ON SALE NOW
HILARITY
DREW LYNCH
Wed., January 19
• 7pm • Historic Theater
America’s Got Talent finalist Drew Lynch
captured America’s heart with his hilarious performances.
INTIMATELY YOURS PINK TALKING FISH WINTER CARNIVAL
Sat., February 5 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Sun., February 6 • 1pm • Historic Theater
Pink Talking Fish is a hybrid tribute-fusion act that creates a special treat for fans.
INTIMATELY YOURS PHILLIP PHILLIPS X JON FOREMAN
Sat., January 22 • 8pm • Historic Theater
From humble beginnings to multi-platinum selling records, Phillip Phillips and Jon Foreman rock the stage in this singersongwriter double-bill.
INTIMATELY YOURS BIG BAND OF BROTHERS: A JAZZ CELEBRATION OF THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Fri., February 25 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Celebrate the Allman Brothers Band with some of the greatest jazz musicians!
ANOTHER TEQUILA SUNRISE - EAGLES TRIBUTE
Sat., February 26 • 8pm • Historic Theater
INTIMATELY YOURS CITIZEN COPE
Tue., January 25 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Citizen Cope takes us all on a journey with his unique brand of urban-folk.
INTIMATELY YOURS AOIFE O'DONOVAN
Tue., March 1 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater
Grammy award-winning artist Aoife O'Donovan operates in a thrilling musical world beyond genre.
Another Tequila Sunrise is America’s premier Eagles tribute band, delighting sell-out crowds across the country with a catalog of music that encompasses the classics and deep cuts from the Eagles’ collection.
COVID-19 UPDATES
For up-to-date information about what we're doing to keep you safe and what to do when you visit, go to TheMusicHall.org/CovidProtocols
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Monte Bohanan
MAGAZINE
Wesley Lovell
Tina Sawtelle
Sara Turner
Gail VanHoy Carolan
Brittany Wason
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS
Kaitlyn Huwe DESIGN
A FOND FAREWELL
Credit: David J. Murray/ ClearEyePhoto.com
GAIL VANHOY CAROLAN Director of Institutional Advancement
My friends, I have news to share: at the end of this month I’m retiring from my role as Director of Institutional Advancement at The Music Hall. Over the last eighteen years—ten served on the Board and eight as part of the creative professional team here—I’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime working on a labor of love with you, our community.
Together, we’ve been part of something transformational, ensuring the sustainable health of our 1878 American Treasure, using arts and culture to ignite an economic renaissance downtown while building a close-knit and diverse family. Whether we’re enjoying an “I can’t believe I’m in Portsmouth” kind of wow concert, a literary event bringing the best and the brightest to our writers series, or hosting a safe place for provocative conversations, film festivals, comedy, and theater, The Music Hall helps our town live larger!
The Music Hall family will continue to play a big role in my life. The relationships that we have built have been the greatest gift from my experience here. Your steadfast support, particularly over these last two years, and the remarkably talented team here has given me the confidence to take this next step. I will forever be grateful that you entrusted me to play a role in the storied life of this 143-year-old venue.
I join the many over the last year that have taken a reassessment of life and know that this is the right time for me to move forward. I’ve got a lot of travel to finish, family and friends that I want to spend more time with, and a hunger to pick up some long-neglected artistic passions. My intention is to stay in New Hampshire and I’ll look forward to seeing you often. I wish for the organization the greatest success and can’t wait to see what’s ahead! It’s been a pleasure and a joy!
CURATOR'S CORNER
Credit: PizzutiPhotography.com
YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
TINA SAWTELLE, Executive Director
Gail’s retirement at the end of this year is bittersweet. It will be difficult to let her go, and impossible to replace her. At the same time, knowing her devotion to our theater assures me that our future is bright; otherwise she wouldn’t be leaving!
Fortunately, our many holiday events this month will provide us with ample opportunities to celebrate and the perfect place to gather together with family and friends. We have an array of incredible musical acts in the Historic Theater with the dazzling Michael Feinstein and his “Home for the Holidays” show, as well as the return of our Stage Door Cabaret series. If you love movies, find that festive feeling at a favorite holiday film. Mark the end of 2021 with a good laugh as the Seacoast’s own Juston McKinney reviews the year that was. And ring in 2022 with our resident orchestra, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, as we break out the bubbly for the Champagne Pops!
