NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 18
ON SALE NOW
SCHOOL DAYS
SERIES
PETE’S BIG HOLLYWOOD ADVENTURE
Mon., March 6 • 9:30am & 11:30am • Historic Theater
Join Pete, Callie, Ethel the Apatosaurus, and Robo-Pete in this rockin’ musical adventure that features several fun-filled Pete the Cat books.
RENTAL PARTNERS
MISS NH USA & MISS NH TEEN USA 2023
Sat., Feb. 18 • 8pm & Sun., Feb. 19 • 2pm • Historic Theater
GDB Theatre & Pageant Productions brings these competitions to The Music Hall for the first time ever.
Discover new artists with our Spotify Playlists!
COMEDY CAITLIN PELUFFO
Sat., February 18 • 8:30pm • The Lounge
This lovable loose cannon comedian has opened for Maria Bamford, Brian Regan, and Matteo Lane.
THE ADVENTURES OF SLEEPYHEAD
Wed., May 10 • 9:30am & 11:30am • Historic Theater
From the brain of award-winning clown, Gemma Soldati, children and adults alike will delight in this adventure to the heart of dreamland as Sleepyhead fends off the Zzz...
BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR
Thu., March 9 • 7pm Historic Theater
Unique films that inspire through stories of adventure, discovery, and exploration.
NOVEMBER
30 -
DECEMBER
18 PRESENTING HOLIDAY SPONSOR: MEDIA PARTNER:
Wed., 11/30 • 7:30pm Thu., 12/1 • 1:30pm & 7pm OPENING NIGHT Fri., 12/ 2 • 7pm Sat., 12/ 3 • 1:30pm & 7pm Sun., 12/4 • 12pm & 5pm Wed., 12/ 7 • 1:30pm & 7pm Thu., 12/8 • 7pm Fri., 12/9 • 7pm Sat., 12/10 • 1:30pm & 7pm Sun., 12/11 • 12pm & 5pm Wed., 12/ 14 • 1:30pm & 7pm Thu., 12/15 • 7pm Fri., 12/16 • 7pm Sat., 12/17 • 1:30pm & 7pm Sun., 12/18 • 12pm & 5pm
STEVEN BOOTH* (Buddy)
DIANA HUEY* (Jovie)
MUSIC AT THE HISTORIC THEATER & ELSEWHERE
Legendary & luminous performances
MUSIC SERIES
SPONSORS:
BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE
Sun., November 13 • 7pm • Historic Theater
The living legends, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Charlie Musselwhite bring their awardwinning talents to the stage for an outstanding night of blues and gospel.
EVENING SPONSORS:
Carpe Diem Coffee Roasting Co.; Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella, PLLC; River Wharf Hospitality Group
RESIDENT ORCHESTRA AT PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FAMILY HOLIDAY POPS
Sat., December 17 • 7:30pm & Sun., December 18 • 3pm
Portsmouth High School, 50 Andrew Jarvis Dr The festive program will delight audiences of all ages with a seasonal blend of music from beloved holiday movies and classic Christmas favorites.
NEW
YEAR’S EVE CHAMPAGNE POPS WITH PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Sat., December 31 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Guest conductor Dr. Dirk Hillyer and the PSO are pairing up again to ring in another New Year. They’ll be joined by special guest tenor Ben DiScipio, winner of Boston’s highest musical theater award, who brings a variety of talent in Broadway, operetta, and jazz to this year’s Champagne Pops!
COMEDY AT THE HISTORIC THEATER
Finish the year with four nights of laughter!
COMEDY SERIES
SPONSORS:
JUSTON MCKINNEY: A YEAR IN REVIEW 2022
Mon., December 26 • 7pm; Tue., December 27 • 7pm; Wed., December 28 • 8pm; Thu., December 29 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Juston has multiple appearances on the Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien, and both a half-hour special and a one-hour special on Comedy Central. Have the last laugh of 2022 with Juston as he uses multimedia to dish on his New England life and looks back at the year that was.
EVENING
SPONSORS:
Eastern Bank; Harvey Family Dentistry; oHive
CINEMA AT THE HISTORIC THEATER
Celebrate the holidays with these classics
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
NR • 1h 41m Fri., December 23 • 1pm
The original, theatrical Christmas classic!
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
PG • 1h 37m Sat., December 24 • 1pm
Arthur sets out on a crazy mission to deliver the last present!
Schedule subject to change. Updates on TheMusicHall.org/Cinema.
LOVE ACTUALLY R • 2h 15m Fri., December 23 • 7pm
Following eight very different couples’ love lives in various interrelated tales, set the month before Christmas in London.
ADAM SANDLER’S EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS
PG13 • 1h 16m Sat., December 24 • 4pm
A 33-year-old party animal spends the holiday performing community service.
TALKS AT THE LOUNGE
A new cookbook just in time for the holidays
COMEDY AT THE LOUNGE
Kick off the weekend with these comedians
SARA SCHAEFER: GOING UP
Fri., November 18 • 6pm & 9pm • The Lounge
Sara Schaefer is a critically acclaimed stand up comedian, writer, and producer who has appeared on John Oliver’s New York Stand Up Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Inside Amy Schumer.
MIDWEEK COMEDIC RELIEF: FEATURING JON RINEMAN
Wed., November 23 • 6:30pm • The Lounge
For this special Thanksgiving Eve show, bring friends and family for a good laugh before the holiday festivities kick in. Former late-night TV writer, Jon Rineman returns!
MUSIC AT THE LOUNGE
Local favorites liven up The Lounge
BRIAN DUNNE
Sun., November 13 • 7:30pm • The Lounge
With a sound at once vintage and modern, Brian Dunne’s new album is dark and dreamy.
