced in 8 to 10 weeks.
Often bulbs will send roots out through the holes in the bottom of the pot or send up green shoots telling you they are ready. But don’t rush the process. Tulips brought up early will have nice green leaves, but no flowers.
Ideally temperatures for bulbs used for forcing will be between 32 and 50 degrees, though colder temperatures should not be a problem (my basement often goes below freezing for a few days). Left in a warm location, the bulbs will grow green tops — but not blossoms. Bulbs left in a cold basement or garage will do just fine. Inside the bulkhead to your cellar might be the right temperature, too.
You need to be aware that rodents like eating bulbs (indoors or out) — especially tulips. My basement has, most years, harbored mice and sometimes even a resident red squirrel. Unlike tulips, daffodils are not of interest to rodents as they are mildly poisonous. I keep my pots of tulips covered with hardware cloth (a fine-mesh metal screening available at hardware stores). But wear gloves if you cut hardware cloth to size — the edges are as sharp as razor wire.
You can double your production of blooms by planting two layers of bulbs in a container. Plant big bulbs deep in the pots, add soil, and then plant a layer of crocus or other small bulbs above them.
It is important to check on the bulbs you are forcing at least once a month, particularly if you have put wire rodent-proofing over the containers. I’ve had shoots try to grow through the hardware cloth and get damaged. If the bulbs are sending up shoots, remove the wire mesh. I also don’t want the soil mix to get bone dry, so I check it and water a little if it’s dry. The bulbs will grow roots when first planted, and then go dormant if kept in a dark, cold location.
When it is time to bring up your potted bulbs into a warm place, let them wake up gently. My mudroom is good for starting them: there is some sunshine but it is cool. Then, once the shoots are up and green, I place the containers on my sunniest window sills, either east- or west-facing.
Most bulbs that have been forced are not likely to flower the following year, even if you keep the foliage alive until spring and plant them outside. I’ve done it, and some daffodils will build up the energy to blossom after a while, but tulips are not so cooperative.
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, many years ago. There I could have flowers blooming every day of the year. It spoiled me, perhaps, because I still want flowers every day. Forcing bulbs is one way to have lots of blossoms when there is snow on the ground. So don’t wait until mid-December to start your bulbs; get on this project now.
Featured photo:Forced tulips are my favorites. .Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Symphonic suites: Symphony New Hampshire presents its second concert of the season, “Suites and Schubert,” on Friday, Nov. 5, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St., Nashua). The concert, conducted by artistic director Roger Kalia, will feature music by Bach, Schubert and Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra in 1933. Notable pieces will include Price’s Suite of Dances, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, “Air on a G String,” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. Ticket prices range from $20 to $60 for adults and $18 to $55 for seniors age 65 and up. Admission is free for children with a paying adult. Visit symphonynh.org or call 595-9156.
Art by Kristin Watts, a featured artist at the Warner and Contoocook Art Event and Shopping Tour. Courtesy photo.
• Art weekend in the villages: The Warner Historical Society and Kearsarge Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Warner and Contoocook Art Event and Shopping Tour from Friday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 7. Art galleries and studios in both villages will be open, with artists onsite to discuss and demonstrate their art. There will be a variety of art and crafts for sale, including jewelry, fine art, baskets, pottery, wooden ware, dreamcatchers and more. The event will kick off at the Upton Chandler House Museum (15 W. Main St., Warner) on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., and will continue at various locations throughout the weekend. On Saturday only, participating locations will include the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner), MainStreet BookEnds Gallery (16 E. Main St., Warner) and Copper Canoe Gallery (916 Main St., Contoocook,), all from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participating locations on Saturday and Sunday will include Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St., Contoocook), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days; Café One East (1 E. Main St., Warner), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days; and the Upton Chandler House Museum and Contoocook Depot (896 Main St., Contoocook), both from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Visit warnerhistorical.org or kearsargechamber.org.
• A night of Duke Ellington: The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington with “Salute to Duke” on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). The concert will feature the music of Ellington, some classics and some lesser-known pieces, performed in various sounds and styles. Tickets cost $40. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities or call 641-7700.