While all this excitement is happening in the Historic Theater, we’ll be hard at work in the Loft, revitalizing the space to better suit our purposes and your needs. I’ll have more to share with you soon as we head to a grand reopening in the spring.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
BOOK CLUB: HOMEGOING BY YAA
GYASI
Mon., 12/13 • 6pm Portwalk Place, Portsmouth
More Book Club and Director’s Club events coming in 2022!
For more info, contact Wesley Lovell at 603.766.2182 or WLovell@themusichall.org
SPECIAL THANKS
For supporting initiatives to provide memorable holiday programming and complimentary tickets to Seacoast families and veterans, we are grateful for:
OUR HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING SPONSOR: Novocure
OUR GIVE THE GIFT SPONSORS: BankProv Hampton Ford Hyundai Tara and Morgan Rutman AND OUR VETERANS NIGHT SPONSORS: The Kane Company Wilcox Industries
ON STAGE DECEMBER
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP PRESENTING SPONSOR:
SERIES SPONSORS: Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine; Bangor Savings Bank
MEDIA PARTNER:
INTIMATELY YOURS MICHAEL FEINSTEIN: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Sat., December 4 • 2pm Historic Theater
Michael Feinstein’s dazzling holiday show features classics by Gershwin and Cole Porter, as well as other seasonal surprises performed as only Michael can— sure to put you in the Yuletide spirit!
EVENING SPONSOR:
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP JEN SINCERO [LIVESTREAM] Tue., December 7 • 7:30pm Virtual
In this special virtual workshop, New York Times bestselling author Jen Sincero gets to the core of habits: breaking, making, understanding, and sticking with them like never before.
ON STAGE DECEMBER
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
INTERCONNECTIONS
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:
HILARITY
JUSTON MCKINNEY: A YEAR IN REVIEW Sun., December 26 • 6pm; Mon., December 27 • 6pm; Tue., December 28 • 7pm • Historic Theater
End the year with laughter as the Seacoast’s own Juston McKinney performs what have become annual must-see shows at The Music Hall!
THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS NEW YEAR'S EVE CHAMPAGNE POPS WITH THE PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Fri., December 31 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Ring in the new year in style with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s cheerful sounds. In this concert filled with celebration and excitement, we’ll usher 2021 out and welcome a fresh start together. EVENING
SPONSORS:
ON STAGE DECEMBER
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
STAGE DOOR CABARET
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
THE STAGE DOOR CABARET RETURNS!
Celebrate the holiday season with our elegant Stage Door Cabaret series, featuring world-renowned artists in a speakeasy martini bar atmosphere. With an intimate layout, you can enjoy seating on the Historic Theater’s stage with professional table service.
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR STAGE DOOR CABARET
This season of the Stage Door Cabaret series features two specialty seating options: the Opera Box returns, and new this year, lounge seating!
• Catch a show in our lounge on comfy couches for 6 people—this unique experience brings together the comfort of home with the classy atmosphere of the Cabaret!
• Experience the elegant seating and decor of one of the theater’s bestkept secrets: prime seating for 4 people in an opera box! Reservations include: Beverage service, appetizer plates, and admittance to the Cabaret event of your choice based on availability.
Fri., December 10 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Having starred in Million
times, Nat
in the role of Jerry Lee
brings his high-octane energy and passionate piano-playing to the forefront.
A SINATRA CHRISTMAS WITH RICH DIMARE
Thu., December 9 • 6pm & 8pm • Historic Theater
Join us for a Merry Little Christmas with Rich DiMare, an American jazz singer who specializes in the Frank Sinatra songbook.
Sat., December 11 • 7pm • Historic Theater
Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland is one of the most talented and passionately candid artists, blending blues, R&B, and Americana into a sound that is now hers alone.
