James LeBoeuf is a local outdoor enthusiast, writer and musician. He grew up in the southern New Hampshire region and seeks out nature wherever he can find it. Below, he shares his appreciation for the Windham Rail Trail.
The Windham Rail Trail is a true local gem of southern New Hampshire.
Situated between Route 28, Route 111 and North Lowell Road in Windham, it offers a welcome respite from the rigors of the commerce of Route 28 as it travels up out of Massachusetts and into Salem. It is a haven for all outdoor activities that don’t require a motor, as no motorized vehicles are allowed. And one of its most popular uses is biking — which you can do even in the dead of winter.
Life of the trail
First, a little history. (I gathered my information from the Windham Rail Trail Alliance website, windhamrailtrail.org, and from nashuacitystation.org.)
The Windham Rail Trail started out like all of the other rail trails, as a railroad. From 1847 to 1849 a project was undertaken to build a rail line to facilitate movement of products between two then mill cities — Manchester, New Hampshire and Lawrence, Mass. This section was part of a new connection as there already existed a Salem portion and a Derry portion. The Windham section proved to be very costly as much land needed to be filled in to bring the surrounding lowlands up to grade and to also bore through the long granite ledges that stood in the way. This line operated until 1980, when it was abandoned and the rails were removed for scrap.
Here is where the story starts for us rail trailers. In 2003 the State of New Hampshire called for a citizens advisory committee to develop an off-road travel way along the Interstate 93 corridor. The initial idea was to develop a path that ran all the way to Concord that would encourage ways other than an automobile to head north. The Salem, Windham and Derry rail beds proved to be perfect for this. The decision was made to pave the trails to make them more usable and much easier to maintain. Together with the partially paved Salem trail and the Derry trail this forms the longest paved rail trail in the state.
Get biking
When I was growing up there were a few neighborhood daredevils I knew who even in the snow would take out their trusty bikes and slip and slide around. Usually it was a short-lived adventure as the cold and snow took over. Let’s face it, those skinny-wheeled 10-speeds of old were dry-weather machines.
Today there are all sorts of bikes made for all-season use: Think fat tire bikes. These sturdy bikes along with light and warm clothing keep the biking fun going even when the snows grace the trails. More than once I heard the familiar call of “ on your left!,” which is an alert that a cyclist is approaching faster than you are traveling and wants to pass, while I was cross-country skiing. The Windham Rail Trail is truly a four-season all-weather place.
There is more than one way to access the Windham Rail Trail but I find the best starting point to be off North Lowell Road in the Windham Depot section of Windham.
You can access this off both Route 111 and Route 28. The way off Route 111 on North Lowell Road winds along a wooded stretch passing equine farms and fields until it comes into the depot proper. As you round a curve you will see the Windham Junction gift shop. They serve a nice pre-ride breakfast or a post-ride lunch.
As you pass the store on your left old C16 comes into view. C16 is a restored caboose from the heyday of the railroad. Across the street is an ample parking lot. As you head out onto the trail proper look off to your right and down into the wood. You will see remnants of a mill stream cutting through the mire and granite. This stream passes under the trail and will feed the many marshes and ponds you will see. As you enter the trail, trees arch overhead and woods line both sides.
Nature & wildlife
The trail is overall flat with some slight grades, but none that would be considered a true hill. Proceeding down the trail the waters open on the left as serene marshes, at times right at trailside, at other times down below the grade. One of the most intriguing aspects of the trails are the granite “tunnels” the trail passes through. These are not truly tunnels as they have no roof but instead are steep granite walls that rise up right off both sides of the trail. These are vestiges of the rail line. The fact that they had to cut through so much granite to lay the rail bed down creates a treasure for us today. In winter intricate ice sculptures form from the waters that flow through holes in the stone. And keep your eyes open for the varied wildlife that can be found here. You can spot many varieties of waterfowl, hawks, fisher cats and deer. Early on the trail I did spot a beaver dam that created a small pond and a bit of a fast-water stream.
There are many side trails that veer off if you are inclined to explore. Most any day of the week during any season you can find a wide variety of people enjoying the peace of the woods and the fresh air, from parents with children taking a walk to folks walking dogs to well-suited cyclists on top-tier bikes.
With only two road crossings the trail is different from most. If you are seeking exercise either vigorous or moderate or just need to shake that cabin fever, the Windham Rail Trail can accommodate.
