'Peregrine Island' author at Rice Aug. 16

Author Diane B. Sexton will discuss her debut novel, "Peregrine Island," at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the Rice Public Library in Kittery. Set on an island in the Long Island Sound off the coast of Connecut, the novel tells the story of the Peregrine family and a painting that unravels the family's mysterious past over the course of one summer. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and Saxton will sign them. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested atwww.rice.lib.me.us. The library is located at 8 Wentworth St., in Kittery. For more information, call (207) 439-1553

Haller takes to the stage

Internationally acclaimed writer, performer and chef James Haller takes the stage in his new performance memoir, "Ballads of a Grateful Heart," for ACT ONEs Festival 2017 at the West End Studio Theatre in Portsmouth. This heartfelt and delightful collage of portraits is told with warmth, spiced with delicious laughter, and is rich in tender insights and grateful love. A special feature of this production is the evocative music score composed by New Englands own accordionist-extraordinare Gary Sredzienski. Performances will be Thursday, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 31 at 2 and 7:30 p.m and Sept. 22 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students or $16/$14 with a festival pass and available online at http://www.actonenh.org or reserve at (603) 300-2986 or pay at the door. The West End Studio Theatre is located in the mill complex at 959 Islington Street. WEST is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible, with free off-street parking. For more information about the ACT ONE Festival, visit http://www.actonenh.orgT.J. WHEELER AT RYE LIBRARY: 581 Washington Rd., Rye, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 3 p.m. HOPE, HEROES AND THE BLUES, offers a journey through the complexity of the Blues musical genre. 964-8401, ryepubliclibrary.org.

Concert on the Hill Aug. 20

The 2017 Concerts on the Hill series presents "I Could See the Sky" thisSunday, Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. The concert will feature two world premieres from Philadelphia-based composer Kile Smith. The program will be performed by the Newburyport Choral Society, the Greater Newburyport Childrens Chorus, The Choir School at St. Johns, and Yonah Zur and Anna Elashvili on violin; David Yang on viola; Claire Bryant on cello; and Margaret Harper on organ. Kile Smiths original work, I Could See the Sky, is written for the full forces ofan adultchoir, a two-part childrens choir, a string quartet, and an organ, and sets music to poetry written by Newburyport high school students. The second original work by Smith, Ballad and March for Organ, is written for solo organ. The Ballad is based on the song Annie Lisle." The March is based on William Lloyd Garrisons poem Spirit of Freedom." There is a suggested at-the-door donation of $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Children under 16 are welcomed and encouraged to attend at no charge. St. Johns Episcopal Church is located at 100 Chapel Street in Portsmouth, NH. For more information about Concerts on the Hill or St. Johns Episcopal Church, visitwww.stjohnsnh.org/COTH.

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Go & Do: Rice Library reading, Haller onstage and Concert on the Hill - Seacoastonline.com