• Watch that scene: Mamma Mia! continues at The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) through Nov. 14, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. The jukebox musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson features 28 songs by the 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA, including hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Mamma Mia.” Set on a Greek island, the story follows Sophie, a young woman who is engaged to be married and dreams of the perfect wedding at which her father walks her down the aisle. The only problem is she doesn’t know who her father is. After looking through her mother’s old journals, Sophie invites three of her potential fathers to the wedding, but the identity of her real father is not as clear as she thought it would be. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
Covid poetry book launch
The New Hampshire Center for the Book and the New Hampshire State Library will host a virtual book launch event for COVID Spring II: More Granite State Pandemic Poems on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. The book, published by Hobblebush Books and edited by New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary, is an anthology of poetry by 51 New Hampshire residents about the pandemic experience in New Hampshire and the followup to COVID Spring: Granite State Pandemic Poems, which was released in September 2020. The event will include an introduction from Mary Russell, Director of the New Hampshire Center for the Book, and discussions with other special guests. Registration is required. Visit hobblebush.com or call 715-9615.
ART
Exhibits
• “TRUTH BE TOLD: AN ARTFUL GATHERING OF WOMEN” Two Villages Art Society presents a collaborative exhibit of works by 14 women artists — seven who identify as Black and seven who identify as white — from across the country who have been meeting bi-weekly over Zoom to discuss race. On view now through Nov. 13. Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception with two of the artists will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.
• “WPA IN NH: PHILIP GUSTON AND MUSA MCKIM” Exhibit features a pair of 14-foot monumental murals painted by artist Philip Guston and poet and painter Musa McKim for the Federal forestry building in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1941. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Dec. 5. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com
.• “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit in-person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Nov. 2 through Dec. 31. An artist reception will be held at the gallery on Fri., Nov. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.
• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.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.
• “9/11” Exhibit features images of the September 11 attacks and the aftermath, taken by war photographer Jim Nachtwey. On view now. The 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.
THEATER
Shows
• WONDERS Phylloxera Productions presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Now through Nov. 7, 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. Visit hatboxnh.com.
• MAMMA MIA Palace Theatre presents. 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Now through Nov. 14, with showtimes Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
• BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord). Fri, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44.50. Visit ccanh.com.
• ALL TOGETHER NOW!Produced by the Community Players of Concord’s Children’s Theater Project. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 13, 2 p.m. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.
• THE WEDDING SINGER Presented by Peacock Players. Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua). Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, with showtimes Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit peacockplayers.org.
• 9/12 New World Theatre presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, 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. Visit hatboxnh.com.
Classical
• “SUITES AND SCHUBERT” Symphony New Hampshire presents music by Bach, Schubert and Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra in 1933. Notable pieces will include Price’s Suite of Dances, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, “Air on a G String,” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St., Nashua). Fri., Nov. 5. Visit symphonynh.org.
Exhibits, make-and-take crafts, demos and more on the Route 3 Art Trail
Building on a small but successful inaugural event, the second annual Route 3 Art Trail returns with more artists, more demonstrations and more hands-on activities at three anchor locations — Kimball Jenkins, Twiggs Gallery and MakingMatters — plus a cluster of small studios in between. The event takes place Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Adele Sanborn, owner of Twiggs Gallery in Boscawen, came up with the idea last year to create the art trail as sort of a replacement for NH Open Doors, which the gallery used to take part in.
Doug Egounis handcrafts furniture and holiday decorations. Courtesy photo.
“We are connecting [the public] with local artists this way instead,” Twiggs Gallery Manager Laura Morrison said. “The ultimate idea is to create an arts corridor that’s north of Concord.”
During the event, Twiggs will open its annual holiday exhibit Sleighbell Studio for the season.
“During November and into mid-December we kind of turn it into more of a shop for people to pick up gifts,” Morrison said.
If weather permits, the gallery will also host a bonfire from 1 to 3 p.m., where people can roast marshmallows, drink hot chocolate and listen to caroling, and it will offer free kits for making holiday cards.
MakingMatters in Penacook is another of the tour’s anchor stops, and MakingMatters Treasurer Sandra May said they’ll have 10 or 11 demonstrators.
“We’ve more than doubled what we had last year,” she said. “We [also] have a full house of resident artists.”
Some of the demonstrations will be done by non-resident artists, including a bowl turner and a wood carver from the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers and a sculpturist. There will be some hands-on activities, including happiness rocks, collage painting and two free classes: posca pen paint art for all ages, and cyanotype image printing for mature kids and adults. For the posca pen class, people are welcome to bring objects from home to paint on.
Jo Shields incorporates recycled objects into her work. Courtesy photo.
May said she’s looking forward to “sharing the energy of the arts community that’s north of Concord.”
“I think Penacook doesn’t always get the love it deserves,” she said.