Winter sports have never appealed to me. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating — I can think of dozens of things I’d rather do, most of which involve being warm and cozy and, well, inside. But snowshoeing is different: It doesn’t take much skill beyond being able to walk, but it’s still a decent workout; the setting is typically beautiful and serene, where you’re surrounded by nature rather than crowds of people; and it’s pretty accessible, with inexpensive rentals available and trails all over the state.
Tom Walton, who created the Snow or No We Go snowshoe trail series that takes place over several weekends this winter in Canterbury and Franklin (see the full story at hippopress.com in the Jan. 13 edition), steps up his snowshoeing game by running — which is much easier to do with made-for-racing snowshoes that are light and only a little bigger than your shoes.
“Snow is one of the best surfaces to run on, and single-track through the woods is beyond beautiful,” Walton said. “Snowshoe racers like a packed trail because it’s faster. We use racing snowshoes, very light, from Dion.”
Even non-racing snowshoes are much lighter than they used to be, and not nearly as bulky, making it an activity that kids and even the most uncoordinated adults can do. And Walton pointed out that it is beneficial during a time of year when it’s often easier to stay inside.
“Sunlight is critical for health, both physical and emotional,” he said. “[And] it is great aerobic exercise. … Being outside on snow on a crisp, clear day running through the woods is heaven.”
Several local organizations offer snowshoe rentals and access to their trails, and some towns and nonprofits maintain trails throughout the winter — often for cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, which make for good snowshoeing trails as well.
Or, if you want to buy your own snowshoes, you can forge your own path.
“Well-marked trails are a plus but not necessary because you can ad lib and follow your own tracks back,” Walton said.
Here are a few suggestions for local rentals and trails; for more suggestions throughout the state, visit visit.nh.gov and search for snowshoeing under “activities.”
Snowshoe rentals
Need to rent a pair of snowshoes? These local places offer rentals (usually dependent on trail conditions, so call or check their websites for the most up-to-date information).
America’s Stonehenge (105 Haverhill Road, Salem, 893-8300, stonehengeusa.com) offers snowshoe rentals when trail conditions are good; as of Jan. 17, the trails were closed because conditions were poor, according to the website, and will reopen when there’s more snow. Rentals are $20 for ages 13 and up and $14 for 12 and under. Admission to the snowshoe trails without rentals is $13 for ages 13 and up and $7.50 for ages 12 and under. Snowshoes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted.
Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) offers snowshoe rentals for $10 a day. They’re available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting, and arrangements can be made for weekend rentals as well ($20). Visit beaverbrook.org or call 465-7787 to reserve, or to find out more about upcoming guided hikes.
Gunstock Mountain Resort (719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, 293-4341, gunstock.com) offers snowshoeing in its Outdoor Center, which includes 25 kilometers of groomed trails. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To reserve snowshoes or for private tours, and for rental pricing, call the Outdoor Center (ext. 504).
NH Audubon Both the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn) and the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) offer snowshoe rentals every Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost to rent is $15 for the day, and they’re only rented out when there are 6 or more inches of snow on the ground. Adult and youth sizes are available, on a first-come, first-served basis. The Audubon also rents binoculars during those hours for $5. How-to handouts and trail maps are provided with rentals. Visit nhaudubon.org.
Pats Peak (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245, patspeak.com) offers snowshoe rentals for $19 a day. It has three trails ranging from easiest to expert (recommended only for those with expert ability and equipment), with distances of 1 to 3.5 miles and vertical inclines of 200 to 700 feet. The trails are free to use, but Pats Peak does not maintain them, and conditions are dependent on weather. A snowshoe map is available, and conditions can be checked daily on the website.
Local trails
If you own snowshoes, you can use them anywhere that has enough snow, but some local trail systems are more likely to have packed snow, either because they are maintained or because they are well-used. Here are a few ideas.
• Adams Pond Trail (Pillsbury and Adams roads, Londonderry, 437-2675, londonderrynh.org) is open for snowshoeing.
• Beaver Meadow Golf Course (1 Beaver Meadow Dr., Concord, 228-8954, bmgc.golf) has groomed trails for snowshoeing that are maintained by the Concord Parks & Recreation department.
• Benedictine Park (341 Wallace Road, Bedford, 228-1231, bedfordlandtrust.org) has town-owned trails that are available for snowshoeing.
• Horse Hill Nature Preserve (184 Amherst Road, Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org) has a variety of conservation trails that you can traverse with snowshoes.
