Spring officially arrives this weekend, and with it a slate of vernal events. Here are some highlights.
“The Flat Iron Lot” at Pontine Theatre
Pontine Theatre’s final show of the season is an original staging of Alice Brown’s short story, “The Flat Iron Lot.” Published in 1899, the story is set in Tiverton — a fictional town based on Hampton Falls, N.H. It’s on stage March 20-29, show times are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $29-$32. Learn more here.
Stranger Than Fiction Student Showcase
A variety of talents will be on display at Stranger Than Fiction’s spring Student Showcase at the Newmarket Millspace on Friday at 7 p.m. Students from the local troupe’s improv and musical improv classes will perform in the show — including, for the first time, an advanced class. Tickets are $12. Learn more here.
Music and comedy at The Press Room
Get an early start on the weekend with a rock show featuring Earthkit with Cursed On Earth, Kong Moon, and Creator DGM at The Press Room in Portsmouth on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ($15). On Friday at 7 p.m., some of the region’s best standup comics will take the stage for Pillow Fight Portsmouth ($20). Stick around late for R&B Night with D-Rowe Beatz at 10:30 p.m. ($10). Saturday brings country act Nick Bosse & The Northern Roots with Justin Federico at 6 p.m. ($12-$15), followed by a LUNCH DJ set at 10:30 p.m. ($10). Finally, on Sunday, country and western swing band Haggard & Cashed performs at 6 p.m. ($20-$25). Learn more here.
On stage at N.H. Theatre Project
The third installment of Dive In Productions’ Dive In-Cubator staged reading series will feature the new musical “Real, Enough” at New Hampshire Theatre Project in Portsmouth on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ($15). Tuckermans at 9 follows with a night of Rockin’ A Cappella on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ($20). Learn more here.
Two stagings of “The Featherweight”
Newburyport-born “basement soul” band Tiger Saw has joined forces with local dance troupe Exit Dance Theatre to put together a collaborative, multi-media show called “The Featherweight.” It will be performed live at Newburyport Town Hall on Friday at 8 p.m., and at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth on Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.
“A Bronx Tale” at The Music Hall
Actor Chazz Palminteri based his stage play “A Bronx Tale” on his own childhood and played all 18 characters in the autobiographical show, later made into a movie in which he co-starred with Robert De Niro. He’ll perform the one-man show at The Music Hall in Portsmouth on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $51-$99. Learn more here.
Watercolor workshop at the KAA
If you’ve ever wanted to try painting with watercolors (or you’ve tried but been thoroughly flummoxed), the Kittery Art Association has a workshop for you. Celebrated local painter Bill Paarlberg will lead Watercolor for the Absolute (or Frustrated) Beginner at the gallery on Saturday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Tickets are $90. Learn more here.
Double-bill rock show at WSCA Radio
Get a double-dose of hard-hitting New England rock at WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio this weekend. Danville-based pop-punk power trio Crash the Net will share the Button Factory Stage with Manchester-based indie rock duo Trading Tombstones on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15. Learn more here.
U2 tribute at The Rockingham Ballroom
Keep the St. Patrick’s Day vibes rolling through the weekend at The Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket. Fast-growing tribute act Wide Awake will pay homage to Irish rock titans U2 during a high-energy live performance on Saturday at 8 p.m., featuring songs from throughout the band’s 40-year catalog. Tickets are $25-$30. Learn more here.
Owls of New England at The Word Barn
Spring officially gets underway on Friday. Find out how local owls survived the long, cold winter during the next edition of Owls of New England. The environmental education series continues with Tailwinds educators and their raptor ambassadors at The Word Barn in Exeter on Sunday from 3-4 p.m. Tickets are $25. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.
