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All work and no play makes a community a dull place. There's no danger of that in the Greater Nashua region with its rich mix of recreational and cultural offerings.
While nearby Boston offers Greater Nashua a world-class array of arts, music and theatrical venues, all within an hour's drive, Nashua holds its own as a cultural center for the region, and give plenty of reason to avoid the city crunch and seek refined entertainments closer to home. Here's a guide to some of what is offered:
- Actorsingers has produced Broadway musicals in Nashua since 1955. The Junior Actorsingers perform a show each spring, by and for children. (603) 889-9691.
- Northern Ballet Theatre, New Hampshire's premier professional dance company, performs classical ballet and contemporary works throughout northern New England. (603) 889-8406.
- The Granite Statesmen, an all-male, acapella singing chorus dedicated to preserving the unique American musical art form known as barbershop harmony. New singing members are always welcome. (603) 886-SING.
- The Nashua Artists' Association includes 150 experienced artists and talented beginners as members and meets the second Wednesday of each month-at 7 p.m.at the Nashua Public Library.
- The Nashua Community Concert Association has been presenting a series of popular concerts at popular prices since 1931, featuring classical, light classical, popular, jazz, dance and ethnic artists from around the world. (603) 888-9158 or (603) 882-6840.
- The Nashua Flute Choir Inc. features 16 performers using five members of the flute family (piccolo, flute, alto flute, and bass flute). (603) 888-1741.
- The Nashua Chamber Orchestra performs classical favorites and the avant garde, including new works by contemporary composers. (603) 673-4100.
- The Nashua Symphony Association, features a professional orchestra under the direction of British conductor Royston Nash and the 125-member choral society, led by choral conductor Kent Werth. (603) 5959156.
- The Nashua Theatre Guild has been producing comedies and dramas for more than 35 years. (603) 423-0009.
- The Opera Circle is a gathering place for opera lovers or those who simply want to know more about it. (603) 598-8119.
- The Nashua Historical Society maintains a museum and library documenting the origins and development of Nashua as a community. (603) 883-0015.
- The Nashua Public Library offers a kaleidoscope of activities for young and old alike. Lecture series on many diverse topics are conducted by college professors and other experts. (603) 594-3412.
- Summertime brings the free outdoor film series, "Plaza Pics," on Friday nights in Greeley Park as well as the weekly classical Lunch Concert Series. 594-3346.
Holman Stadium
The recent rebirth of historic Holman Stadium (home to New Hampshire's only professional baseball team, the Nashua Pride) into one of the finest minor league stadiums in all of New England mirrors the resurgence of its hometown of Nashua. A public/ private partnership between the city and the Nashua Pride baseball organization transformed the 1937 stadium. The $4.5 million renovation, completed on May 1, 2002, involved the construction of seven new luxury skyboxes, 2,700 new, more comfortable fan seats, new concession areas, complete refurbishment of both women's and men's bathrooms, and "hidden" upgrades throughout the stadium.
Despite the addition of modern "major league" amenities, Holman has lost none of the charm and intimacy of the small-town ballpark and has retained the historic integrity of the stadium. It was begun as a federal Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression, and was completed thanks to the philanthropy of Frank Holman, who dedicated the stadium "to the youth of Nashua for the promotion and advancement of health, clean athletics, and good sportsmanship."
This stadium had the first racially integrated baseball team in the United States. With the arrival in 1946 of African-American baseball players Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella to the Nashua Dodgers, an affiliate of the major leagues' Brooklyn Dodgers, Holman Stadium entered the history books and solidified its role that some year when, in a game against the Lawrence Millionaires, an umpire ejected the Dodgers' G.M., Walter Alston, from the game. Alston handed over managerial duties to Roy Campanella, making Campanella the first African-American to manage a major league-affiliated baseball game. The Dodgers went on to win that game.
Over the years this stadium has hosted numerous minor league teams, the Dodgers, the Angels, the Pirates, the Hawks, and now the Nashua Pride, champions of their Atlantic League in 2000.
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