Take a look around without flowers distracting you
Early spring is a good time to look at the trees and shrubs on your property, when you are not distracted by flowers and leaves. Study your “woodies” now to see if they need some care — and if some plants need to be removed for the health or beauty of the remaining ones.
If you have a wooded area on your property, it probably needs some help from you, especially if you haven’t done any thinning or grooming of trees in recent years. Start by going outside and really looking at the trees growing on your property with a critical eye.
In nature trees grow willy-nilly. Where a seed lands is largely determined by chance. It is unable to know if it is 6 inches or 6 feet from another tree. If it germinates and grows it might be a good place, or it might be smack-dab next to another tree — or your house.
Ask yourself this question as you walk around your property at your trees: What is the future of this particular tree? How big does this type of tree grow to be? What will this one look like in 10 years? In 50? Is it too close to its neighboring trees or to the house? Is it shading your vegetable garden or favorite flower bed?
I’m a tree-hugger but I have no problem with cutting down trees when judicious removal is beneficial. Now is the time to plan on some careful thinning of trees to improve the health of your best trees and to improve the looks of your landscape.
Before you start tagging trees for culling, you need to learn to identify the trees on your property. A good guide is A Guide to Nature in Winter by Donald Stokes, a wonderful book that will help you with that. Because there are no leaves on most trees out there now, the Stokes book is great — it identifies trees by their bark, shape and buds. It also teaches much about all the other living things out there in the woods, from snow fleas to deer and everything in between.
Trees that I cull from my woods include poplars (Populus spp.), boxelder (Acer negundo) and alders (Alnus spp.). These are fast-growing trees that are short-lived and that produce lots of seedlings.
Trees that I revere are maples, oaks, beeches, birches and hophornbeams (Carpinus caroliniana). I would think long and hard about cutting down one of them. But if a fast-growing poplar were growing within 6 feet of one of my favorites, I would not hesitate to cut the popular down. Trees need plenty of space to do well.
Invasive shrubs make their way into most woods, too. Barberries, burning bush and honeysuckles are shrubs that can choke out native shrubs and many native wildflowers. I work on eliminating those every spring, but the honeysuckles are still ahead of me. Learn to identify them and tag them for removal.
There are a few buckthorns (Rhamnus spp.) moving into the neighborhood, and I am keeping a sharp eye to make sure none get established on my property. Buckthorns are invaders that cannot be easily killed by cutting them down because they sprout up from their roots if you cut them down.
To rid your property of buckthorns, you can pull young ones or girdle the older ones. Trees up to about 2.5 inches in diameter can be pulled with a tool designed for that purpose. It is often called a weed wrench, although the original Weed Wrench company has gone out of business. Another brand of weed wrench is called the “Pullerbear.” It is a steel tool with a gripping mouthpiece and a long handle that provides mechanical advantage. They come in several sizes and prices. For more info see www.pullerbear.com. I have not yet tried one of this brand, but they look like the old weed wrenches I have used.
If you cut down a mature buckthorn it will stimulate the roots to send up many suckers that will develop into new trees. To prevent this from happening, you need to girdle buckthorns twice about 12 inches apart. Cut through the bark severing the green cambium layer all the way around the trunk, but don’t cut deeply. They will usually survive two years before dying. Girdling starves the roots of food from the leaves.
You can girdle them now but doing so right after they leaf out in the spring is better. Just tag them now, and plan their demise. Some buckthorns develop multiple stems in a cluster, making it tough to girdle them, but it is possible using a pointed pruning saw.
Hemlocks and pines often grow so densely that their lower limbs die out because the sun never reaches their leaves. Removing those lower branches opens up the landscape — another task you could do now. And think about removing any wild grapes that are climbing your trees — they can kill them.
So enjoy the spring weather and make some plans for real spring.
Henry Homeyer is the author of four gardening books. You may contact him at [email protected], or P.O. Box 364, Cornish Flat, NH 03746. His website is www.Gardening-Guy.com.
