Mid-February/March 2022 Magazine

NOW MAGAZINE • MID-FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Writers on a New England Stage

ERIK LARSON 2/16

Intimately Yours

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH 3/4

Intimately Yours

AOIFE O'DONOVAN

3/1*

The Music Hall Presents

THE MOTH MAINSTAGE

3/19

*ON THE COVER

SEASON SPONSORS

ON SALE NOW

THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS

RANDY ARMSTRONG AND VOLKER NAHRMANN: BEYOND BORDERS Sat., April 9 • 8pm • Historic Theater

Be the first to know about Just Announced shows!

Sign up for enews at TheMusicHall.org

INTIMATELY YOURS CLUB

D'ELF

FT. JOHN MEDESKI WITH SPECIAL GUEST VAPORS OF MORPHINE Sun., April 10 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater

Fusion pioneers Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrmann bring their electrifying blend of jazz and world music traditions to The Music Hall for a captivating evening of global music.

Moroccan trance influences combine with a wide spectrum of styles, including jazz, hip hop, electronica, avant garde, prog-rock, and dub, in Club d’Elf’s music.

HILARITY JIMMY

TINGLE LIVE!

Sat., May 7 • 8pm • Historic Theater Jimmy Tingle weaves the good, the bad and the ugly of the pandemic with the humor, hope and humanity the world so desperately needs in 2022.

RESCHEDULED

AN EVENING WITH COWBOY JUNKIES Tue., April 12 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater

RENTAL PARTNERS

Cowboy Junkies pull the rich tradition of country, folk, and blues from the earth, and make it their own by running it through an achingly heartbeat-paced psychedelia.

BANFF CENTER MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

WENTWORTH-DOUGLASS FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE SEACOAST CULINARY CHALLENGE

Wed., March 9 • 7pm & Thu., March 10 • 7pm Historic Theater

Thu., March 31 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater

This world-renowned film festival invites attendees to get off the beaten path.

Join us for the first-ever “mystery basket”-style, timed cooking competition in the Seacoast to benefit Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

COVID-19 UPDATES Effective 1/7/22: Before entering the building, everyone must wear masks, per the City of Portsmouth mandate, in addition to showing proof of vaccination OR a negative test for live events. For up-to-date information, go to TheMusicHall.org/CovidProtocols

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

MAGAZINE

Monte Bohanan

Wesley Lovell

Tina Sawtelle

Mary Beth Johnson

James Paone

Sara Turner

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

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DESIGN Brittany Wason

Kaitlyn Huwe

CURATOR’S CORNER SEND IN THE CLOWNS

JAMES PAONE, Programming Manager I don't know about you, but I can always use a laugh. And as we inch closer to spring, The Music Hall has plenty of options for comedy. We start off with longtime rental partner Mike McDonald who returns with his 21st Annual Comedy Extravaganza back on Fri., February 18. Joining Mike for this laugh fest are comedians Paul Gilligan, Corey Rodrigues, Maya Manion, and Chris D. On Thu., February 24, Charlie Berens brings his incredibly popular Manitowoc Minute experience to our stage. Don’t worry, it’s a full-length show and he’ll have you laughing the entire way through!

Photo Credit: David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com

Appreciating Our Corporate Partners A nonprofit organization, The Music

Rental partner and Maine comedian Bob Marley visits Portsmouth with two sets of wicked funny

Hall is here to entertain and inform

New England humor on Sat., March 12. Kevin Nealon will finally visit The Music Hall with his

—with a full roster of Grammy-

dry comedy and charming wit on Sat., April 16. If you loved him on Weeds, SNL, or any of his

winning artists, comedic legends,

shows, don't miss this! Legendary Boston comic Jimmy Tingle brings his Humor for Humanity

literary giants, and incredible films

show to our stage on Sat., May 7, weaving the good, the bad, and the ugly of the pandemic with

—thanks to our generous supporters.

the humor, hope, and healing we all so desperately need this year.

That includes you, our members,

And in case you missed it, film is back! Extraordinary Cinema, Exhibition On Screen, and Met at The Music Hall are all on the big screen with many one-night-only special screenings for our cinephiles. Keep an eye on the website and in our enews, as films, comedians, musicians, authors, and more are dropping in often!

