Upper Valley audiences can delight at the upcoming 2019-2020 season with an eclectic assortment of shows and performances that will win over the heart and challenge thoughts about life itself.

Northern Stage 

The Sound of Music (November 20-January 5).

Based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, this play offers a tale of personal growth and hope amidst the horrors of World War II. The classic score by Rodgers and Hammerstein features some of Broadway’s greatest songs. Performances run from November 29 to December 1 and December 14 to January 5. Adult ticket prices are as follows: Center Section $69; Side Section $59; Side Section Rear $44; Accessible $44-59; Students $19. Group discounts remain at $5 off each regularly priced adult ticket for any group of 10 or more adults.

King Lear (From January 22 to February 9, 2020)

Considered by many to be the greatest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, the play depicts two aging fathers – one a King, one his courtier – as they reject the children who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery, as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with bitter ends. Adult ticket prices are as follows: Center Section $59, Side Section $49, Side Section Rear $34, Accessible $34-49. Students $19. Preview performances $34, and $20 the first Tuesday after each production opens.

Citrus  (February 26 and runs through March 15, 2020)

chronicles the struggle and resilience of black women in America from 1840 through the present day. With music, dance and the spoken word, an intergenerational cast illuminates the experiences of and pays homage to black women in this poignant and uplifting performance piece. Tickets include Center Section $59, Side Section $49, Side Section Rear $34, Accessible $34-49, Preview Performances $34, Students $19, and $20 for all seats the first Tuesday after each production opens.

Million Dollar Quartet (April 15 to May 24, 2020)

Recounting one of the greatest jam sessions ever on December 4, 1956, with rock-and-roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins gathering for the first and only time at Sun Records in Memphis. This is an electrifying musical that audiences won’t soon forget. Tickets include Center Section $59, Side Section $49, Side Section Rear $34, Accessible $34-49, Preview Performances $34, Students $19 and all seats $20 the first Tuesday after each production opens.

The Engine Room

Offers a variety of events from shows to activities in which audience members can participate.

Area comics take the stage on December 5 from 8 to 10 p.m. For $10 or $5 with college ID, check out Upper Valley talent while snacking on some BBQ and Vermont craft beer.

Vital Communities Presents: livemixkings’ DJ Sean beginning at 7:30 p.m. $5 at the door to benefit Vital Communities (admission is free if you come to Vital Communities Open House first). Age 21+. Vital Communities cultivates the civic, environmental and economic vitality of the Upper Valley. Bringing people together, bridging boundaries and engaging the entire community to create positive change is its mission.

Join the Engine Room for its Hot 97.5 Hip Hop Holiday Party on December 20 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. This is the second annual such fete. Admission is $5.

Enjoy musician Chris Powers and Ali T on December 28 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. This is an album release concert called “Once in a Blue Moon”. For more information go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chris-powers-and-ali-t-album-release-show-tickets-75242248591

January 2, 2020 brings back the Comedy Club from 8 to 10 p.m.  Area comics takes the stage. Come check out Upper Valley talent while snacking on some BBQ and Vermont craft beer. Admission is $10 and $5 with college ID. Doors open at 7 pm. 21+ only.

January 4, 2020, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., shake off New Year’s Eve cobwebs with Livemixkings. Hot beats, cool dance moves, lights and drink specials will be available all nit. $5 cover charge with doors opening at 8 p.m. 21+ only.

           

Woodstock Vermont Film Series 

With 15 riveting movies that transport viewers to distinctive cultures and destinations that share a strong sense of place. Through the medium of cinematography, the Series celebrates the diversity and joy of humanity and the powerful influence of place in people’s lives. Films are screened in HD digital projection and Dolby surround-sound with complimentary refreshments. Tickets are $11 for adults (Billings Farm Museum members $9); $6 for children (BFM members $5), or $132 for a 15-film package. All shows are presented at 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Saturdays.

The Biggest Little Farm (91 min.)

December 7 is a testament to the immense complexity of nature, The Biggest Little Farm follows two West Coast dreamers and their dog on an odyssey to bring harmony to both their lives and the land they choose to farm – 200 acres in the foothills of Ventura County that is utterly depleted of nutrients and suffering from a brutal drought. The film chronicles eight years of daunting work and outsize idealism as they attempt to create the utopia they seek. When the farm’s ecosystem finally begins to reawaken, so does the Chesters’ hope – but as their plans then take a series of wild turns, they realize that to survive they will have to reach a far greater understanding of the intricacies and wisdom of nature, and of life itself.

A Tuba to Cuba (84 min.)

December 21 involves the leader of New Orleans’ famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band who seeks to fulfill his late father’s dream of retracing their musical roots to the shores of Cuba in search of the indigenous music that gave birth to New Orleans jazz. A Tuba to Cuba celebrates the triumph of the human spirit expressed through the universal language of music and challenges us to resolve to build bridges, not walls.