Featured photo: A weed wrench allows anyone to pull out invasive shrubs. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
• Join the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) for a spring celebration after school on Friday, April 7, beginning at 3 p.m. inside the Winchell Room. Attendees will read spring stories, make a simple craft and go on a small egg hunt out on the library lawn. Registration is recommended. A similar spring celebration is also planned at the library on Thursday, April 6, at 11 a.m., but for kids ages 5 and under. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us or call 624-6550 for more details.
Taking the stage
• The Nashua Chamber Orchestra will present a special free family concert in the Chandler Wing of the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) on Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. The show will feature Chamber student soloists Carina Lee, an 8th-grader at Elm Street Middle School, on the viola; and Anthony Umbro, a freshman at Nashua North High School, on the oboe. Listeners of all ages are invited to attend and be introduced to the instruments. Visit nco-music.org/family-concert for more details.
• The Hudson Memorial School (1 Memorial Drive) Drama Club will present Annie Jr. The Musical, with showings on Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, at 7 p.m. inside the school’s gymnasium. Tickets start at $8 per person and are free for kids under 5. Purchase them online at hmsdramaclub.ludus.com.
Storytime
• Londonderry children’s author Kayla Messana will appear at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St.) for a special storytime and craft event on Saturday, April 8, at 11:30 a.m., featuring her recently released picture book, Spiders Love Meatballs. Perfect for kids ages 1 to 4, the book tells the story of a friendly, meatball-loving spider who only wants to share a meal with you, according to the Eventbrite page. Admission is free; copies of Spiders Love Meatballs will be available for purchase in the shop. Visit bookerymht.com or call 836-6600.
Reach for the stars
• On April 8, 2024, parts of New Hampshire will be in the path of totality for a total solar eclipse for the first time since 1959. To celebrate, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will hold a special “Eclipse Countdown Kick Off Event” on Saturday, April 8, from 1 to 4 p.m., featuring an afternoon full of presentations, eclipse giveaways, solar telescope viewing with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and pizza, according to starhop.com. The event is included with regular admission to the center ($12 for adults, $11 for seniors and students 13 through college, $9 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids ages 2 and under).
Save the date
• Meet Curious George at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) on Friday, April 14, or Saturday, April 15, at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. George will be available for hugs, high-fives and photos at 10 a.m. during the museum’s morning play sessions (9 a.m. to noon) and at 2 p.m. during the afternoon play sessions (1 to 4 p.m.). There will also be a variety of Curious George-inspired literacy, math and creative activities for all guests. It’s all included in the museum’s standard paid admission ($12.50 for kids and adults, $10.50 for seniors and free for kids under 12 months), and a special member-only meet-and-greet with George will take place on Saturday, April 15, at 8:30 a.m. See childrens-museum.org or call 742-2002.
Get your hunt on at one of the many egg hunts and Easter events
Kids can get ready to meet the Easter bunny, hunt down some eggs, and score some cool prizes this weekend at one of many Easter events.
• Come to the Rodgers Memorial Library (194 Derry Road, Hudson) for Curious Kids: Easter Egg Puffy Paint on Thursday, April 6, at 10 a.m. The program will have a sensory bin, art and engineering designed for kids ages 2 to 6. For more information, visit rodgerslibrary.org
• Altitude Trampoline Park’s three locations (Altitude Trampoline Park, 150 Bridge St., Pelham; 270 Loudon Road, Concord; 360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) are hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza on Friday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to noon. Reservations cost $22 and can be made at altitudetrampolinepark.com.
• Visit Benchmark at Rye (295 Lafayette Road) for springtime activities and an intergenerational Easter egg hunt on Friday, April 7, at noon. See benchmarkseniorliving.com.
• Skyzone (365 Lincoln St., Manchester) is hosting a Little Leapers Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 7, from noon to 1 p.m. Tickets cost $11 and can be purchased at skyzone.com
• Come to Derryfield Park in Manchester for an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 7, at 4 p.m. Registration is free; see fb.me/e/9LBhaRxP1.