HERE & NOW

as well as all of the local businesses who participate in our Corporate Sponsorship program. We are so fortunate to be enveloped by this group; we could not do what we do

Visit TheMusicHall.org/Blog for more behind-the-scenes info!

Welcome, Mary Beth Johnson!

In January, we welcomed a new Director of Development, Mary Beth Johnson. Relocating from Winston-Salem, NC, she said, “I fell in love with Portsmouth when I visited family over the summer and was absolutely delighted to be invited to join The Music Hall’s first-rate team. It is a magical place, and I’m honored to be a part of such a vibrant cultural gem.” Mary Beth is no stranger to New Hampshire, adding, “Moving to

Portsmouth feels much like moving home. It’s just slightly colder.”

without them (and you!).

We hope you will join us in offering gratitude to our long-term supporters, including The Labrie Group; Carey & Giampa, Realtors; and Portwalk Place; and our Box Office Sponsor, B2W Software; as well as new friends like Novocure, who together play an important role in making all that we do possible. We are also grateful to Brown & Co., Chinburg Properties, and Market Square Architects, who

Mary Beth comes to us with 20 years of extensive fundraising, audience engagement, and

have offered their services in the

development consultant background, having had key roles in arts organizations around the

revitalization of the space formerly

country. Prior to joining The Music Hall, Mary Beth had orchestral management positions in

known as the Loft. We are pleased to

Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Winston-Salem. She has experience in major gift fundraising for

collaborate with these and all of our

major universities, and she managed sponsorship and membership for a number of prominent

partners to build economic and social

arts organizations.

stability for our community.

She credits her passion for learning and the arts to her parents, who were thespians and raised

To see a full list of The Music Hall’s

her both on and off the stage in concert halls and theatres in Virginia. In her free time, Mary Beth

80+ Sponsors, peruse the Season

loves outdoor activities like hiking, snowboarding, and kayaking, and playing the cello and fiddle.

Playbill next time you’re in the Hall, or

A lifelong learner, she is earning her Masters degree at Northeastern University in Organizational

visit our Corporate Partners page next

Leadership. Please join us in welcoming Mary Beth to The Music Hall family!

time you’re online!

TheMusicHall.org

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ON STAGE

WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:

PRESENTING SPONSOR: SERIES SPONSOR:

MEDIA PARTNER:

INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP SERIES SPONSORS: Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine; Bangor Savings Bank

INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP

THE FUTURE OF CALLING PORTSMOUTH HOME

Tue., February 15 • 6pm • Historic Theater Join us for a screening of Communities & Consequences II, followed by an expert panel and audience discussion.

In collaboration with The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, NH Housing Finance Authority, and Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast.

INTERCONNECTIONS PRESENTING SPONSOR:

WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE RETURNS TO THE THEATER! ERIK LARSON Wed., February 16 • 7pm • Historic Theater

The author of The Devil in the White City delivers an “enthralling” (O: Oprah Magazine), #1 New York Times bestselling portrait of leadership in a time of crisis—now in paperback!

Per tour management, all ticket buyers are required to be vaccinated for this event, in addition to wearing a mask while in the building (per the City of Portsmouth mandate).

HILARITY

CHARLIE BERENS

Thu., February 24 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater Charlie Berens is an Emmy-winning journalist, comedian, host, red carpet interviewer, and creator of the viral Midwest comedic news series Manitowoc Minute.

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ON STAGE HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:

INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS: H A M P T O N F O R D

H Y U N D A I

INTIMATELY YOURS

BIG BAND OF BROTHERS: A JAZZ CELEBRATION OF THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND

Fri., February 25 • 8pm • Historic Theater The Big Band of Brothers features jazz interpretations of the Allman Brothers Band’s hits, with the likes of Jaimoe, Sammy Miller and The Congregation, Lamar Williams Jr, and Drew Smithers!

EVENING SPONSORS: Troiano Wealth Advisory Group; Vital; Whole Life Health Care

INTIMATELY YOURS AOIFE

O’DONOVAN WITH SPECIAL GUEST YASMIN WILLIAMS Tue., March 1 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater

Grammy award-winning Aoife O’Donovan’s gorgeous genre-bending music shines through, whether performing solo, as part of several bands, or when collaborating with artists like Yo-Yo Ma or Chris Thile.