Also in Penacook, mixed-metal artist Jo Shields is back on the art trail after getting a lot of traffic last year at her studio, located inside her house. Shields was just juried into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and is starting to get some of her pieces into the League stores. She uses all kinds of recycled objects in her jewelry, including old knitting needles, pieces of metal she’s found on the road, old porcelain dolls and cut-up silver-plated trays.
“I like to work with copper, and I make a lot of earrings. I love making necklaces. My stuff is very different, kind of funky and fun,” she said.
Also at Shields’ studio will be her friend Diane Fishel of Ofishel Designs!
“She makes some of the most awesome handbags,” Shields said.
Both will be doing demonstrations; Shields will be doing repousse, a metalworking technique, while Fishel will be painting on fabric.
Back in Boscawen, glass artist Karen Mehos will open her studio and home retail shop, Gadzooks Glass, for tours and shopping, as well as demonstrations if the weather is warm enough. Mehos makes fused glass ornaments, bowls, votive holders and night lights. Up until now it’s mostly been just for fun, but she was intrigued by the idea of opening up her home and studio for the tour.
“I’ve never done this before, [but I thought] I should really sell [my work] because it’s piling up,” she said. “I just want to make pretty things that other people can enjoy.”
Mehos has been working with fused glass for about eight years, having done stained glass in college.
Small glass bowl by Karen Mehos. Courtesy photo.
“Life happened, then I [eventually] moved into my own place with my own little shed, and that’s where I work,” she said.
Mehos will have something for every price range; most will be less than $50, and many are in the $10 to $25 range.
“The more complex they get, the price goes up,” she said. “I can spend anywhere from an hour to a day just putting the glass in place and making it go the way I want it to.”
Her priciest item is a bowl that features a sunset, which she spent three months working on.
“That bowl is a labor of love and passion,” she said. “That image popped into my head and it was my job to get that image out of my head and into the glass.”
Several other artists will open up their shops for the Route 3 Art Trail, as will the third anchor location, Kimball-Jenkins, which is in the northern part of Concord. It will have its Salon 2021 exhibit open for viewing.
Each of the locations will have an item to raffle off; pick up your Passport at your first stop, then visit at least five more sites to be eligible to participate.
Route 3 Art Trail
When: Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Various locations throughout Boscawen, Penacook and northern Concord More info: For a map, visit route3arttrail.com.
Trail stops
On King Street in Boscawen:
Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St.
Twiggs Gallery’s holiday exhibit Sleighbell Studio will open for the season. Weather permitting, there will be a bonfire from 1 to 3 p.m. for roasting marshmallows, plus hot chocolate and caroling by the Boscawen Congregational Church Choir. Take home a free kit to create a unique holiday card.
Gadzooks Glass, 232 King St.
Glass artist Karen Mehos will open her studio for tours and demonstrations, weather permitting, and she will have her retail space open to sell her small ornaments, night lights, votive holders, platters and bowls.
Susan Douglass, 231 King St.
Susan Douglass will have a tent set up outside her home to showcase the sculptures and whimsical items she creates for the home and garden. Everything is made from upcycled objects.
Chadwick Hill Rustic Furniture, 187 King St.
Furniture craftsman Doug Egounis creates log furniture made from a variety of wood such as black birch, white birch, maple and pine. He will be making a bench and some small reindeers during the tour.
Marshall’s Flowers & Gifts, 151 King St.
Marshall’s Flowers & Gifts features New Hampshire-made gifts, fresh, dried and silk arrangements and dish gardens. Stop by to watch the florist designing fresh flower arrangements.
In Penacook:
Dreamland Machine Quilting, 15 Fowler St.
Quilter Tracy Szanto provides custom machine quilting, custom-made T-shirt quilts and other quilted items and gifts. Tracy will have her quilting machine set up to do demos and will also demonstrate how she paints on fabric.
Jo Shields Studio, 5 Steeple View
Jo Shields is a mixed-metal jeweler; she invited Diane Fishel of Ofishel Designs! to join her for the day. Jo will be demonstrating repoussé, a metalworking technique, and Diane will be demonstrating painting on fabric.
MakingMatters NH, 88 Village St.
MakingMatters NH is Concord’s makerspace and artist/business incubator. It will be offering facility tours, artisan and equipment demos and children’s make-and-take craft stations. There will be two free classes: Explore Posca Paint Pen Art from 11 a.m. to noon and Cyanotype Image Printing Workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sign up at makingmattersnh.wildapricot.org.
In Concord:
Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St.
Kimball Jenkins Salon 2021 exhibit will be open for viewing. The exhibition explores the diversity of studio practices and media from a range of regional artists and is hung floor-to-ceiling, salon-style.