• The Gilford Youth Center and the Gilford Parks and Recreation Department are hosting Breakfast with Bunny and Friends at the center (19 Potter Hill Road) on Saturday, April 8, from 8 to 10 a.m. Kids and their families can have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny and enjoy breakfast, face painting and coloring pages, and they can enter in a cookie walk and basket raffle. The breakfast costs $4 for kids, $6 for adults. Visit gilfordyouthcenter.com.
• The 14th Annual Our Promise to Nicholas Indoor Maze to the Egg Hunt is on Saturday, April 8, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the NH Sportsplex (68 Technology Dr., Bedford). Kids will explore the indoor maze and fill their baskets with some of the 15,000 plastic eggs available for the hunt. Ticket price ranges from $8 to $56. Visit ourpromisetonicholas.com.
• The Egg-Citing Egg Hunt is back at Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) on Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets to attend cost $22 and can be purchased at visitthefarm.com.
• The Carriage Shack Farm (5 Dan Hill Road, Londonderry) is hosting an Easter Bunny Party on Saturday, April 8, at 10 a.m. In addition to spending time with the Easter Bunny and the farm’s animals, kids can collect Easter eggs and treasures on the Easter bunny trail. Tickets cost $12.95 for adults, $10.95 for kids ages 1 to 15, and kids younger than 1 are free. Visit carriageshackfarmllc.org to purchase tickets.
• Hudson’s Best Egg Hunt at Inner Dragon Martial Arts (77 Derry Road in Hudson) will have hunt times at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday, April 8, featuring more than 5,000 eggs and photos with the Easter Bunny. See hudsonnhsbest.com to reserve a spot.
• Head to Arthur Donati Memorial Field (51 Main St., Hooksett) for the For The City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The hunts will be grouped by age and held across three fields. Visit hooksetteaster.com.
• Everyone Eats Different Food is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt with a special appearance by the Easter Bunny at Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) on Saturday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. Registration is free. Visit everyoneeatsdifferentfood.org.
• Miles Smith Farm (56 Whitehouse Road, Loudon) is hosting Easter on the Farm on Saturday, April 8, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids will be allowed to sit on the Scottish Highland cow, Curious Blu, and meet the other barnyard animals. Tickets cost $15 for adults; children are free. Visit learningnetworksfoundation.com.
• The 5th Annual Nashua Easter Family Fun Day is going to be at Broad Street Elementary School (390 Broad St., Nashua) on Saturday, April 8. The fun day (which runs from noon to 5 p.m.) will have egg hunts, games, food, vendors and crafters, and free pictures with the Easter Bunny. Tickets cost $2 for the kids’ egg hunt (on April 4, available time slots start at 11:30 a.m.). Visit allevents.in/nashua/80001306747056 to reserve a spot.
• Come to the Amherst Town Green (Main Street) on April 8, for Amherst’s Best Easter Egg Hunt at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. There will be more than 5,000 eggs hidden throughout the green for kids to find, including golden eggs with special prizes. Visit funnels.amherstsmartialarts.com/egghunt-2023 to reserve a spot.
• The 7th Annual Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt will be at Stark Park (650 River Road, Manchester) on Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. Kids will be able to hunt for Easter eggs and get a special Easter surprise. See fb.me/e/NLJJ4bfB.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• A journey in photographs: The photography exhibit “Crying in the Wilderness: An Immigrant’s Journey in Detention” by New Hampshire photographer Becky Field is on display at Manchester Community College, Student Center Upper Level (1066 Front St. in Manchester; mccnh.edu) through Thursday, April 20. The exhibit follows the life of an asylum seeker called Antony (a pseudonym) and features Field’s photographs as well as Antony’s artwork and poetry, according to a press release.
• Call for art: Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; 975-0015, twiggsgallery.org) is inviting New Hampshire artists to enter works inspired by nests or nesting in the Twiggs summer juried exhibition “NEST,” according to a press release. The deadline to enter is Sunday, April 23; visit the website for the information about submitting works.