EVENING SPONSOR: UNH Conferences & Catering

INTIMATELY YOURS

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH

Fri., March 4 • 8pm • Historic Theater The Tallest Man On Earth comes to the Historic Theater following the release of his first album in 4 years, I Love You. It’s A Fever Dream., which was recorded almost entirely in his apartment in Brooklyn, NY. EVENING SPONSORS: The Friendly Toast; Petersen Engineering

TheMusicHall.org

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ON STAGE

SCHOOL DAYS SERIES SPONSOR:

INTERCONNECTIONS PRESENTING SPONSOR:

THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS MEDIA PARTNER:

SCHOOL DAYS SERIES RETURNS!

GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: D.F. Richard Energy; Demoulas Foundation;The Fabulous Find; The French Foundation

SCHOOL DAYS SERIES

ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER & FRIENDS

THE ADVENTURES OF HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON

In the new musical based on Andrea Beaty’s books, Ms. Greer's class has three inquisitive out-of-the-box thinkers: Rosie Revere, the engineer; Iggy Peck, the architect; and Ada Twist, the scientist.

Follow Harold on his zany adventures as he creates the world he wants to explore, using nothing more than a big purple crayon and his sky’s-the-limit imagination.

SCHOOL DAYS SERIES

Wed., March 9 • 9:30am & 11:30am • Historic Theater

Mon., March 14 • 9:30am & 11:30am • Historic Theater

RENTAL PARTNER/RESIDENT ORCHESTRA

PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WINTER CONCERT Sun., March 13 • 3pm • Historic Theater

The PSO’s Winter Mainstage Concert features the internationally renowned pianist Ya-Fei Chuang and a sublime trio of works that highlight the symphony’s capacity for melodic richness.

INTIMATELY YOURS

CARLY PEARCE: THE 29 TOUR (ALMOST SOLD OUT)

Fri., March 18 • 8pm • Historic Theater Country music’s “it” girl, Carly Pearce is fiercely confident and rooted in the classics, boasting multiple Platinum tracks and touring alongside Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, and Luke Bryan.

EVENING SPONSOR: Market Square Architects

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ON STAGE INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:

H A M P T O N F O R D

THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS MEDIA PARTNER:

H Y U N D A I

THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS

THE MOTH MAINSTAGE

Sat., March 19 • 8pm Historic Theater (SOLD OUT) & Livestream True stories, told live, no notes. This flagship program featuring a mix of national voices makes its return to The Music Hall for one magical night.

Livestream tickets are still available!

EVENING SPONSORS: Riverworks Printing; Petersen Engineering

COMMUNITY PARTNER

WENTWORTH-DOUGLASS FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE SEACOAST CULINARY CHALLENGE Thu., March 31 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater

Join us for the first-ever cooking competition in the Seacoast to benefit Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Four renowned chefs from across the Seacoast will compete in an intense “mystery basket”-style, timed cooking competition eager to win the vote of the celebrity judges.

DON'T MISS THIS APRIL CONCERT! THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS DAN BROWN’S WILD SYMPHONY BENEFIT CONCERT Sat., April 2 • 2pm • Historic Theater

Join New York Times bestselling author Dan Brown and the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra for stunning orchestral music from Wild Symphony, Brown's illustrated children's book! Proceeds benefit Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra and The Music Hall.

TheMusicHall.org

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CINEMA

Schedule subject to change.

Check TheMusicHall.org for updates.

MET AT THE MUSIC HALL SERIES SPONSOR: RiverWoods Exeter

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

Thu., February 17 • 7pm

Sat., February 19 • 3pm

DRIVE MY CAR

Two years after his wife’s death, Yusuke, a renowned stage actor and director, meets Misaki, a taciturn young woman assigned to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. Winner of three prizes at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch Magazine.

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

THE MET AT THE MUSIC HALL

Sat., February 19 • 7pm An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.

Sun., February 20 • 12:55pm

NIGHTMARE ALLEY

Tony Award­–winning director Bartlett Sher resets the opera’s action in 1920s Europe, with Art Deco sets by Michael Yeargan and elegant costumes by Catherine Zuber, themselves boasting a combined 11 Tony Awards.

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

Tue., February 22 • 7pm

Wed., March 2 • 7pm

Chronicling four years in the life of Julie, The Worst Person in the World examines one woman’s quest for love and meaning in the modern world.