Featured photo: Susan Douglass upcycles glass objects for home and garden. Courtesy photo.
How the princesses, clowns, jugglers and other performers are keeping the party going
Everyone could use a little magic these days, and these local entertainers are up to the task of bringing that magic to New Hampshire communities and families. We talked via phone and email with eight entertainers — two princesses, two clowns, an old-time magician, a fire-breathing juggler, one of Santa’s helpers and even a unicorn queen with “real” unicorns — about how they got into the business of making kids’ dreams come true, what goes into becoming a character and how they’ve adapted throughout the pandemic.
Andrew Pinard, Absolutely Magic
Pinard is a magician and variety performer offering entertainment for private and public events throughout the state. He has a number of original shows, including a family-friendly vaudeville-style magic show called Alejandro’s Olde Tyme Magik Showe. Visit absomagic.com.
Andrew Pinard
What is your stage persona or character?
While the name of my family audience show is Alejandro’s Olde Tyme Magik Showe, my character is still named Andrew. Alejandro was a name that I first encountered as a child, and it sounded mystical. With my name starting with an ‘A,’ it seemed a natural fit.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
Until the pandemic hit, performance was my full-time job, [and had been] for 30 years. I’m mainly performing part-time right now while serving as Executive Director of the Claremont Opera House, but I expect [performance] will always be a part of my life.
How did you get into this?
I’ve been interested in performance, specifically theater, since I was a young child. I got interested in magic and gave my first magic show at a school assembly show when I was in second grade. I started performing music in fifth grade and theater in sixth and haven’t looked back. At one time, I had the notion of being a music teacher, but theater and variety [performance] put out its siren song, and by 1990 I was performing full-time.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
I wear a pretty basic costume: a custom waistcoat, collarless shirt — I have around 60 in about 20 different colors and patterns — and dark slacks. … I would say the aesthetic is vaudeville-meets-barbershop-quartet.
How do you get into character?
Part of it is putting on the costume; part of it is loading in and setting up my show; and the final part is breathing in just before stepping on stage and reminding myself how much I love playing with my audiences. They’re giving me a gift of their time whenever they come to see a show, and I want that time to be well-spent. At the end of every show, I want my audiences walking away delighted and excited to tell others of the experience they had.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I did a few live public performances, mostly last summer, but for the most part I pulled back from performing as I wanted to be safe and … my audiences to be safe. I avoided livestreamed or virtual performances as I struggled to feel a real connection. … The technology got in the way of my goal of sharing a moment in time with audiences. I’m grateful to have a monthly show in a small theater and to see gigs starting to come back. … Some of the mechanics have changed, especially with mask use and less contact in the show. … I feel I have to exude more energy to make up for the muted responses caused by mask wearing. … I also try to [perform] in a way that helps [the audience] forget the conditions we’re in and transports them to a place where they’re simply existing and enjoying.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
There are two things, really: the opportunity to travel all around the world seeing the sights, coupled with the opportunity to celebrate the people I meet along the way. There are far more things that connect us than those that divide us, and laughter is universal.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
At almost every performance, there is at least one individual who will be completely swept up, to the point where they gasp or respond physically to the experience. I love, love, love those moments. Those moments are precisely what keep my love for the performance of magic alive. As the performer … I never get to experience the magic until I get to see it through my audience’s eyes. That’s a true gift they give me every single show.
What do the next few months look like for you?
I have a few shows lined up, but we’re all kind of waiting to see what will happen next. I’m hoping 2022 will be much more like the past, but I am resolved to commit to the process. We all need a little magic in our lives right now, and I feel a responsibility to share my gifts as long as I may.
Jason Tardy, Jason Tardy Productions
Tardy is an entertainer specializing in juggling, comedy, fire performance and circus arts. Based in Maine, he does much of his performing in New Hampshire, for both private and public audiences. Visit jasontardy.com.
Jason Tardy
What is your stage persona or character?
Mostly I’m just an exaggerated version of myself, since most of my shows are my high-energy juggling performances. … I do sometimes perform in variety shows where I do need to play a character. … I just created The Dragon Man character, [which is] a costume I wear while doing fire demonstrations.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
Believe it or not, this is the only job I’ve ever had. I’ve been performing since I was 15 years old, and when I graduated high school I made enough [income] to make a living. As you get older you get more bills, and luckily I’ve [continued to make] enough money to keep up with all that.
How did you get into this?