Maiden (97 min.)

The story of how Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old charter boat cook, became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World in 1989. Tracy’s inspirational dream was opposed on all sides: her male competitors thought an all-women crew would never make it, the chauvinistic yachting press took bets on her failure, and potential sponsors rejected her, fearing she and her crew would die at sea and generate bad publicity. But Tracy refused to give up: she remortgaged her home and bought a secondhand boat, putting everything on the line to ensure the team made it to the start line. Premieres December 28.

Monrovia, Indiana (143 min.)

is Frederick Wiseman’s newest film that explores conflicting stereotypes and illustrates how values like community service, duty, spiritual life, generosity, and authenticity are formed, experienced and lived. And it provides fresh insight into a rural way of life whose influence and force has not always been recognized or understood. 

Honeyland (85 min.)

Focuses on Hatidze Muratova who, nestled in isolated mountains deep in the Balkans, lives in a village without roads, electricity or running water. She’s the last in a long line of Macedonian wild beekeepers, eking out a living farming honey in small batches to be sold in the closest city – a four-hour walk away. Hatidze’s peaceful life is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an itinerant family, with their roaring engines, rambunctious children and herd of cattle.  (January 18, 2020.)

David Crosby: Remember My Name (95 min.)

Focuses on the musician now in this portrait of a man with everything but an easy retirement on his mind. With unflinching honesty, self-examination, regret, fear, exuberance and an unshakable belief in family and the transformative nature of music, Crosby shares his often challenging journey. (January 25, 2020.)

The Dog Doc (101 min.)

features a a founding father of integrative veterinary medicine, Dr. Marty Goldstein and his colleagues who have created a mecca for holistic care, offering hope to previously hopeless animals (and their owners). Combining conventional remedies with cutting edge alternative therapies, Dr. Marty’s deeply empathetic philosophy offers a vital example of how improving overall health rather than merely treating disease is transformative for all living things.

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (119 min.)

Reveals legendary Nobel Prize-winning storyteller, examines her life, her works and the powerful themes she has confronted throughout her literary career. In this indelible film portrait, Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics, and colleague on an exploration of race, history, America and the human condition. (February 22, 2020.)

Forgotten Farms (65 min.)

 is about New England that has lost more than 10,000 dairy farms in the past 50 years; fewer than 2,000 farms remain. Collectively, they tend 1.2 million acres of farmland and produce almost all of the milk consumed in the region. In our enthusiasm for the new food movement, we often overlook the farmers at the foundation of the regional agricultural economy. (March 7, 2020.)

JFK: The Last Speech (90 min.)

President John F. Kennedy, many stories have been told. Few are less known or more revealing than the story of his friendship with Robert Frost, America’s most celebrated poet. Yet it was Robert Frost that Kennedy made the subject of one of his most famous speeches, delivered just weeks before his assassination. Executive Producer Neil Bicknell and his wife Judy will attend the film. (March 21, 2020.)     

Moynihan (104 min.)

was a moralist in a political world where morality – the urge to do good – is often overcome by the desire to do well. Over the years, Moynihan’s work has frequently been misinterpreted by political partisans. The film offers a timely perspective on today’s debates over issues that Moynihan began tackling 50 years ago. (April 4, 2020.)

The Pollinators (92 min.)

A cinematic journey around the United States following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honeybees as they pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables we all eat. The filmmakers talk to farmers, scientists, chefs, economists and academics along the way to give a broad perspective about the threats to honeybees and what it means to our food security. (April 18, 2020.)

Lebanon Opera House

The Christmas Revels: An English Celebration of the Winter Solstice debuts on December 21 and runs until December 23. Showtimes are 12/21 @2 p.m.; 12/22 @ 2 and 7 p.m.; and 12/23 @2 p.m. All seating $11-$47.

January 24-25, Recycled Percussion presented by JJR Productions premieres with turbo-charged performances brimming with music, comedy and brilliant drumming. Performances are 1/24 @ 7:30 p.m.; 1/25 @ 4 p.m.; and 1/25 @ 7:30 p.m. All seating is $35-45.

Grammy-winning violinist Johnny Gandelsman (Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble) plays Bach’s complete cello suites on February 7 at the First Congregational Church at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18-33.

The March 11th musical, Dog Loves Books is SOLD OUT. Based on the best seller by Louise Yates, the 60-minute show is about the power of books and how a dog loves books so much he decides to open his own shop. Performances are scheduled for 10 a.m. All tickets are $6. Recommended for grades pre-K to third.

