Arts and Recreation

Dreamers Ensemble Brings Fresh Take on Shakespeare Classic with "Hamlet: A Ghost Story" at The Park Theatre

Local theatre company known for inventive storytelling presents new adaptation August 21-23 in Jaffrey, NH

Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 14, 2026) The Dreamers Ensemble theatre company returns to the stage this summer with Hamlet: A Ghost Story, a bold new adaptation of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, at The Park Theatre in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Performances run Friday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, August 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for seniors and students. They are available at theparktheatre.org or by calling the box office at (603) 532-8888. After each performance, audience members are invited to a meet-and-greet with the company in the lobby.

When King Hamlet dies, the college-aged Princess Hamlet is summoned home for her father's funeral--only to confront her uncle's coronation and his swift marriage to her mother. Already reeling, she is visited by her father's spirit, launching her onto a path of vengeance, intrigue, and madness. Presented by the local Dreamers Ensemble, Hamlet: A Ghost Story begins as a familiar production of the classic before revealing the company's distinctive interpretation through performance, direction, and design. The result is a story that can still surprise even those who know the play by heart.

"We are so proud to host Dreamers Ensemble's Hamlet: A Ghost Story at The Park Theatre," said Steve Jackson, CEO & Managing Director of The Park Theatre. "This is exactly the kind of inventive, high-quality local theatre we love to champion--bold storytelling by passionate artists from our own community that brings fresh life to a classic and invites audiences to experience Shakespeare in a completely new way."

Founded by Eve Pierce and fellow ConVal theatre alumni, the Dreamers Ensemble has built a reputation for inventive, high-energy local theatre that puts a unique stamp on familiar material. The company launched with The Importance of Being Earnest and followed with an original musical retelling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass in 2025 at the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough.

Of the Alice production, founder Eve Pierce told the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript: "When you see Alice, it's not going to look like any other Alice in Wonderland you've ever seen in your life. It's full of original designs; we have prop and costume designers and original music, and it's going to be really, really funny." The company was praised for its creative staging, original score (composed by Pierce and May Cassidy), and ability to rediscover a classic story in fresh ways. Audiences and the local press responded enthusiastically to the ensemble's spirited, community-rooted approach, which blended familiar characters with inventive theatrical solutions and a strong sense of fun.

That same spirit of reinvention drives Hamlet: A Ghost Story. "This is exactly the sort of thing I want the Dreamers to be doing--taking things you are really familiar with and putting them together in an unfamiliar and creative and really unique way," Pierce has said of the company's ethos.

Fun side note, Eve Pierce, as well as other members of The Dreamers Ensemble (Reo Sleeper, Cheyenne Heinselman, Ben Michaud, Faith Williams) are part-time staff members of The Park Theatre.

The Park Theatre, located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, is New England's unique showplace for live entertainment and film. The venue is fully accessible and sits roughly 90 minutes from Boston and 60 minutes from Worcester.

For more information about Hamlet: A Ghost Story or to purchase tickets, visit theparktheatre.org or call the box office (603) 532-8888.

The Brit Pack Returns to The Park Theatre for High-Energy British Rock Night

Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 18, 2026) The Park Theatre is thrilled to welcome back The Brit Pack for their second appearance at the venue on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39 and $49 (orchestra) and are available now.

British-born but American-made, The Brit Pack delivers the ultimate British music experience, bringing the best of classic British rock to stages across the USA. Formed by two British session musicians living in the United States, the band's energetic, heartfelt performances pay tribute to the UK's deep musical legacy--from the iconic anthems of the 1960s British Invasion to modern classics.

Expect a high-energy set featuring music by Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Oasis, Tears for Fears, and many more. The repertoire spans decades of British music greatness, including The Beatles, The Who, Elton John, The Police, The Kinks, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, and beyond.

The Brit Pack lineup:
Matt Nakoa (US) - Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Mark Sidney Johnson (UK) - Guitar, Vocals
Bryan Percivall (US) - Bass, Vocals
Will Haywood Smith (UK) - Drums, Vocals

The Brit Pack band members have performed with artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Britney Spears, and other notable bands, bringing professional polish and genuine passion to every show.

Don't miss this chance to experience one of the most authentic and energetic tributes to British rock music this side of the Atlantic. Great music never gets old—join The Brit Pack for a night of classic hits and pure rock energy at The Park Theatre.

Tickets are available online at theparktheatre.org/brit-pack or by calling the box office (603) 532-8888. The Park Theatre, located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, is New England's unique showplace for live entertainment and film. The venue is fully accessible and sits roughly 90 minutes from Boston and 60 minutes from Worcester. The Lounge at The Park is open for beer, wine and cocktails before the show (ID required).

Regional News

Gardening

Plant a Tree for Years of Beauty & Environmental Benefits

Removal of the wire basket around a tree's root ball prior to planting.
Photo courtesy of www.MelindaMyers.com

by Melinda Myers
Trees are the long-lasting framework of our landscape providing many benefits to our community, environment, landscapes and lives. They provide shade, help reduce energy costs and provide food and building materials. Trees also help manage storm water, reducing the risk of storm water runoff, soil erosion, local flooding and storm water entering the storm sewers.

Fall is a great time to plant trees. The soil is warm and the air is cool, making it easier for plants to adjust to their new location and the gardener doing the planting. Follow these important tree planting tips to ensure the health and longevity of these important additions to the landscape.

Always select trees that are suited to the growing conditions and will fit the mature space once mature. This will ensure a heathier long-lived tree with less effort.

Once the planting site is chosen, call 811 at least three business days before planting. This free utility locating service will locate underground utilities to help reduce the risk of damage and personal injury caused by digging into buried utilities.

Locate the root flare, the place where the roots curve away from the trunk, by gently pulling the soil back from the trunk. It is important to have the root flare at or slightly above the soil surface for the health and longevity of the tree.

Dig a broad shallow hole at least two to three times wider than the root ball and only as deep as the distance between the root flare and bottom of the root ball. Digging a deeper hole can result in the soil settling and creating a water-collecting depression around your tree. Roughen the sides of the planting hole to make it easier for the roots to grow into the surrounding soil.

Always move trees by the root ball not the trunk to avoid damaging the roots. For container-grown trees cut away the bottom of the pot and set it in the hole with its best side facing toward the desired direction. Cut away the pot and remove or cut any circling roots.

For balled-and-burlapped trees remove the bottom of the wire basket and set the tree in the hole. Once positioned, peel back or cut away the burlap, remaining wire basket and twine. Check for and remove or cut any circling roots.

Backfill with the existing soil. Amending the soil discourages the roots from growing beyond the planting hole, preventing them from developing a robust root system. Water thoroughly at planting and whenever the top four to six inches of soil are crumbly and dry. Spread a two-to-three-inch layer of wood chips over the surrounding soil, pulling the mulch away from the trunk of the tree to prevent rot and disease.

Wait a year to fertilize and several years before doing any major pruning. Just remove damaged and dead branches at the time of planting. Skip the stakes unless the trees are growing in a windy location or have a large canopy and small root system.

Enjoy the beauty of these new additions and the many benefits they provide.

Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" instant video series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.