• Music to hear, music to touch: The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra will hold its Drawn to the Music performances Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center at Salem High School in Salem. At these kid-friendly concerts, artwork by students at New Hampshire schools will be projected above the orchestra during the performance of the musical piece that inspired the work, according to a press release. The concerts will also feature a “Touch an Instrument” opportunity after the concert when kids can meet orchestra members and get an up-close look at their instruments, the release said. Sunday’s performance will also be livestreamed. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $8 for students; see nhphil.org.
• Casino Night: The Palace Theatre in Manchester will hold a Casino Night on Saturday, April 15, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to benefit the Palace Youth Theatre Campaign. The evening will feature drinks, music, blackjack, Texas hold ’em, craps, roulette and a chance to win prizes including a Southwest Airlines gift card, according to a Palace email. The event will be held at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester. Tickets cost $35; call 668-5588.
• Art of the can: Amherst Label, a manufacturer whose products include beer and other beverage labels, will hold an art exhibit called “Canvas” to celebrate the art of the can, according to a press release. The exhibit will show off the original art on Amherst Label’s customers’ craft beer can labels, the release said. The exhibit will open on Thursday, April 20, with an event from 2 to 6 p.m. featuring tours and tastings of the featured beers, the release said. The show will feature the work of more than 15 artists; Amherst Label is located at 15 Westchester Drive in Milford. See amherstlabel.com.
• Art of the daylily: The Thursday, April 20, meeting of the Manchester Garden Club will feature speaker Fiona McKenna discussing “Daylilies…A Love Affair.” The meeting is at 12:30 p.m. at Girls at Work (200 Bedford St. in Manchester). See manchesternhgardenclub.weebly.com.
• Ukulele for a cause: The Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group will hold its ninth annual Fundraising Luau on Saturday, April 22, at 4 p.m. at Austin 17 House in Brentwood (263 Route 125), according to a press release. The event will feature ukulele groups including Steve Roy, The Silver Tones, The Unlikely Strummers, Desperate Strings Trio, A&W Ukulele Players and Uke Pitt as well as an appearance by hula dancer Atsuko Nemoto, the release said. Tickets cost $20 (plus fees) and are available at snhugluau9.brownpapertickets.com. The event will include food, a cash bar, raffles and play-alongs. Proceeds benefit Ukulele Kids Club, which brings music to hospitalized children, the release said. For more information about the organization, see snhug.wordpress.com.
The sun is out, the snow is melting and flowers will soon be sprouting with spring now upon us. New Hampshire Antique Co-op in Milford is ringing in the season with the “In Full Bloom” art exhibition, which will be on display through Aug. 31.
Co-owner Jason Hackler described the March 24 opening celebration as a “garden style party,” with cucumber sandwiches, Champagne and lemonade. The family-owned antique shop has been hosting art exhibitions since 2007, with “In Full Bloom” being its latest.
“As New Hampshire Antique Co-op is now in its 40th year in business, we decided [it would] be perfect to do a show to celebrate the spring and summer seasons, symbolizing continued growth,” Hackler said. “The show is … an exhibition on paintings of floral still lifes and garden landscapes … done from the 17th century all the way up to the present.”
Some of the artists whose works are on display at the exhibition include German still life painter Adelheid Dietrich, Emil Carlsen, New Hampshire native Lilla Cabot Perry, a neighbor and friend of Claude Monet, as well as Laura van Pappelendam.
“These are works directly from [van Pappelendam’s] estate, which is really cool,” Hackler said. “There’s some really great, bright floral landscapes and still lifes as part of her works and these are the first time some of [them] have been offered.”
A total of 12 of van Pappelendam’s paintings are on display, one of which is hung on her own personal easel.
In addition to the impressionist-era paintings, contemporary artists will also have their work on display. One such artist is Carol Robey. After retiring from working in pediatrics, Robey began studying under Paul Ingbretson, an artist who learned from The Boston School, a group of painters in Boston during the 20th century.
“What they did, which I love, [was add] impressionist color more to the standard representational art and [made] it more interesting that way,” Robey said.