March 28, A Bowie Celebration debuts as a musical celebration from those who experienced David Bowie’s artistry firsthand: his bandmates. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55-75.

April 6th brings Penguins, inspired by a real-life event, that comes to life with delightful music, inventive choreography, and some magic. The 60-minute production, recommended for grades K-3, starts at 10 a.m. All tickets $6.

May 8, Sewam American Indian Dance is proud to share Native American culture with audiences. The 60-minute production is recommended for grades 2-6 and begins at 10 a.m. All tickets $6.

Hood Museum of Art

Beginning December 1 from 2-4 p.m., there will be a film screening of Day Without Art with seven newly commissioned videos by Shanti Avirgan, Nguyen Tan Hoang, Carl George, Viva Ruiz, Iman Shervington, Jack Waters, and Derrick Woods-Morrow in collaboration with Patrick McCoy. These artists will consider the continuing presence of HIV/AIDS today while revisiting resonant cultural histories of art and activism from the past three decades. Free and open to the public.

December 6 from 5-7 p.m., Hanover’s Celebrate the Season presents a hands-on art project in the Russo Atrium. For more information contact Sharon Reed at 603-646-2808. Free and open to the public.

Museum intern Victoria McCraven ’19 will introduce her exhibition “Black Bodies on the Cross” from 4-5 p.m. as part of Space for Dialogue Gallery Talk on December 18. Free and open to the public.

January 8, 2020, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., photographers Will Wilson and Kali Spitzer will discuss their work with tintype photography and the Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange (CIPX) project during their residency at the museum to photograph community members for the winter exhibition. Free and open to the public.

A workshop on southern poverty takes place at Alumni Hall at the Hop on January 16 from 8:30-3 p.m. Inspired by the winter exhibitions featuring works that confront colonial histories, stereotypes, and racism, the Hood Museum is pleased to host this special teacher workshop facilitated by Southern Poverty Law Center staff. Randall will discuss her practice as an abstract painter whose work explores natural space and light in relation to human consciousness through the materiality of paint. Reception to follow.

January 16 from 5-7 p.m., a Winter Opening Reception presents new exhibitions and object rotations throughout the galleries of the Hood. Free and open to the public.

A gallery talk on A Space for Dialogue Student Exhibition takes place on January 17 from 4-5 p.m. with Devon Mifflin ’21, Levinson Intern, introducing her exhibition, Vision 2020. Free and open to the public.

January 22 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Morgan E. Freeman, DAMLI Native American Art Fellow, and Thomas Price, Curatorial Assistant, coincide with Dartmouth’s annual MLK Celebration and the Hood Museum’s accompanying exhibition with their Embodiment of Language. Co-curators Freeman and Price will draw upon Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as an orator to reflect on works by black artists who prioritize forms of literacy in their sense of visuality. Free and open to the public.

An adult workshop on Histories and Identities occurs on January 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. In this discussion-based workshop, participants will explore selected works of art that confront colonial histories, stereotypes, and racism. Space for this free workshop is limited. Registration link coming soon.

Discover various works in the galleries through guided tours on January 25 from 2-3 p.m. Free and open to the public.

January 30, from 4:45-5:45 p.m., Colleen Randall, Professor of Studio Art at Dartmouth presents The Abstract Sublime: Vision and Process. Randall will discuss her practice as an abstract painter whose work explores natural space and light in relation to human consciousness through the materiality of paint. Reception to follow. Free and open to the public.

Strike a Pose! On February 2 from noon to 5 p.m. Drop in to see our new lineup of exhibitions, featuring many different types of photographs and portraits. Create your own photo props and strike a pose in front of our magic mirror photo booth! You can also explore the museum on your own using family activity cards. For children ages 4 to 12 with their adult companions. No registration is required. 

February 6 from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the Gilman Auditorium, Marcelo Brodsky, photographer, and human rights activist, presents Memory Works in which we remember who we are and were through our photographs. At a time when visual culture is transforming language to an unprecedented extent, Brodsky will argue for using images to narrate whatever story or experience we want to offer later generations. Free and open to the public.

February 12 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. there will be presentations on What Do School Photos Do? Hirsch and Spitzer will highlight the ideological and political work of school photos in times of political turmoil and transformation, including examples from US boarding schools for Native American children and from Jewish ghettos during the Holocaust. They will also discuss the afterlives of these vernacular images in the work of artists who have reframed them in their installations. Free and open to the public.

Join Jessica Hong, Associate Curator of Global Contemporary Art, for a tour of her exhibition Reconstitution on February 19 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and on February 22 from 2-3 p.m. discover various works in the galleries through these guided tours in the Hood. Free and open to the public.

February 28 from 12:15 to 1 p.m., take a few moments to slow down through guided mindfulness in the Hood Museum’s galleries. Free and open to the public.