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

WOMEN'S ADVENTURE FILM TOUR Fri., March 11 • 7pm & Wed., March 16 • 7pm

A celebration of the inspiring women around us who are doing extraordinary things in the name of adventure.

OSCAR SHORTS DOCUMENTARY ANIMATED

Sat., March 5 • 3pm

LIVE ACTION

Sat., March 5 • 7pm

THE MET AT THE MUSIC HALL

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS (R. STRAUSS) Sun., March 20 • 12:55pm

Soprano Lise Davidsen makes her Live in HD debut as the mythological Greek heroine of Strauss’s enchanting masterpiece.

OPERA CONNECTION ARIADNE

AUF NAXOS

Sun., March 20 • 11am Join us for a discussion led by opera expert/ writer-producer Dennis Neil Kleinman.

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

Wed., March 23 • 7pm

March 25-27 • Historic Theater

A FINE LINE

A Fine Line explores why less than 7% of head chefs and restaurant owners are women, when traditionally women have always held the central role in the kitchen.

A panel discussion follows the film.

603.436.2400

RIGOLETTO (VERDI)

EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

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THE FRENCH DISPATCH

IL CINEMA RITROVATO

Every summer, the Cineteca of Bologna presents restored films, early silent cinema, and director’s portraits, called Il Cinema Ritrovato.

The Music Hall is partnering with UNH to bring a number of films from Il Cinema Ritrovato to NH.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT Our New Presenting Sponsor: Novocure®!

UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS

Is it too early to start thinking about the holidays?

BOOK CLUB: THE 7 1/2 DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE

Dedicated Music Hall fans already are; now’s the time to start wondering about the Ogunquit Playhouse holiday collaboration. As you anticipate that announcement,

by Stuart Turton

let’s celebrate our new Presenting Sponsor of Holiday

moderated by Wesley Lovell

Programming at The Music Hall: Novocure.

Striving to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer, Novocure is a global oncology company that also happens to be our neighbor. Their new facility on Vaughan Mall will provide space for their growing employee base in Portsmouth and house a world-class training and development center. Novocure’s commitment to supporting initiatives that positively impact patients, employees, and communities led the company to make a three-year pledge to The Music Hall. We are eager to acknowledge their generosity in the coming years. We also look forward to welcoming partners from around the world to our community to experience beloved holiday traditions like the Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall.

“We are happy to support The Music Hall, an organization that enriches the community through the arts,” said William Burke, Novocure’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “Along with aspiring to make a difference

Mon., 2/7 • 6pm Portwalk Place, Portsmouth

BOOK CLUB: CLOUD CUCKOO LAND

by Anthony Doerr

moderated by Lara Prescott Mon., 3/14 • 6pm Portwalk Place, Portsmouth For more info, contact Wesley Lovell at 603.766.2182 or WLovell@themusichall.org

in cancer, we believe it’s important to make a difference in the communities where we live and work.

Portsmouth is a special part of Novocure’s past, present and future, and we are proud to be a part of and support our community.”

BOOK CLUB SPONSOR: Sheehan Phinney

proud supporters of the Music hall

bringing the arts home...

The ArTs Are The Answer to vibrant and prosperous communities where we treasure our heritage, celebrate our diversity and nurture our ingenuity.

TheMusicHall.org

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PORTWALK PLACE

New ad coming in soon!

Make Portwalk Place part of your next Portsmouth experience!

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AT A GLANCE

LEGEND: At the Historic Theater | Offsite/Online Schedule subject to change.

Check TheMusicHall.org for updates.

B2W BOX OFFICE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER: 28 Chestnut Street

FEBRUARY 2022

MARCH 2022

APRIL 2022

Innovation + Leadership

Rental Partner

Intimately Yours

The Future of Calling Portsmouth Home Tuesday, February 15 • 6pm

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour

Writers on a New England Stage

Wednesday, March 9 • 7pm & Thursday, March 10 • 7pm

Wednesday, February 16 • 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema

Extraordinary Cinema

Friday, March 11 • 7pm

Erik Larson

Drive My Car

Women's Adventure Film Tour

Saturday, February 19 • 3pm Extraordinary Cinema

Nightmare Alley

Saturday, February 19 • 7pm The Met at The Music Hall

Rigoletto (Verdi)