• Mine Falls Park (Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3400, nashuanh.gov) offers trails that can be used for snowshoeing.
• Southwest Park (at Yudicky Farm, off Main Dunstable Road, Nashua, 589-3400, nashuanh.gov) also has trails open for snowshoeing.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Prestigious exhibition at the League: The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen opens its triennial exhibit, “Setting the Standard,” at its headquarters gallery (49 S. Main St., No. 100, Concord) on Thursday, Jan. 20, featuring new works by League jurors in a variety of media, including wood, textile, clay and metal. “Given the difficulties faced during the past several months, the work of our members takes on an almost indomitable nature, mixing the strength and resilience of the artists with the vulnerability that we have all experienced,” Executive Director Miriam Carter said in a press release. The Concord Garden Club’s 19th annual Art & Bloom event will be held in conjunction with the exhibit during the opening weekend; artistic floral arrangements created by local amateur and professional floral designers, inspired by pieces featured in “Setting the Standard,” will be on display on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Jan. 21, and Saturday, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular gallery hours for “Setting the Standard” will be Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. starting on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The exhibit will run through March 31. Admission is free and masks are required. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.
• Last chance to see Matilda: The Palace Youth Theatre, a group of performers in grades 2 through 12, will present its final performance of Matilda The Musical Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). The musical is based on the 1988 children’s novel by Roald Dahl and its 1996 film adaptation, with a book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It tells the story of a clever young girl who uses her imagination and newly discovered psychokinetic powers to survive an abusive home life and cruel school headmistress. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
• NHAA joins Dover’s growing arts scene: The New Hampshire Art Association, headquartered in Portsmouth, announced in a press release that it has formed a new partnership with The Art Center, a 6,000-plus-square-foot art space located in the Washington Mill in Dover (1 Washington St., Suite 1177). The space, owned by artist Rebecca Proctor, features 10 artist studios with a rotating monthly artist residency; a workshop space, a stage for music, theater pieces, poetry readings and other performance arts; and a large exhibition space for all kinds of art shows and installations. Additionally, The Art Center is home to a new space dedicated to printmaking, which includes a newly acquired printing press. “Now it seems that the timing is right for the relationship with them and their artists to collaborate with The Art Center as we have so many opportunities for artists to take advantage of,” Proctor said in the press release, adding that The Art Center’s exhibits, printmaking studio and artist-in-residence programs have won it an award from the state of New Hampshire for “Microenterprise Business of the Year.” The first exhibition to come out of the partnership is “Vehicular Narratives,” which features paintings by NHAA artist William Turner. Prior to becoming a full-time painter and earning BFA and MFA degrees in visual arts and painting from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, Turner worked in the auto body restoration business for 30 years. 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. The exhibition is up now through Feb. 28 alongside a separate printmaking exhibition. All of Turner’s works on display are for sale. Gallery hours at The Art Center 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. The exhibition can also be accessed via an online gallery. Visit nhartassociation.org or theartcenterdover.com, or call 978-6702.
Multimedia exhibit
Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester) has an exhibition, “Artful Escapes,” on display now through Jan. 31. It features works by multiple artists in a variety of media, including 2D and 3D, oil, acrylic, glass and ceramic. Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. A virtual gallery is also available on the gallery’s website. Call 668-6650 or visit art3gallery.com.
ART
Exhibits
• “ARTFUL ESCAPES” Exhibition features works by multiple artists in a variety of media, including 2D and 3D, oil, acrylic, glass and ceramic. Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester). On view now through Jan. 31. Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. A virtual gallery is also available on the gallery’s website. Call 668-6650 or visit art3gallery.com.
• “IMPRESSIONS: NATURE” The New Hampshire Art Association presents an exhibit featuring the work of Allenstown artist Daniela Edstrom. Edstrom’s art explores the abstract qualities of light, form and color found in the New England landscape. On view now through Feb. 17. Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St., Concord). Gallery hours at the Chamber are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All works are for sale. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• “TRANSLATING NATURE INTO FABRIC” Exhibition features nature-inspired artistic quilts by Ellen Fisher. Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua. On view now through Feb. 26, during library hours. Visit nashualibrary.org.
• “FOR THE LOVE OF IMPRESSION” Exhibit features prints created using traditional techniques and materials, combined with contemporary aesthetics, new materials, and technology. Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook). Feb. 11 through March 5. Visit twovillagesart.org.