Robey’s attraction to painting still lifes and floral pieces stems from her interest in gardening.
“As a doctor, I did a lot of science and I actually studied a lot of botany in college,” she said. “I love being able to get the … correct details of a flower, for example, so that … a person who’s looking at it will recognize what it is, [while] at the same time … making it beautiful, so I have to … make it expressive as well as accurate.”
Robey, a friend of Hackler’s, was ecstatic when he asked her to be a part of the show.
“Emil Carlsen and Marguerite Pearson are two of my absolute favorites, so to be among them is absolutely a huge honor,” she said.
The “In Full Bloom” exhibition invokes a fresh, spring-like atmosphere.
“It’s supposed to feel light and airy, and bright and cheery,” Hackler said. “Paintings within this genre express color [and] beauty, as well as a sense of respect, awe and wonderment for nature.”
“In Full Bloom” art exhibition Where: New Hampshire Antique Co-op, 323 Elm St., Milford When: On display now through Aug. 31; open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info: Visit nhantiquecoop.com
Performers hit the stage at the newly opened Nashua Center for the Arts
After two years of building, 10 years of planning and more than 20 years of dreaming, the Nashua Center for the Arts has finally opened its doors.
“This is going to make a huge difference for our community, for Nashua, for many, many years to come,” said Mayor Jim Donchess at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 1. “Over the decades, people will become very appreciative of everything that was done by all the people here that made this project possible.”
Donors, board members, patrons of the arts, politicians and their families and friends attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. The front rows of the theater held people who had helped organize and plan the theater over the decades, all of whom got recognition from either Richard Lannan, the president of Nashua Community Arts, Mayor Donchess, Sarah Stewart, the commissioner for the department of natural and cultural resources, or Pete Lally, the president of Spectacle Live, the venue management company for the center.
Donchess read letters written by Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Annie Kuster. Stewart applauded the ability to have a place like the center built, and described how it would change the scene of arts in the Gate City and the state as a whole.
“I love that you’re so excited about the impact this place will make in Nashua, but I’m here to tell you you’re impacting the entire state,” Stewart said. She said that the center will be held in the same regard as the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud competition, and the New Hampshire Film Festival in Portsmouth, which was recently named an Academy Award qualifying event. “What you’re doing here is going to be amazing for the state of art in New Hampshire and beyond. You’re going to be the shining star of what the future looks like for arts in Nashua.”
Mayor Jim Donchess cuts the ceremonial ribbon, officially opening Nashua Center for the Arts for performances. Photo by Katelyn Sahagian.
The private ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a sold-out show featuring a variety of local talent. New Hampshire performers from the ActorSingers, Safe Haven Ballet, Akwabba Ensemble, Peacock Players, Symphony NH and more graced the stage for the first time, but not the last.
“One of the things we’re trying to establish early on is that this isn’t a venue where you just expect one type of genre or show,” Lally said. “Lots of places get pigeonholed with the type of shows they do. We worked very hard to make sure we’re doing a little bit of everything.”
In addition to national touring acts, like Boz Scaggs, Steve Hofstetter and Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, Spectacle has put an emphasis on making sure that the theater is going to be home to local performers. Safe Haven Ballet’s “Beauty and the Beast” is performing one of its three shows at the theater, and Symphony NH will have its 100-year anniversary show there.
“[Nashua Center for the Arts] isn’t replacing anything in Nashua; it’s adding to it,” Lally said. “It’s also adding to an arts infrastructure and scene downtown.”
Decades in the making
While the steering committee first started holding meetings, public hearings and workshops for this project in 2016, the idea for a citywide theater had already been around for years. The initial proposal for a performing arts center was in the 2000 city’s master plan.
More proposals followed in 2003, 2010 and 2014 before the committee brought in Webb Management Services to see how viable a theater would be for the downtown area and if it would be well-received by other local business owners.
Typically, Webb will determine that cities contacting them don’t have the demand needed to support a theater. Lannan and the rest of the steering committee had hoped the organization would find them in the small percentage of cities in which a theater would thrive.
