New Hampshire Theatre Project Begins 28th Season in 'New' Home

New Hampshire Theatre Project (NHTP) is launching its 28th season at the West End Studio Theatre (WEST) on 959 Islington Street-its "new" home. While NHTP has been a resident company at WEST since 1984, only as of this July 1 has it become the sole tenant of the space. On that date, NHTP signed a two-year lease with an option to buy the only theatre-and the largest public meeting space-in Portsmouth's up-and-coming West End arts district.

This new arrangement presents NHTP with both opportunities and challenges. Its sole tenancy provides the flexibility to expand programming in exciting ways that support NHTP's mission of providing a nurturing professional environment for youth, artists and community members to be inspired and transformed through the art of theatre. The company has begun to expand its mainstage offerings with programs by guest artists in various performing arts, as classical guitarist Steven Hancoff kicked off the 2016-17 season with a sold-out show on September 10. NHTP will also be augmenting its current school year and summer youth programs with vacation camps in February and April. NHTP's adult training programs are increasing to meet demand, as evidenced by the current sold-out six-session workshops in acting technique. And corporate programs designed to increase managers' public speaking and communications facility are growing as well.

The challenges are equally exciting, and are being met with enthusiastic response. The new tenancy arrangement requires an immediate upgrade in NHTP's stage lighting equipment, so the company has launched its current online Bring Up the Lights! fundraising campaign to generate the necessary $10,000 by the end of 2016. To date, supporters-prominently including alumni of the Youth Repertory Company -have contributed over $3,600 toward this effort.

More fundraising lies ahead to prepare for the purchase of WEST, and NHTP is confident of success. Artistic Director Genevieve Aichele points to the just-begun season as evidence of NHTP's tremendous energy: From a new work about women in politics to a reinterpretation of Ovid's myths from classical antiquity, from Dicken's tale of great expectations to the amazing true story of a transgender woman who survived the regimes of the Nazis and Stasi secret police of postwar East Germany, the 2016-2017 season at NHTP is a testament to the human spirit-and to the transforming power of theatre.

NEW HAMPSHIRE THEATRE PROJECT 2016-17 SEASON:

September 10, 2016

GUEST ARTIST: From Tragedy to Transcendence

Master guitarist Steven Hancoff

November 4-14, 2016

NEW WORK: She Will Lead: Women in Politics

By Catherine Stewart

An absurdist adventure into political history, gender & apathy.

November 18-December 4, 2016

MAIN STAGE: Great Expectations

By Gale Childs Daly

Six actors play multiple characters bringing Dickens' fascinating tale to life

December 21, 2016

GUEST ARTIST: Winter Solstice in Legend & Song

Storyteller Diane Edgecomb celebrates the Solstice in story & song

January 13-29, 2017

MAIN STAGE: Metamorphoses

By Mary Zimmerman

A mystical adaptation of Ovid's magical myths

March 17-26, 2017

YOUTH REPERTORY COMPANY: Is He Dead?

By Mark Twain & David Ives

Hilarious farce by comedy masters from two different centuries

March 31-April 2, 2017

INTELLIGENT THEATRE FESTIVAL

Community festival of staged play readings & discussion

April 7-9, 2017

YOUTH REPERTORY COMPANY: The Jungle Book

Adapted from Rudyard Kipling

A new adaptation of the classic tale for all ages

April 21-30,2017

MAIN STAGE: I Am My Own Wife

By Doug Wright

Back by popular demand, winner of 2015 Spotlight Award for Excellence in Theatre

Additional spring and summer events will be announced in January 2017!

Pictured: CJ Lewis in I Am My Own Wife, photo by Sofia Piel