Workshops and classes
• OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Jan. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.
• 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.
Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.
Workshops and classes
• OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Sat., Jan. 29, 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com.
• 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
• THE WIZARD OF OZ Young Performers’s Edition performed by The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., Jan. 28, and Sat., Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sun., Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and up and $10 for students age 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or visit majestictheatre.net.
• LIFESPAN OF A FACT Produced by Lend Me a Theater. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Feb. 18 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.
• 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.
Classical
• “WINTER VOYAGES” The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 20, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.
• DRAWN TO THE MUSIC 2022 – STORIES IN MUSIC The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs. Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem. Sat., April 9, 2 p.m., and Sun., April 10, 2 p.m. Visit nhphil.org.
Performers, playwrights and directors discuss preparing for shows in winter 2022
From familiar classics like The Lion King Jr. to new original works by local playwrights, New Hampshire theaters and theater companies are offering a little of everything this winter. Directors, musical directors, playwrights and actors talked about what it’s like working in theater right now and provided a look at some of the productions coming to local stages this weekend through early March. Contact the theaters or visit their websites for the latest updates on the shows and Covid safety requirements for audience members.
Phoebe Roberts
co-playwright
Gentlemen Never Tell, presented by Breaking Light Productions, in partnership with the Manchester Community Theatre Players, at the MCTP Theatre at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester) on Friday, Jan. 21, and Saturday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children. A livestream will be available for each performance for $20 per streaming device. Visit manchestercommunitytheatre.com or call 327-6777.
Gentlemen Never Tell. Photo courtesy of Manchester Community Threatre Players.
What inspired you to write this play?
Our theater company [Breaking Light Productions] usually does a more dramatic take on the gaslamp Victorian adventure — more Sherlock Holmes-style adventure type stuff, but we thought everybody could use something a little lighter and more fun, so we decided to switch genres a little bit and do a spinoff. We took a character who had made one appearance as a comic relief sort of figure [in another Breaking Light Productions play], and we decided to send him off on his own little side story.
What was your experience writing it? What is your process like?
We initially wrote this play to be performed over Zoom … which meant that words were the primary [element] we could play around with, so we wanted to make the dialogue as snappy and funny and engaging as possible. It’s very word-based, with a lot of [focus on] wit, speed and timing. The challenge now is to keep the snap and the pop of it while adding in some more physical comedy now that we’re able to manifest that with actors who are physically present.
What do you hope the audience will take away from your play?
First, I hope they find it funny. I hope they get a genuinely good laugh and can enjoy poking fun at the Victorian period mores. But I also hope it’s a little thought-provoking … and that [the audience] notices that we brought a little more weight and humanity into it … and that the characters have actual growth and significance.
What are you looking forward to most about seeing your show on stage?
This will be the first time that it’s been performed on stage. We have the recording [of the Zoom performance], but this will be very different. I mean, there’s no good way to make people kiss over Zoom. Now, the romantic aspect of the show can be a bit more fully realized. So that’s what I’m most excited about — actually getting to incorporate the physicality of the story.
Carl Rajotte
director
The Full Monty, presented by the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) from Jan. 28 through Feb. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
What attracted you to this show?
When we were planning for our next season, we looked back at some of our more successful shows, and The Full Monty jumped out to us because of the heart that it has, the laughter and the good time that it provides.
How are you interpreting the show as a director?
We were fortunate enough to purchase a new video wall [that’s installed] on the back of our stage, so our scenic elements are totally different. … That’s going to be a lot of fun to work with, and it’s going to help with transitions and make things feel a little more real. … The actors just arrived today, and, as a director, it’s the actors you bring in that determine what type of feel the show is going to have. … It’s my job, then, to mold everything together with [the actors’] interpretations to make it cohesive.
What will rehearsals be like?
The performers have had their scripts for over a month. … When they get here, we jump right in; we have a very short [rehearsal] process here at the Palace — just about eight days — so we don’t have time to do a read-through or anything like that.
How does Covid affect rehearsals and the performance itself?
All performers have to be vaccinated and boosted in order to be part of the production. We have Covid tests and test the performers a bunch of times throughout the process. … We will all be in masks for the whole rehearsal [period]. … We’ve asked that everyone try to stay away from each other while off stage, just to reduce the risk as much as possible. … On stage, it’ll be pretty much the same as you would normally see the show, but the backstage crew is masked the whole time. …The performers won’t be taking off masks until they hit the stage, we have hand sanitizing stations off stage, so the performers will be sanitizing everytime they leave [the stage].