STAGE DOOR CABARET
STAGE DOOR CABARET SHEMEKIA COPELAND
STAGE DOOR CABARET NAT ZEGREE
Dollar Quartet
Lewis over 400
Zegree
Photo Credit: Will Zimmermann
ON STAGE DECEMBER
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
STAGE DOOR CABARET
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
STAGE DOOR CABARET TWISTED PINE
Sun., December 12 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Fans of the Punch Brothers, Béla Fleck, and Lake Street Dive will love Twisted Pine’s jazzy bluegrass, poppy folk, and funky music.
STAGE DOOR CABARET
GREAT BAY PHILHARMONIC STRING QUARTET
Fri., December 17 • 8pm • Historic Theater
With their superlative sound, Great Bay Philharmonic’s strings—led by cellist Jacques Lee Wood—bring sparkly, elegant music to life, including festive holiday favorites!
Thu., December 16 • 6pm • Historic Theater
Portsmouth gem Sharon Jones lights up our historic stage with riffdriven, high-energy R&B and Blues tunes that will have you dancing in your seat!
STAGE DOOR CABARET HONEYSUCKLE
Sat., December 18 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Boston-based Honeysuckle combines older influences and traditional instrumentation with modern effects and inspiration in their awardwinning, progressive folk act.
STAGE DOOR CABARET SHARON JONES
CINEMA
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA BEANS
Wed., November 24 • 7pm • Historic Theater
Twelve-year-old Beans has to grow up fast to become a tough Mohawk warrior during the 1990 Indigenous uprising, The Oka Crisis.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA BENEDETTA
Fri., December 3 • 3pm & 7pm Historic Theater
Special Premiere! A 17th-century nun in Italy suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
Wed., December 22 3pm & 7pm Historic Theater
George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all until his guardian angel intervenes.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN
SERIES SPONSOR: Sheehan Phinney
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA SPENCER
Sat., November 27 • 3pm & 7pm
Historic Theater
Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)
Tue., December 21 • 3pm • Historic Theater
A successful song-and-dance duo become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save a failing Vermont inn.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA THE GRINCH (2018)
Thu., December 23 3pm* Historic Theater
Benedict Cumberbatch is the Grinch in the newest animated feature.
*Join us for children's storytime with Santa at 2pm!
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN SUNFLOWERS Tue., November 30 • 7pm • Historic Theater
In an extraordinary exhibition, the Van Gogh Museum took a new and revealing look at the five publicly-owned versions of Sunflowers
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA LOVE ACTUALLY Tue., December 21 • 7pm • Historic Theater
Following eight very different couples’ love lives in various interrelated tales, all set the month before Christmas in London.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA LAST CHRISTMAS Thu., December 23 • 7pm • Historic Theater
Emilia
Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, and Emma Thompson star in a romantic comedy inspired by a George Michael beat.
DON'T MISS JANUARY
HILARITY SERIES
SPONSORS:
INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
HILARITY DREW LYNCH
Wed., January 19 • 7pm
Historic Theater
Drew Lynch captured the hearts of America with his performance on America’s Got Talent, where he finished in second place. Since, Drew has appeared on Maron and CONAN, and amassed over 2 million subscribers on YouTube.
INTIMATELY YOURS CITIZEN COPE
Tue., January 25 8pm
Historic Theater
Citizen Cope takes us all on a journey with his unique brand of urban-folk.
EVENING SPONSOR: Popzup Popcorn
The Ar T s A re T he A nswer to vibrant and prosperous communities where
INTIMATELY YOURS PHILLIP PHILLIPS X JON FOREMAN
Sat., January 22 • 8pm
Historic Theater
From humble beginnings to multi-platinum selling records, Phillip Phillips and Jon Foreman rock the stage in this singersongwriter double-bill.
EVENING SPONSORS: Market Square Architects; Whole Life Health Care
INTIMATELY YOURS KEB' MO'
Fri., January 28 • 8pm
Historic Theater
This five-time Grammy Award winner draws upon his bottomless roots-music expertise to make deeply expressive, highly personal music.