“The original study from Webb design, I asked the same question, ‘What … percentage of the studies you do actually end up happening?’” Lannan said. “They said that the vast majority of theaters don’t happen. When ours came back, they told us, ‘You’re not going to do a Verizon center or SNHU Arena, but Nashua is clamoring for this.’”
The study suggested a 750-seat theater would be optimal for the area. Instead of settling for just a traditional theater, the steering committee decided to make the orchestra seats fully removable. After folding down the chairs, an operator can push a button and create an empty area in a matter of minutes.
The theater also has two sets of stairs and an elevator, multiple bathrooms on all four stories, and two lobbies that double as concession stands. There is a set-up and prep area for caterers, an outdoor balcony overlooking Main Street, and an art gallery.
Lannan said the board wanted to do something special, something that would be completely unique to the center. Having the ability to turn a theater into a standing-room-only venue or into a 50-table banquet hall would bring variety for theater-goers and performers.
Judith Carlson, a key member of the Nashua Arts Commission and Nashua Community Arts and a member of the center’s steering committee, said that for every meeting, Spectacle Live sent either a representative or its president, Pete Lally, to attend.
“One of the most beautiful things about this, Pete Lally or one of his staff were at every one of the planning committee meetings, not only selecting architect and construction,” Carlson said. “We had goals from Day 1 to make this a place … where both audiences and performers would want to come back to again and again.”
The Bank of America Theater at the Nashua Center for the Arts filled up with patrons for the first sold-out show on April 1. Photo by Katelyn Sahagian.
Lannan and Carlson both said that having Lally or one of his people present was a game-changer when it came to planning out the design of the theater. Lannan said that having a person who knows the performance industry helped them come up with having all the amenities performers were looking for. Carlson said that it showed, to her, the devotion Spectacle Live put into the project.
Lally said he had been involved with planning the theater for approximately five or six years, and that it was exciting to work from the ground up. His company runs the Colonial Theatre in Laconia and The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center in Plymouth, both of which opened early in the 20th century.
“The Colonial Theatre … opened in 1914, other buildings [we operate] have long history and chapters, but to be at the design phase has been unique,” Lally said. “From meeting the architects and engineers and designers, it’s been nice to be able to talk to those who were designing [the center]. It resulted in a unique building, one that the area will be happy with.”
More than theater
While the theater’s main draw will be live performances, there will be much more for people to enjoy when it comes to the arts.
“Nashua wanted to serve all kinds of art needs, including performance, and the gallery is part of that,” said Carol Robey, the chairwoman of the gallery. “To have community gallery space … people can see what kind of work artists are doing and give [the artists] an opportunity to sell.”
One major part of the new center will be the Sandy Cleary Gallery, a space for up to a dozen two-dimensional art pieces. The art shows will be staged in three-month rotations after an annual call for art.
April through June will usually be a slot for the students of Nashua’s public schools. This year the schools will begin their shows in May. The April show will be honoring the life of Meri Goyette, a longtime patron of Nashua’s, and New Hampshire’s, art scene.
“She was the queen of arts,” said Carlson. She said that, in addition to organizing art events and supporting local artists, Goyette was a founder of the International Sculpture Symposium, and on the board of directors for the Hunt Memorial Building. “For more than 50 years, she was the inspiration and facilitator for arts in Nashua.”
Carlson said it only felt right to have someone like Goyette, who advocated for years for an artistic home base in Nashua, be the subject of the first arts show in the gallery.
Because of Goyette’s friendship with artists, many painted or photographed her portrait. Robey said those paintings were in storage until now. She added that the portraits were less traditional pieces, some having bright colors and unique compositions that made them more exciting. Goyette’s vibrant personality is skillfully captured in the portraits and photographs hanging on the burnt orange walls. Glimpses of the joyful woman can be seen in the photograph of her dressed as Mrs. Claus. The side of her that was an avid art lover is shown in abstract artworks, including an impressionist-style portrait and a mirrored portrait in a graphic pointillism style.