When I was 15 my brother Matt and I met a professional juggler, Michael Miclon, at our town’s variety show. Basically, everyone in the town would come out and sing or dance or tell jokes. Michael was a full-time professional juggler and comedian and was kind of a guest performer in the show. He saw my brother and me and another friend doing an act where we lip-synced Weird Al Yankovic music and wore crazy costumes. He thought we had great energy. I mostly think he [was impressed that] we weren’t afraid to look dumb in front of a lot of people and [didn’t] take ourselves too seriously. He asked us if we would like to apprentice with him, which basically meant we would travel with him and help him set up [for shows], and he would teach us juggling and how to get into the business. Michael was also an apprentice when he was in middle school, so it was something he always wanted to pass on. I also took on an apprentice a few years back, and now he is a full-time performing artist.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
The costume I wear for most of my shows is just comfortable black pants that don’t wrinkle, which is important when traveling a lot, and usually a very bright pixelated T-shirt made of tech fabrics. My juggling show is very high-energy and physical, so I need to be comfortable during the show.
How do you shift into your stage persona?
I take the parts of me that are high-energy and silly and just dig into that side of my personality. … Since [The Dragon Man] is pretty new, I’m not totally sure how I’m going to play that character. … A lot of times I feel like the costuming of the character really helps me get into that personality. … The main thing I do before my performances … is remind myself to have fun. I learned a long time ago that the audience puts themselves in the performer’s shoes, so if I’m nervous or shy, the audience will feel that, but if I’m having fun and not worrying about making mistakes, the audience will have fun as well.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I was able to adapt and do virtual performances. I quickly learned how to use Zoom and bought a good webcam and even turned my garage into a performance space. The garage has lighting and even a curtain on the back wall. I think I lost about two-thirds of my work that year, but I was able to make enough money to get by. I also made a few pre-recorded shows I could sell over and over again for a lower price, which worked out really well, and I’m still selling those to this day. … Now, [doing live shows,] I’m just a little bit more aware of when I bring people on stage, and schools sometimes still make you wear a mask while setting up for the show. Once the show starts, the audience is just into the show, and it doesn’t feel that different [from pre-pandemic shows]. At some of my first shows after the pandemic, it felt like the audience was really ready to have fun and maybe even more energetic than before.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Getting to be creative and really challenging myself creatively and physically. I love that my job challenges me in those ways. Also, one of the most special things about [being a performer] is that my job is to make people happy, and what could be better than that?
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
One of the best things about this job was getting to do it with my brother for so many years. When we first started we would sometimes fight and get into arguments as all brothers do, but you learn pretty quickly to get along if you’re going to be throwing knives at each other. My brother has since retired from performing because of an illness, but getting to spend 25 years with him as my performing partner is something I’ll never forget.
What do the next few months look like for you?
I definitely have less work than during the summer. The summer is usually pretty insane, with almost no days off, and sometimes three different shows in three different states in one day, so I kind of look forward to winter, but also dread the lack of work. … I do have a few virtual shows and in-person shows booked … [and] a few winter festivals.
Savannah Bernard, Once Upon a Tea Room
Opened in August, Once Upon a Tea Room is a party service with its own event venue in Newport. It specializes in princess parties with costumed performers and currently offers around 30 different characters. Visit onceuponatearoom.org.
Savannah Bernard
What characters do you play?
Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Majestia the Unicorn Princess, Evie, Dorothy, Holly the Christmas Elf, Rapunzel, Hogwarts student, Elsa, Anna and Barbie. Most of the characters have stories already — they’re just the traditional Disney stories — but there are a couple that we make up stories for, and I tend to do that based on what the child likes.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is a part-time job for me. My full-time job is [working as a] behavioral interventionist in the Claremont School District.
How did you get into this?
That’s actually a funny story. Katlynn, the owner, ran into my best friend at Walmart and invited her to join the team. I was actually pretty skeptical, but after meeting Katlynn and talking to her, I knew that working with her would be a lot of fun. Who doesn’t want to be a princess? Now, Katlynn and everyone I work with has become family, on the job and just in life.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
I start by doing my makeup, and that takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Then, with some help, I’ll put the hoop skirt and petticoat and dress on, depending on the character I’m playing for that event … and then jewelry. Lastly, Katlynn will help me with pinning my wig on.
How do you get into character?
I personally like to watch all the movies and short films [featuring] the character and listen to all that character’s music on repeat. Knowing their stories is key to making the kids’ experiences magical.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I didn’t work at Once Upon a Tea Room [during the pandemic] — I was actually still in high school at the time — but events are picking up, and each one is an absolute blast every time.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
I love my coworkers — they are my second family — and I love knowing I’m making some little girl’s or boy’s fairytale dreams come true. I love seeing their faces as they are completely enthralled with the character.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
Actually being with the kids and seeing their smiles … [and] coming together with the other cast members and setting up for the events. That’s where real relationships are built, spending those hours together. I’ve probably met some of my forever friends that way.