Sunday, February 20 • 12:55pm Extraordinary Cinema

The Worst Person in the World Tuesday, February 22 • 7pm Hilarity

Charlie Berens

Thursday, February 24 • 7:30pm Intimately Yours

Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band

Saturday, April 9 • 8pm Intimately Yours

Intimately Yours

Saturday, March 12 • 5:30pm & 8pm

The French Dispatch

Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann: Beyond Borders

Rental Partner

Rental Partner

Extraordinary Cinema

The Music Hall Presents

Club d'Elf ft. John Medeski with special guest Vapors of Morphine

Rental Partner

Friday, February 18 • 7:30pm

Monday, April 4 • 8pm

Comedian Bob Marley

Thursday, February 17 • 7pm

Mike McDonald's 21st Annual Comedy Extravaganza

Straight No Chaser

Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Winter Concert Sunday, March 13 • 3pm School Days Series

The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon

Sunday, April 10 • 7:30pm

An Evening with Cowboy Junkies Tuesday, April 12 • 7:30pm Hilarity

Kevin Nealon

Saturday, April 16 • 8pm

Monday, March 14 • 9:30am & 11:30am

Intimately Yours

Extraordinary Cinema

Saturday, April 30 • 8pm

Women's Adventure Film Tour

Wednesday, March 16 • 7pm

An Evening with Angélique Kidjo

Intimately Yours

MAY 2022

Friday, March 18 • 8pm

Met at The Music Hall

Carly Pearce: The 29 Tour The Music Hall Presents

Turandot (Puccini)

Saturday, March 19 • 8pm

Hilarity

The Moth Mainstage [Live & Livestream]

Saturday, May 7 • 12:55pm

Opera Connection

Jimmy Tingle Live!

Sunday, March 20 • 11am

School Days Series

Ariadne auf Naxos

Saturday, May 7 • 8pm

Friday, February 25 • 8pm

Met at The Music Hall

PSO presents Dan Brown's Wild Symphony

Rental Partner

Sunday, March 20 • 12:55pm

Writers on a New England Stage

Another Tequila Sunrise - Eagles Tribute Saturday, February 26 • 8pm

MARCH 2022 Intimately Yours

Aoife O'Donovan

Tuesday, March 1 • 7:30pm Extraordinary Cinema

Ariadne auf Naxos (R. Strauss)

Tuesday, May 10 • 10am & 12:30pm

Extraordinary Cinema

Amor Towles

Wednesday, March 23 • 7pm

Rental Partner

A Fine Line

Il Cinema Ritrovato

Friday, March 25 - Sunday, March 27 Community Partner

Wentworth-Douglass Foundation presents the Seacoast Culinary Challenge

Tuesday, May 10 • 7pm

Gordon Lightfoot: 80 Years Strong Tour Wednesday, May 11 • 8pm Opera Connection

Lucia di Lammermoor

Saturday, May 21 • 11am

Thursday, March 31 • 7:30pm

Met at The Music Hall

APRIL 2022

Saturday, May 21 • 12:55pm

Intimately Yours

Friday, March 4 • 8pm

The Music Hall Presents

JUNE 2022

Extraordinary Cinema

Saturday, April 2 • 2pm

Rental Partner

Oscar Shorts (Documentary) Wednesday, March 2 • 7pm

The Tallest Man on Earth Oscar Shorts (Animated)

Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony Benefit Concert

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)

Don Carlos

Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert

Sunday, April 3 • 10am

Sunday, June 5 • 3pm

Saturday, March 5 • 7pm

Met at The Music Hall

Met at The Music Hall

School Days Series

Sunday, April 3 • 12pm

Sunday, June 12 • 12:55pm

Saturday, March 5 • 3pm

Opera Connection

Extraordinary Cinema

Oscar Shorts (Live Action)

Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends

Don Carlos (Verdi)

Hamlet (Dean)

Wednesday, March 9 • 9:30am & 11:30am

TheMusicHall.org

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PUBLISHED EVERY SIX WEEKS BY:

Friends of The Music Hall 28 Chestnut Street Portsmouth, NH 03801

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 609 MANCHESTER, NH

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2

UPCOMING SHOWS

CHARLIE BERENS February 24

IL CINEMA RITROVATO March 25-27

MID-FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

CARLY PEARCE: THE 29 TOUR 3/18