All of the artwork is facing a window overlooking West Pearl Street, a strategic design to show the artwork more than just during operational hours, Robey said. In addition to having artist plaques with information inside the center, on the window outside the gallery there will be a QR code for passersby so they can read the information during off hours.
The gallery isn’t the only space where visual art will be appreciated, Robey said. She and other members of the art selection committee hope to have artists teach classes in part of the older building.
Carlson said that, with the gallery added in, the Nashua Center for the Arts isn’t just a destination for live music and performances; it’s a place where all art can find a home within the city.
While the center took years to be completed, Lally said it will be a part of Nashua for years to come. He said that having a space like the Center for the Arts will bring new opportunities for artists and arts lovers in Nashua.
“So many cities and towns we’re in touch with have the dream of a space like this; 99 percent never get there,” Lally said. “For Nashua to have pulled this off, it’s a real testament to all the work that’s made it happen, and it’s just about time to open the doors.”
Nashua Center for the Arts Where: 201 Main St. in Nashua Contact: 800-657-8874, nashuacenterforthearts.com Parking: See the website for a map and listing of area parking lots. There are also two-hour-limit and no-time-limit street parking spaces within walking distance of the center.
First on stage
Q&A with Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken
The two American Idol alums are touring the country together in honor of the 20th anniversary of their appearances on the show. Studdard was declared the winner during Season 2 of the singing competition in 2003, with Aiken coming in second place by just 134,000 votes out of more than 24 million cast, the closest winning vote margin in American Idol history. Their second stop on their tour, Ruben and Clay: Twenty Years, One Night, is the Nashua Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 13. When they talked to The Hippo, neither had realized that their show was the first non-ceremonial performance scheduled to take place at the new venue.
You guys are the first touring act performing at the Nashua Center of the Arts.
CA (Clay Aiken): That’s cool. Wow. We are going to inaugurate that hell out of that thing.
So now that you guys know that, how does that feel knowing that you’re going to be the first people to really christen that stage?
RS (Ruben Studdard): After such a long, illustrious career, [he laughs] I have inaugurated several theaters.
CA: Have you?
RS: No. [still laughing]
CA: Well, I was about to say, I don’t think I’ve ever done that. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a theater for the first time. Well, you know what, if you’re going to do it, you do it right, Nashua, and you’ve done it right.
What’s it like going on tour together again 20 years after American Idol?
RS: It’s great. I mean, I’m excited to just spend time with my friend. I had such a great time when we were together planning and putting together the show. It’s so funny to see people’s reaction when they see us together, like at a restaurant. ’Cause of course, I mean like, what’s the odds of you walking into your local Italian restaurant and Clay and Ruben are just sitting there chumming it up?
CA: It’s kinda like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon hanging out together, right?
RS: Absolutely. That’s what it’s like.
Going off that, how did you become friends on [Idol] in the middle of a competition like that?
CA: It was a competition, but I think there were plenty of times throughout the show when I forgot it was a competition. Idol is not like Survivor, where you have to get someone else kicked off in order to be successful. I wanted to make sure I made it till Week 6 when my mom told me she was coming. I certainly never saw myself as being competitive. We both were on the same number of episodes; we both made it all the way to the end and I just never felt competitive against Ruben.
What can attendees expect for the performance at the Nashua Center for the Arts?
RS: To have a good time. You know, at the end of the day, everybody knows we can sing. The question is, can we entertain people for an hour and a half, two hours? And I think the thing that we’re putting together, the stories that we have, the music that we’re going to share, is going to be fun.
CA: It’s going to be an incredible opportunity to reminisce. You know, just the way we’re talking about the show ourselves, Idol was to our great fortune…. Nostalgia is big right now or has been big for a minute or two. People love the Roseanne reboot and the Will & Grace reboot and the Night Court reboot. I think we as a country are looking for things that are safe and fun that we know make us happy, and Idol made a lot of people happy in 2003.