What is the biggest challenge of directing this show?
The show is such a fun show, and I’m so comfortable with the material; nothing about the show is stressful at all. The hardest thing is just making sure that everyone is healthy. … There’s anxiety [that comes with] producing theater during these times we’re in — waiting for an actor’s test results to come back, making sure we have a plan if someone is sick. … Understudies have always been a very important role in casting, but now even more so. … We have to make sure they’re ready to go so that the show can go on.
What are you looking forward to most about bringing this show on stage?
Working with these actors. For some of them, this will be the first time they’ve performed since the shutdowns. No one takes for granted the time that we can be on stage in front of an audience. It’s exciting for me, knowing that they’re so eager to get back on stage and perform for an audience.
Why do you think this is a show audiences will enjoy right now?
This show does a great job with capturing many different types of people and personalities, and I think that everyone in the audience likes to see a bit of themselves up on that stage — [a character] they can identify with. … It’s also hysterically funny and, for me, has one of the most-anticipated finales of any musical in history, and you can feel that [anticipation] within the audience.
Emily Karelitz
actor
Mary & Me, presented by Glass Dove Productions at the Hatbox Theater(Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Jan. 28 through Feb. 13, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com or call 715-2315.
What attracted you to this show?
I’ve met the playwright, Irene Kellehe … and we’ve remained friends. In 2018, I went to visit her in Ireland, and she told me about Mary & Me … and said she would love to have me act the play … and she wanted to grant me exclusive rights to perform it in the U.S. … It’s inspired by true events, a tragedy that occured with a 15-year-old girl in rural Ireland in 1984 who died of blood loss and exposure after giving birth alone in a grotto. … The town wouldn’t speak much about the circumstances, and it’s been shrouded in secrecy ever since. … Irene wanted to answer some of those questions, so she created this fictional character [based on the girl] and filled in the gaps of what we don’t know about what really happened. That was very compelling to me.
Mary & Me. Photo Courtesy of the Hatbox Theatre.
Describe the character you’re playing.
I play Hannah, a 15-year-old girl who lives in a rural Irish village in the 1980s. … As you watch the play, you really watch Hannah growing up. At the beginning she’s very lighthearted and bouncy and effervescent. … By the end of the play you see how she has changed both physically, because she is pregnant, and emotionally, and how those two [types of changes] are connected; she’s been pulled down to earth in every sense of the word.
What have you been doing to prepare? What have rehearsals been like?
It’s a one-woman show — just me. We have several rehearsals a week. … I’ve also been doing a lot of dialect work — a County Cork [Irish] dialect — with a dialect coach. It’s literally just memorizing all of the lines and [how to] speak them in that dialect. It’s been a really interesting process for me.
How does Covid affect your experience preparing for and performing in the show?
We have to remember to talk to people not only about the production but also about what we’re doing and what the theater is doing [in terms of] Covid safety and where people can find all the Covid safety information. It’s like an extra layer to the show that we never had to consider until 2020. We also have a professionally recorded video version of the show, just in case [of cancellation].
What are you looking forward to most about bringing this show on stage?
Mary & Me is a very personal story, and, as a performer, it’s a very deeply personal experience to perform this play. I’m excited to share Hannah’s story with the audience and have them get to know Hannah and, hopefully, get to love Hannah. I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with audiences again … and having conversations with audience members after the show.
Why do you think this is a show audiences will enjoy right now?
Despite the dark subject matter, it’s not 75 minutes of misery. The first half of the play is actually very light and funny; there’s fun and playfulness and laughter as you get a look into this lighthearted teenage existence. … I also think it’s important to bring people’s attention back to social issues and things that aren’t Covid-19. We tend to get consumed with [Covid], and we have to remember that the world keeps turning; there’s a lot more going on out there than just Covid that is also important to think about and talk about.
Kimberly Vars Whitehead
musical director
The Lion King Jr.,presented by Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford) on Friday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 6, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. Visit amatocenter.org or call 672-1002.
Describe the music. What does it add to the show?
Like any good musical, Lion King Jr. has a great depth of different musical styles that add much to the experience of the show. Whether it’s a ballad like ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ or the fun of ‘Hakuna Matata’ … each song sets important dialogue to music so the audience hears the story in a different way.
What appeals to you about the music in this show?