What do the next few months look like for you?
The next few months are packed with parties on the weekends, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Alora Bowers, Once Upon a Tea Room
What characters do you play?
Alora Bowers
Snow Princess, Peasant Belle, Rapunzel, Tail Ariel, Snow White, Majestia the Unicorn Princess, Dorothy, Mal, Poppy, Barbie, Jessie and fairies.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is part-time. I work full-time as a resource tech at a pharmacy.
How did you get into this?
This has always been such a huge passion of mine. I volunteer for some nonprofits doing character calls, but I wanted to do more. I’ve always heard of these [party services] but could never find one near me. I kept searching and found Once Upon a Tea Room. I nearly screamed. I applied right away.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
Thé process can be long, but, honestly, [it should] when you’re starting out, because you’re learning … what the process will be for you, what’s good for your skin and how to apply the makeup yourself. The more you do it, the faster and more comfortable [it becomes]. We arrive [to an event] an hour early. … Our costumes are beautifully designed, and they fit the period, so … the classical princesses like Belle and Cinderella have hoop skirts and corsets. I absolutely love it.
How do you get into character?
It’s understanding [the character’s] motivation and mannerisms. I try to think of situations and how she would feel … and respond. … Singing their songs always helps me get in their mindset, too.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
We always state that masks are optional, and we are very flexible with how the family wants to proceed. We respect the family’s comfort level and how they feel about the pandemic, making sure everyone feels safe. We still have games and activities … and we still make sure each child gets that personal connection [with the characters] and enjoys themselves.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
There are no words to describe how it feels seeing kids so excited and like their dream came true. … To see the kids’ eyes light up during a party is the absolute best. … Another thing is just practicing, honestly — having fun before events, loosening up, dancing and laughing. … We are truly a family here.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
[While playing] Rapunzel, [I] was told by a birthday princess that she had the best birthday and [was given] a big hug.
What do the next few months look like for you?
We’re hoping to do some events for the holidays and back-to-school. … Majestia the Unicorn Princess will be visiting our Tea Room soon for some parties. … We also have new characters in the works … [including] a fire fairy I am [playing].
Barbara Foristall, Cracker Jacks the Clown
Foristall of Merrimack is a professional clown with more than three decades of experience. She is a member and the former president of Granite State Clowns, a group of local clowns that works to promote the art of clowning in New Hampshire. Visit crackerjackstheclown.com.
Barbara Foristall, Cracker Jacks the Clown
What are your stage personas and characters that you play?
I do many characters: Cracker Jacks, Maggie May, Twink the Elf, Esmeralda the Witch, Do Fuss the Magic Clown, Melanie the Elegant Clown and Mrs. Barbara Claus. Cracker Jacks is a zany little boyish character, best geared for children up to age 7, but she can handle most any crowd. … Maggie May is suited for older [audiences]. … [She] collects [information] from family and friends [of the guest of honor] and uses that in a roast-like form to put the guest of honor on the spot. It’s hysterical. … I mimicked Carol Burnett, Lucy Ball, Red Skelton and other great comics to develop Maggie May, and added all my clowning experience so that I could basically fly by the seat of my pants at functions.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is a part-time job. I’m also currently a nursery school teacher.
How did you get into this?
I began my clowning career 35 years ago. … I was a nursery school teacher … but had to get a corporate job because I couldn’t survive on nursery school pay. I missed the kids, so I … started clowning around. I found other clowns in the area who guided me in the proper techniques. I attended many conventions and groups to learn more, and I still do. You can always learn something new.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
Cracker Jacks wears big clown shoes, pants with suspenders, a shirt and bowtie and a baseball hat. Maggie May … [wears] a dress [with] patches, a cape and a hat with a dirty old flower. … It takes me a few minutes to get really ugly. … I take out my teeth — well, most of them — and glue on a nose.
How do you get into character?
