Exhibits, galleries, theater and more: Seacoast arts and culture news

September at the Franklin Gallery

ROCHESTER — Now through the end of September, the Franklin Gallery at RiverStones Custom Framing, 33 North Main St., Rochester, will host an exhibit featuring the work of husband and wife team, Henry and Nancy Grover.  An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.  Light refreshments will be served.

Henry and Nancy Grover create art with a fluid paint method often known as “paint pouring” that has become very popular.  Each painting created with this method is 100% original.  Two artists can use the same colors, same canvas, same tilt/elevation of the canvas when paint is poured, and manipulate the canvas and the paint on it in the same way, and no two paintings will ever be the same.

The Grover’s art is vibrant and visually appealing due to a combination of unexpected colors strategically splashed in many directions on canvases of many different shapes and sizes. Their chosen medium is acrylic paint, and occasionally water to change the gravity and vary paint movement.

The exhibit is available for viewing during RiverStones Custom Framing’s regular business hours:  Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For information about this exhibit and other RiverStones events and services, call (603) 812-1488, or send an e-mail to riverstonescustomframing@gmail.com.

‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ opens the 2024-25 season of the Players’ Ring Theatre

PORTSMOUTH – “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” a Tony award winning, deliriously funny comedy, begins the 2024-25 season of the Players’ Ring Theatre.

Written by the late Christopher Durang and directed by Matthew Parent, the play opens Sept. 6 and runs through Sept. 22 at the Players’ Ring Theatre, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth.

Middle-aged siblings Vanya (played by Christopher Savage) and Sonia (Whitney Smith) share a home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives.

Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha (Constance Witman), swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike (Griffinn Gower.) Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house.

Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra (Jessica Miller) who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina (Heather Howe) whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha.

General Admission: $29; Students / Seniors (65+): $26; Military/First Responders, $26. Ten “Angel Seats” complimentary tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis for Opening Weekend to enhance theatre accessibility. Email info@playersring.org to reserve or come directly to the theatre (dependent on availability.) This show is included in the Ring’s subscription packages, offering up to a 30% discount on single ticket prices. Visit www.playersring.org to purchase tickets.

3S Artspace presents: Articine: Shadows - A Physical Theater Drama

PORTSMOUTH — 3S Artspace announces Articine Shadows - A Physical Dance Theater Drama. This event will be held in the main gallery at 3S, accompanying the exhibit on display, Each Has Their Grief , works by Peter Bruun. Each Has Their Grief f eatures Bruun’s paintings and drawings which emerged from within the grief surrounding the death of his daughter from an accidental overdose. Learn more.

Join us for the performance of Shadows , by Articine Dance Theater on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

Articine will be performing the program “Shadows,” which portrays a poor couple working opposite shifts as they struggle through addiction and family crisis to find hope. With its visceral, acrobatic movement and compelling story of strength, desire and loss, this one-act straddles the worlds of dance and theater.

After the performance, Articine will hold a Q&A session with the audience to discuss the themes and artistic elements represented in the show. This debrief session will be facilitated by Dr. Bobby Kelly and will include the performers as well as additional medical experts.

Audience members will have the opportunity to pair their experience watching Articine Dance Theater with viewing Peter Bruun’s exhibit, creating a moment where interdisciplinary arts come together to supplement one another and aid a holistic discussion around difficult, emotional, and important subjects in the healthcare sphere.

Healthcare professionals are eligible for a 50% discount off the price of tickets. Contact Sara O’Reilly (soreilly@3sarts.org), Marketing Manager at 3S for the discount code.

For more information about the event, the exhibition and other related events, visit www.3sarts.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exhibits, galleries, theater and more: Seacoast arts and culture news