I enjoy the mixture of songs that have been enjoyed worldwide since the original movie came out, like ‘Hakuna Matata,’ ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King,’ mixed with lesser-known but powerful songs like ‘They Live in You’ and ‘Shadowland.’
What have rehearsals been like?
Rehearsals are broken down into songs for full cast, smaller ensembles and leads. [For performers] at this age, there is more of an emphasis on repetition as many in the cast are not music readers yet. With this particular show we have worked especially hard on learning the correct way to pronounce the African text.
What is the most challenging thing about the music in this show?
Teaching and learning music with masks makes the whole process more challenging, but for this show in particular, the challenge is singing in a second language, [the] African [language.]
What are you looking forward to most about bringing this show on stage?
I’m particularly pleased about the new, young talent we have in this show. Also, for adults in particular, there are some very poignant lessons in life represented in this story. In fact, it’s a fun way of being reminded of living into who you truly are, despite the doubts and fears we sometimes try to run away from.
Mike McKnight
director
The Lion King Jr., presented by Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford) on Friday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 6, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. Visit amatocenter.org or call 672-1002.
What attracted you to this show?
It’s a great show. It has the excitement of the story, the love interest and the struggles of Simba and Nala … and the music — all the warmth of a Disney classic.
How are you interpreting the show as a director?
It’s a traditional approach. We’re sticking to the Disney Jr. script, pretty much. It’s packaged in a kids’ production-friendly way, and it works well for this age group.
What have rehearsals been like?
We’ve been rehearsing two or three times a week since November. The process has been pretty traditional as well, breaking up [rehearsals] into music, dance and blocking segments, then we come together as the whole cast and try to mesh all those areas into one collective performance. As kids learn their lines, choreography and musical numbers, it then comes down to repetition and tweaking areas that need work. … A team of experienced high school and middle school [students] will run the [tech for the] show. [The show] is a great training ground for lighting and sound.
How does Covid affect rehearsals and the performance itself?
Masks need to be worn at all times, and social distancing is a priority when not on stage. … That’s a hard thing for many adults to do, let alone 50 kids in fourth through eighth grade. However, I have to commend our cast on their compliance with protocols and their overall positive attitude. They get it. … They’ve learned how to project, even [while wearing] a mask.
What is the biggest challenge of directing this show?
Putting on a show with 50 kids is always challenging. … Our kids range in age from 9 to 14; that’s a big age span. Their attention levels aren’t the same, their interests are diverse, and after a long school day, having them work through a two-hour rehearsal is a lot to ask, but they’ve done an exceptional job.
What are you looking forward to most about bringing this show on stage?
We have a lot of kids who have never been in a show before; watching them grow throughout the process has been rewarding. I can’t wait for them to experience what applause feels like … and to see them … [as well as] the kids who have been on stage before … get to embrace their parents and families after the show.
Why do you think this is a show audiences will enjoy right now?
Our cast has put in a great deal of time and effort under difficult circumstances, and they’ve risen to the occasion. I think the audience will like the … production because it’s kids doing what they truly enjoy … and because they’ll know the story, relate to the struggles that the characters endeavor through and enjoy the great music and warmth of The Lion King Jr.
Nicole Jones
actor
I Love You Because, presented by Jonesing for Theatre in collaboration with Dive in Productions at the Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) from Feb. 4 through Feb. 20, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $25 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.
What attracted you to this show?
I’ve always loved this show because, as a hopeless romantic, I love the idea of someone wanting you because of faults and idiosyncrasies rather than simply tolerating them. That, plus the Jane Austen fan in me loves telling a modern gender-reversed version of Pride and Prejudice, which also gives the women the power positions in the couplings, which is always refreshing to see. The story is uplifting and hopeful, which is something that’s important to share, right now especially, so I was excited to do something that could bring joy to an audience when it’s needed most.
Describe the character you’re playing.
Marcy is a free-spirited artist who’s also ready to find her person after she gets over a recent breakup. As an actor, I like to focus on similarities between myself and the characters I play, so I like to think she’s a little quirky and sarcastic, but caring above all else. Focusing on those qualities makes it easier for me to pull from my own experiences.
What have you been doing to prepare? What have rehearsals been like?
There’s been a lot of working at home. This show has a lot of complex harmony and rhythms to it. Our music director is a rock star and made us all tracks to rehearse with so we can focus more on staging and character work when we come together.
How does Covid affect your experience preparing for and performing in the show?