I’m kind of a character [in real life] anyway, so that part is easy. … Cracker Jacks is who I am, exemplified. … [For Maggie May,] on my ride to the event, I go over the information I got on the guest so if an opportunity comes up, I can use it to embarrass them — all in good fun.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I didn’t work during the pandemic. I didn’t get calls, and I wasn’t comfortable, due to my age, 72 years young. Events are very slowly picking up. My hope is that in 2022 everyone will feel safer and we as performers can strut our stuff again.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Cracker Jacks can [interact] with a child who may be fearful [of clowns] and win them over. … I love it when there’s a child [who is] fearful [at first], but by the end of the event they are my best friend. … [As Maggie May,] I adore causing laughter by doing the unexpected. … I never know what I’m walking into, which makes it exciting for me and for the audience. I’m quite quick-witted. … I surprise the guest of honor with all kinds of personal gags and jokes. It thrills me when a performance comes together.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
I also use my Maggie May character at clown conventions in skit competitions, and I love being on stage in front of my peers and causing them to laugh. It’s the ultimate compliment.
What do the next few months look like for you?
A very slow return of more jobs. I’m part of Granite State Clowns in Nashua, a group that meets to teach the art and love of clowning. … We’ll be holding a six-week clown school in March, and we hope to bring more interest to clowning and the joy it brings to all. Let’s face it — we need more laughter, especially today.
Deanna Levesque, NH Unicorns
Levesque is the founder and owner of NH Unicorns, an entertainment service offering parties, special appearances and photoshoots with horses and ponies, transformed into “unicorns.” Visit nhunicorns.com.
Deanna Levesque
What character do you play?
I’m not always in costume at NH Unicorn parties, but when I am, we call [the character] the Unicorn Princess. She’s a princess who grew up in a castle where the unicorns are from. We thought it would go along great with the unicorns since a lot of people associate unicorns with fairy tales and magic and princes and princesses.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
It was intended to be a part-time thing, but is definitely more full-time than I ever thought it would be.
How did you get into this?
I’ve been working with horses my whole life. I’m a professional horse trainer … and I own Bella Vista Stables in Barnstead, which is a competitive equestrian facility. … NH Unicorns came about as a way to fulfill a child’s dream of meeting a unicorn. I have a niece who was born with heart complications and had many heart surgeries and a pacemaker by the time she was 3 years old. We asked her, ‘What do you want most in life?’ and she said she wanted to meet a unicorn. I got a little white pony and turned it into a unicorn, and it grew from there into a business.
How do you get into character?
It’s pretty easy because I love the job. The character feels very natural to me.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
The princess costume is fairly simple. I slap on a princess dress, do my hair up big and curly, do a little bit of light makeup and I’m ready to go. [Getting ready] is much more intense for the unicorns. The majority of our unicorns are all white … so they have to go through a rigorous grooming routine to maintain their cleanliness and softness. … Then, they get their hooves polished and their horns shined up for every event.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
Pre-pandemic, our events were pretty crazy; we had to start limiting [the number of] guests because the events got overcrowded. … We didn’t really do anything during the pandemic. … Post-pandemic, we’ve stayed pretty busy … but our crowds are a lot smaller. The vast majority of parties over the last year have been for one kid or a couple of kids and their immediate family.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Getting to work with animals, getting to work with kids and getting to make so many people happy. I can’t even count the number of people who have told us that we’ve made their dreams come true when they get to meet our unicorns.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
When my niece first got to sit on one of the unicorns. Her face lit up, and I see that beautiful smiling face on every kid that sits on a unicorn.
What do the next few months look like for you?
We do slow down a little bit in the winter; we won’t have parties every single weekend, but we have enough on the schedule to stay mostly busy. We also have some photo shoots scheduled for the next couple of months.
Kristi Parker, Krickey the Clown
Parker is a trained, professional clown and currently serves as president of Granite State Clowns, a group of local clowns that works to promote the art of clowning in New Hampshire. Visit krickeytheclown.com.
Kristi Parker, Krickey the Clown
What characters do you play?
My main character is Krickey the Clown. When I was young, my mom used to call me Krickey as a nickname for Kristi, so that’s how Krickey was born. I also do Mrs. Wickywacky, the Not-So-Scary Witch during October. At Christmastime I work alongside one of my Santa Claus friends as Cookie the Elf.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
It’s on the side. I’m a full-time middle school teacher, and I also teach some quilting classes. … When I first became a clown I didn’t even know I could get paid. Now I put whatever money I make back into clowning; I use it for attending conferences and trainings and buying balloons and supplies and materials to make costumes.
How did you get into this?
I’ve always loved theater and entertaining people, and I was always involved in plays when I was in school. … I first learned about clowning around 15 years ago when the Granite State Clowns did a program at the library. They encouraged me to come to a meeting, and I got sucked right in. … From there I actually went to clown school and have been to several trainings and conventions throughout the country. I’ve put a lot of time into learning my craft.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
I love costuming. I sew, so I make my own costumes. … There are different kinds of makeup for different kinds of clowns. I’m what’s called an auguste clown, which has a white muzzle, red lips and some white or some kind of accent near the eyes. … It takes me almost an hour to put on my costume, makeup and wig.