For the performers
The creators of the center wanted to make the venue as luxurious for performers as it’s set to be for patrons.
“We’re really good about taking feedback,” said Jake Crumb, the facilities manager set up by Spectacle Live to run Nashua Center for the Arts. “When [performers and crew] arrive…they’re looking for a place that is somewhat comfortable and gives them amenities. We’ve taken [that] to heart and given them all the amenities they’d expect to have.”
The center worked with ICON Architecture and OTJ Architects for theater design, Fisher Dachs Associates for theater planning and equipment, Acentech for audiovisual and acoustic design, and Rist Frost Shumway for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, civil engineering and lighting design.
The state-of-the-art light system has LED theatrical lighting and 28 linesight rigging systems. The sound system is by Meyer Sound Laboratories and will have headset and handheld microphones. The center also houses audiovisual equipment for movies, film festivals and presentations, and a Yamaha C6X grand piano for performances.
The stage is approximately 30 feet deep from downstage to upstage and is 60 feet across from wing to wing.
There are many perks for performers and their crews off the stage, as well. The loading dock leads directly to the main stage area for easy access for setting up and taking down shows. There are two dressing rooms designed for stars, community dressing rooms, a lounge room, and a separate room for the crew. There are showers, a kitchenette with a refrigerator and microwave, and a washer and dryer.
See a show
Here are some of the shows on the schedule for the Nashua Center for the Arts. Buy tickets and get updates at nashuacenterforthearts.com.
• Ruben and Clay: Twenty Years, One Night (Thursday, April 13, 8 p.m.; Ticket price range: $49 to $89)
• Suzanne Vega – An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories (Saturday, April 15, 8 p.m.; $49 to $195)
• Dopapod (Thursday, April 20, 8 p.m.; $24)
• Girl Named Tom (Friday, April 21, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)
• Safe Haven Ballet Presents: Beauty and the Beast (Saturday, April 22, 4:30 p.m.; $40 to $45)
• Symphony NH: Momentum! 100 Year Anniversary Concert (Saturday, April 29, 4 p.m.; $12 to $52)
• Champions of Magic (Thursday, May 4, 7:30 p.m.; $39 to $69)
• Gimme Gimme Disco (Friday, May 5, 8:30 p.m.; $19 to $24)
• Broadway Rave (Saturday, May 6, 8:30 p.m.; $19 to $24)
• Boz Scaggs (Thursday, May 11, 8 p.m.; $79 to $279)
• BoDeans (Friday, May 12, 8 p.m.; $29 to $49)
• Recycled Percussion (Saturday, May 13, 3 and 7 p.m.; $39.50 to $49.50)
• Emo Night Brooklyn (Saturday, May 20, 8:30 p.m.; $19 to $24)
• Celebrating Billy Joel: America’s Piano Man (Thursday, June 8, 8 p.m.; $29 to $59)
• Pat Metheny Side-Eye (Friday, June 9, 8 p.m.; $59 to $99)
• Menopause the Musical (Saturday, June 10; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; $31.30 to $69)
• Grace Kelly (Saturday, June 17, 8 p.m.; $25 to $60)
• Toad the Wet Sprocket (Sunday, June 18, 7 p.m.; $49 to $179)
• Kashmir (Led Zeppelin tribute) (Friday, June 23, 8 p.m.; $29 to $59)
• Tab Benoit (Thursday, July 13, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)
• An Evening with Tom Rush accompanied by Matt Nakoa (Friday, July 14, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)
• Jake Shimabukuro (Saturday, July 15, 8 p.m.; $29 to $69)
• The High Kings (Sunday, July 30, 7 p.m.; $39 to $69)
• Jesse Cook (Saturday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m.; $39 to $69)
• Mary Chapin Carpenter (Sunday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m.; $49 to $89)
• Ace Frehley (Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.; $49 to $79)
• Tusk (Fleetwood Mac tribute) (Friday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m.; $29 to $49)
• Steve Hofstetter (Saturday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.; $29 to $104)
• The Sixties Show (Sunday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.; $29 to $59)