We’ve been masking for rehearsals since before the holidays and will continue to do so until shortly before the show opens. We’ve also been encouraging boosters and doing virtual rehearsals for any cast or crew that have potentially been exposed and requiring negative tests to return to rehearsals.
What are you looking forward to most about bringing this show on stage?
I’m excited to be in front of an audience. Those opportunities are less frequent with Covid, and the energy is something that’s truly exciting.
Why do you think this is a show audiences will enjoy right now?
Because it’s hopefully happy, romantic and so funny — all things that everyone could use more of right now. Theater is a means of escape, and this is a great opportunity to escape into a world where things just aren’t as heavy as they are for everyone right now.
Jonathan Kaplan
actor
The 39 Steps, presented by the Windham Actors Guild at Searles School and Chapel (3 Chapel Road, Windham) on Friday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and military. Call 247-8634 or visit windhamactorsguild.com.
What attracted you to this show?
The show is a unique reimagination of a Hitchcock film that uses a small group of performers to play a vast number of roles. It’s outrageously funny.
Describe the character you’re playing.
My role is Clown 2. I play over a dozen different characters during the course of the show, sometimes multiple characters in the same scene. It’s a unique challenge in that I’m using multiple accents, tone of voice and physicality. Clown 1 is performed by Keith Strang, and he is similarly playing a variety of characters.
What have you been doing to prepare? What have rehearsals been like?
The script stage directions play such an important part in this show, which is very different from most plays in which I’ve performed in the past. The director has a clear vision for the show, and to make it work we need to make sure that our comedic timing is precise and clear to bring out the audience reaction we’re looking for. Memorizing lines is a special task as it seems I need to remember a different vocalization and physical approach at every turn.
How does Covid affect your experience preparing for and performing in the show?
Everyone in the cast must be vaccinated, and we’ve been rehearsing with masks. We’re carefully reviewing our plans for audience and cast mask requirements for the performances.
What are you looking forward to most about bringing this show on stage?
We’ve been laughing so much during rehearsals. I just can’t wait to see the audience reaction to this unique and truly hilarious show.
Why do you think this is a show audiences will enjoy right now?
The sheer absurdity of the plot and the situations in which the characters find themselves and the way the story is presented on stage are fresh and fun and escapist in a time where everyone could use a complete departure from reality.
Joshua Goldberg
playwright and composer
Chicken Little, presented by Upside Arts at the Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) from 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.
What inspired you to write this play?
I had a picture book when I was little with a few different folk and fairy tales, and for some reason the Chicken Little illustrations have always stuck with me. It’s a pretty simple story: Chicken Little gets hit with an acorn, thinks the sky is falling, gets his friends into a frenzy, sets out to tell the king and meets a fox on the way. There’s a lot of room for expansion. My adaptation is centered on the idea of fame; at first, Chicken Little is fed up with everyone teasing him and wants to be anonymous, but then, the king validates his fear that the sky is falling and calls him a hometown hero, so he has experiences with two ends of the spectrum and has to navigate to the middle. I’ve also combined the king and fox characters, so there’s a little bit of ‘don’t meet your heroes’ going on.
What was your experience writing it? What is your process like?
Most of the shows Upside Arts does are written or edited to fit the specific group of kids we’re working with, and this one is no different. I’ve written all the songs, and the general outline with some dialogue ideas … but the script itself will take shape after auditions and over the first few weeks of rehearsals. Musical theater is such a structured medium, so writing the songs first helps me make sure that each one is furthering the story.
What do you hope the audience will take away from your play?
I hope they’ll be inspired to have confidence in themselves and to speak out when they see something wrong.
What are you looking forward to most about seeing your show on stage?
Seeing how much fun the kids are having on stage and how much they grow as actors from show to show … and getting to hear my work and [see] audiences enjoying it.
Featured Photo: The Full Monty. Photo courtesy of the Palace Theatre.
The Concord Garden Club and the League of NH Craftsmen come together for the annual Art & Bloom exhibit, which runs today through Saturday, Jan. 22. Hours are 1 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the exhibit gallery at the League’s headquarters (49 S. Main St. in Concord). In this short-lived exhibit, the League’s exhibit “Setting the Standard,” featuring pieces in a variety of media, serves as the inspiration for floral arrangements by Garden Club members and others. The regular hours of the “Setting the Standard” exhibit will start Tuesday, Jan. 25, and run through March 31, Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m.