How do you get into character?
My clown persona is really just an extension of my own persona. I’m naturally a shy and somewhat reserved person, so I don’t do a lot of slapstick or physical [performance]. … I don’t juggle; I’ve tried to learn, but I’m not very good, but that’s OK, because I have other talents. … My focus is more on making a connection with a child and making them smile, and I don’t do that in a loud or boisterous way.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
Last year was pretty devastating; I think I had two gigs in the entire year. … I’ve been getting more gigs lately, primarily outside gigs. … I am being more cautious about getting too close to people. Instead of doing face painting, where I’m right up next to their face, I’ve been doing glitter tattoos, applied on the back of the person’s hand. … The younger kids don’t always understand that they shouldn’t get too close, so sometimes I’ll have to say, ‘Everyone, take one giant step back.’
What do you enjoy most about this work?
It fills my heart and soul seeing a child smile and giggle and their eyes get wide. … This is my way of spreading joy and helping people forget about their troubles and things that are weighing them down and just let loose and laugh.
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
I did a birthday party where one of the children was deathly afraid of clowns. Her grandmother said to me, ‘Can you please make sure that you don’t scare her?’ … I was making balloon animals, and the grandmother brought her up to me, holding her hand, and I made her a balloon animal. When it was time for me to pack up and say goodbye, she came running up to me, hugged me around my knees, looked up at me and said, ‘I love you, clown.’ I guess I had won her over. It melted my heart.
What do the next few months look like for you?
I’ve only been doing outdoor [events], so when things move inside for the winter I won’t be doing a lot, but I do have a couple of outdoor things coming up, like the Concord Tree Lighting and the Christmas Parade.
Ernie Rousseau, Santa’s Den
Rousseau, also known as “Santa Ernest,” is a professional Santa from Hudson. His services include home visits, photo shoots, video messages and letters from Santa. Visit santasden.com.
Ernie Rousseau
What character do you play?
My character is Santa Claus. Of course, there are all kinds of stories about Santa Claus, so you learn about the history of St. Nicholas, from the beginning up to modern times, and you add your own spin to it, and that’s how you develop your Santa persona. … Mine is based mostly on Santa as he’s known in the United States — the kind, generous gift-giver.
Is this your main occupation or something you do on the side?
This is part-time. My main employment is working as a city bus driver.
How did you get into this?
I also work part-time at a haunted house, primarily doing security, but I also play a few different characters there. … That got me thinking, and a couple years ago I said, ‘I’m going to become Santa Claus.’ I started doing a bunch of research and then became a member of the New England Santa Society.
Describe your costume and process of getting ready.
It usually takes me about an hour to get ready. … I have four different types of suits … for different types of events. I get [suits and accessories] from a Santa company out of Michigan … and a seamstress in Texas … and a craftsman in North Carolina. I do a lot of research to find the best-looking stuff.
How do you get into character?
I have a room designated as my ‘Santa den.’ It has the smell of Christmas and a Christmas tree that stays up all year round. … I sit in there and take in the scent of the tree and the decorations, and then I’m ready to put my suit on.
How have events and your relationship with your audience changed over the course of the pandemic?
I worked at Bass Pro Shops during the pandemic. There was no contact; we had face shields and plexiglass between me and the visitors, and we cleaned everything between each visitor. … I also did social-distanced private visits where I’d stand out in the [family’s] front yard and they would drive up and have a brief interaction with me from their vehicle. It was great that the children still got to see Santa. … We don’t use face shields or plexiglass anymore, but there’s still no contact; the families sit on a bench and chat with me. … I’ve also been doing virtual visits from my Santa den.
What do you enjoy most about this work?
Watching the children’s eyes get wide when they see Santa. When you bring a child joy, and that in turn brings joy to the parents, how can you not feel good about what you’re doing?
What is one of your favorite memories from on the job?
There was a little boy who had been in some kind of burn accident and was all bandaged up. … When he got to me, he looked at me, and there wasn’t any pain in his face — just pure joy and happiness to see Santa Claus. I had to keep myself from crying.
What do the next few months look like for you?
Very, very busy. From October through December I’m working nonstop, doing everything from private events where I go to people’s homes; [public] events with a Santa visit; [charity] events; and some virtual visits.
Featured photo:Savannah Bernard as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, a princess from Once Upon a Tea Room. Courtesy photo.