EVENING SPONSORS: Market Square Architects; Northeast Delta Dental; Petersen Engineering; Popzup Popcorn
AT A GLANCE
NOVEMBER 2021
Rental Partner
Warren Miller's Winter Starts Now
Thursday, November 18Saturday, November 20 • various times
DECEMBER 2021
Intimately Yours
Michael Feinstein: Home for the Holidays
Saturday, December 4 • 2pm
Innovation + Leadership
Jen Sincero [LIVESTREAM]
Tuesday, December 7 • 7:30pm
Stage Door Cabaret
A Sinatra Christmas with Rich DiMare
Thursday, December 9 • 6pm & 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Nat Zegree
Friday, December 10 • 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Shemekia Copeland
Saturday, December 11 • 7pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Twisted Pine
Sunday, December 12 • 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Sharon Jones Quartet
Thursday, December 16 • 6pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Great Bay Philharmonic String Quartet
Friday, December 17 • 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Honeysuckle
Saturday, December 18 • 8pm
The Music Hall presents Children's Storytime with Santa Thursday, December 23 • 2pm
Hilarity
Juston McKinney: A Year in Review
Sunday, December 26 • 6pm; Monday, December 27 • 6pm; Tuesday, December 28 • 7pm
The Music Hall Presents New Year's Eve Champagne Pops Friday, December 31 • 8pm
JANUARY 2022
The Met at The Music Hall
Eurydice (Aucoin)
Saturday, January 8 • 12:55pm
The Met at The Music Hall
Cinderella (Massenet)
Saturday, January 15 • 12:55pm
Hilarity
Drew Lynch
Wednesday, January 19 • 7pm
LEGEND: At the Historic Theater | Loft | Offsite/Online
JANUARY 2022 CONT.
Intimately Yours
Phillip Phillips x Jon Foreman
Saturday, January 22 • 8pm
Intimately Yours
Citizen Cope Tuesday, January 25 • 8pm
Intimately Yours Keb' Mo' Friday, January 28 • 8pm
The Met at The Music Hall Rigoletto (Verdi)
Saturday, January 29 • 12:55pm
FEBRUARY 2022
Intimately Yours
Pink Talking Fish Winter Carnival Saturday, February 5 • 8pm
Intimately Yours Pink Talking Fish 4 Kids Sunday, February 6 • 1pm
School Days Series Warriors Don't Cry
Monday, February 7 • 9:30am & 11:30am
Intimately Yours
Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band Friday, February 25 • 8pm
Rental Partner
Another Tequila Sunrise - Eagles Tribute Saturday, February 26 • 8pm
Intimately Yours
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Sunday, February 27 • 4pm
MARCH 2022
Intimately Yours
Aoife O'Donovan
Tuesday, March 1 • 7:30pm
Intimately Yours
The Tallest Man on Earth
Friday, March 4 • 8pm
School Days Series
Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends
Wednesday, March 9 • 9:30am & 11:30am
Rental Partner
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Winter Concert
Sunday, March 13 • 3pm
School Days Series
The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon
Monday, March 14 • 9:30am & 11:30am
The Music Hall Presents
The Moth Mainstage
Saturday, March 19 • 8pm
MARCH 2022 CONT.
Opera Connection
Ariadne auf Naxos
Sunday, March 20 • 11am
Met at The Music Hall
Ariadne auf Naxos (R. Strauss)
Sunday, March 20 • 12:55pm
APRIL 2022
Opera Connection
Don Carlos
Sunday, April 3 • 10am
Met at The Music Hall
Don Carlos (Verdi)
Sunday, April 3 • 12pm
Intimately Yours Straight No Chaser
Monday, April 4 • 8pm
Hilarity
Kevin Nealon
Saturday, April 16 • 8pm
Intimately Yours Angélique Kidjo
Saturday, April 30 • 8pm
MAY 2022
Met at The Music Hall
Turandot (Puccini)
Saturday, May 7 • 12:55pm
School Days Series
PSO presents Dan Brown's Wild Symphony
Tuesday, May 10 • 10am & 12:30pm
Rental Partner
Gordon Lightfoot: 80 Years Strong Tour
Wednesday, May 11 • 8pm
Opera Connection
Lucia di Lammermoor
Saturday, May 21 • 11am
Met at The Music Hall
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)
Saturday, May 21 • 12:55pm
JUNE 2022
Rental Partner
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert
Sunday, June 5 • 3pm
Met at The Music Hall
Hamlet (Dean)
Sunday, June 12 • 12:55pm
December