Fight cabin fever with a visit to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) today from 5 to 8 p.m. when admission is free as part of “Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights.” Old Tom and the Lookouts will be performing in the Winter Garden Cafe and the tours will focus on Robert S. Duncanson’s “Long Point on the Gauley River, Virginia” and the exhibit “As Precious as Gold: Carpets from the Islamic World.”
Thursday, Jan. 20
Kick the weekend off early with Jeff Mrozek, who performs tonight from 6 to 9 pm. at Stones Social (449 Amherst St. in Nashua, stonessocial.com).
Friday, Jan. 21
Catch the “most famous bagpipe band on the planet,” according to their website (rhcp.scot), when the Red Hot Chilli Pipers come to the Flying Monkey (39 Main St. in Plymouth; 536-2251, flyingmonkeynh.com) today at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 21
Hear the music of the Dave Matthews band tonight at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) when The Dave Matthews Tribute Band performs. Tickets cost $30.
Sunday, Jan. 23
Get some fresh eats today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salem Farmers Market, held inside at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111 in Derry). See salemnhfarmersmarket.org.
Sunday, Jan. 23
See the Bolshoi Ballet perform “Jewels” (in which the cities of Paris, New York and St. Petersburg are represented in three separate scenes) in presentation of the Bolshoi broadcast today at 12:55 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets to the broadcast cost $15 for adults, $12 for students (plus fees).
Save the date! For wine & chocolate
Sample four LaBelle Winery wines with four different chocolate desserts at a “Wine & Dessert Pairing Class” scheduled for each of the three LaBelle locations in February. The class will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. in Derry (14 Route 111); on Friday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. in Portsmouth (104 Congress St.) and on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. in Amherst (345 Route 1010). Admission costs $43.40.
Last week’s unemployment claims in New Hampshire were 22.9 percent lower than they were during the same week in 2019 — the sixth-biggest decrease in the U.S. — according to personal-finance website WalletHub’s updated report on States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Increasing the Most. They are 9.71 percent lower compared to the same week in 2020, and 83.86 percent lower than the same week in 2021.
Score: +1
Comment:According to the report, New Hampshire is one of only 14 states whose unemployment claims last week were lower than before the pandemic.
Life-changing donation for local veteran
Mike Moran, a local disabled veteran who served almost 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, will soon replace his manual wheelchair with an iBOT Personal Mobility Device, courtesy of a Veterans Count donor and assistance from Manchester-based Mobius Mobility, which manufactures the device. According to a press release, Moran has been using his wheelchair for 14 years; with the iBOT PMD, the 51-year-old will now be able to get up and down stairs and curbs, move through all kinds of terrain and experience life at standing height. Veterans Count and Mobius Mobility helped Moran get the prescription and other documentation he needed to qualify for the iBOT, and helped him schedule his training, the release said.
Score: +1
Comment:“We are still taking requests for the remaining four iBOT donations, and we encourage veterans to inquire,” Kathy Flynn, senior director of development for Veterans Count, said in the release.
Camp for all kids
ReKINDling Curiosity is coming back for a second year to help ensure that all kids who want to get a chance to go to camp. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the initiative is meant to provide a positive childhood experience at an approved overnight or day youth recreation camp in New Hampshire. The program, which is federally funded using Covid-19 response money, will pay up to $650 of youth recreation camp fees for qualifying students.
Score: +1
Comment: “For many children, especially those from low-income backgrounds or with disabilities, this opportunity to attend a summer camp could help alleviate anxiety and trauma resulting from the pandemic, and succeed in academic instruction when they return to school in the fall,” Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education, said in the release.
Beware of Covid smishing campaign
Scammers pretending to be from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles are texting residents trying to get personal identifying information. According to a consumer alert from Attorney General John M. Formella, the scam is called “smishing” — when scammers send text messages purporting to be from a reputable agency to get personal information — and this one is a Covid-19 themed campaign. The text messages contain links to a fraudulent “New Hampshire State Covid-19 Vaccine Status Validation” website, which features legitimate-looking seals of the Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Motor Vehicles. On the site, the consumer is asked to enter personal information like their Social Security number and date of birth, the release said.
Score: -1
Comment:Residents are advised not to reply to unsolicited text messages, not to click on a link in a text message from someone you don’t know, and not to provide money or personal information over the phone or by email to someone you don’t know.
QOL score: 52
Net change: +2
QOL this week: 54
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].