LUCY KAPLANSKY
Sat., November 19 • 7:30pm • The Lounge
Lucy Kaplansky is an acclaimed singersongwriter of rare talent and one of the most sought-after harmony singers.
AN EVENING WITH MARY ANN ESPOSITO
Tue., November 15 • 7pm • The Lounge
Mary Ann Esposito, host of the nationally televised PBS series Ciao Italia and the author of 14 cookbooks, celebrates the publication of Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!
DISCOVERING MAGIC IN PORTSMOUTH
Fri., December 16 • 8:30pm • The Lounge
This interactive sleight-of-hand show from the award-winning Andrew J. Pinard strives to expand the audience’s experience of magic and is a favorite of audiences across NH.
Discover new artists with our Spotify Playlists!
KAT WRIGHT
Sat., December 3 8pm The Lounge
Kat Wright with Bob Wagner and Josh Weinstein showcases the trio’s stripped down folky/rootsy music.
MUSIC AT THE LOUNGE
End the year on a high note
ANTJE DUVEKOT
Thu., December 8 • 7:30pm • The Lounge
Award-winning songwriter Antje Duvekot’s folk songs have earned the praise of rock legends, with a powerful sense of vulnerability that leaves the audience in awe.
THANKS TO GRAVITY
Sat., December 10 • 8pm & Sun., December 11 • 7pm • The Lounge
The legends of the 90s Seacoast music scene are back with their eclectic smooth rock sound.
NAT ZEGREE
Thu., December 22 • 7:30pm • The Lounge
Seacoast favorite Nat Zegree brings his energetic performance and musical background to The Lounge stage to excite and delight this holiday season.
Discover new artists with our Spotify Playlists!
GREAT BAY PHILHARMONIC QUARTET
Fri., December 9 • 8pm • The Lounge
Sparkly, elegant, professional strings bring classical quartet music to life, including holiday favorites! Great Bay Philharmonic Orchestra returns with their string quartet.
A SINATRA CHRISTMAS WITH RICH DIMARE
Sat., December 17 • 6:15pm & 8:30pm • The Lounge
Join us for a Merry Little Christmas with Rich DiMare, an American jazz singer who specializes in the Frank Sinatra songbook.
ROCKSPRING’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
Sat., December 31 • 10pm • The Lounge
Ring in the New Year with this high-energy string band and a glass of champagne in hand!
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Spreading Cheer to All Who Are Near
This time of gratitude and goodwill provides the perfect opportunity to honor all of you, The Music Hall’s friends and family, as well as our Corporate Partners, including Novocure, the Presenting Sponsor of our Holiday Programming. We have much to celebrate this season: It is thrilling to mark the second year of Novocure’s three-year commitment with the return of the Ogunquit Playhouse production of Elf The Musical.
The Music Hall’s collaborations with the Ogunquit Playhouse have become a Seacoast tradition. By bringing a Broadway-quality production to our stage, we aim to provide a shared experience that will inspire magical memories and bring families, friends, and neighbors closer together. That’s just one of the many ways we work to fulfill our mission and serve our community!
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
BOOK CLUB Portwalk Place, Portsmouth
BOTH/AND by Huma Abedin moderated by Tina Sawtelle Mon., 11/14 • 6pm
AMERICAN RASCAL by Greg Steinmetz moderated by Bill Proskow Mon., 12/12 • 6pm
DIRECTOR’S
CLUB
Our friends at Novocure are also on a mission, striving to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer. As William Burke, Novocure’s Chief Human Resources Officer has said, “Along with aspiring to make a difference 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.” Together, we are thrilled to spread cheer this holiday season with the return of Elf The Musical
SOL Wed., 12/7 • 5:30pm 111 State Street, Portsmouth
For more info, contact Wesley Lovell at WLovell@themusichall.org
DIRECTOR'S CLUB SPONSOR: Newburyport Bank
BOOK CLUB SPONSOR: Sheehan Phinney
Blake Hammond and Steven Booth in the Ogunquit Playhouse 2018 production of Elf The Musical Photo Credit: Julia Russell
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2023
Your Gift Makes a Difference
As 2022 comes to a close, now is the perfect time to think about your yearend philanthropy. We hope you will consider donating to The Music Hall; as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we rely on your generous contributions to realize our mission to serve our community.
Membership is incredibly valuable to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to recognize your generous support with a host of benefits. We are also grateful to receive gifts to our Annual Fund, which helps underwrite programs including our School Days Series, allowing us to offer scholarships of complimentary tickets and transportation to schools struggling with limited budgets.
Our Give the Gift of Magic program, also supported by Annual Fund gifts and generous sponsors, runs year round but is quite popular around the holidays. Through this program, we provide tickets to families in need for our collaboration with the Ogunquit Playhouse, as well as films and visits from musicians, comedians, authors, and scholars.
We are always in need of more than just financial gifts. Consider donating your valuable time as a part of our volunteer corps. Resolve to join us in 2023!
The School Days Series is sponsored by Meredith Village Savings Bank, D.F. Richard Energy, The Fabulous Find, and the French Foundation. Give the Gift of Magic, inspired by Morgan & Tara Rutman, is sponsored by BankProv, Hampton Ford Hyundai, and the Fuller Foundation. To secure tickets through these programs, contact the Box Office.
Maintaining An American Treasure
Bringing a Historic Theater Built in 1878 Into the 21st Century—It Takes a Village
THE PAST
We live in an area rich with history and tales to tell, and our Historic Theater has an abundance of stories. Built in 1878 by shipwrights, we are proud to be one of the last remaining “hemp houses” in the country, still using the original rigging system from 1901 that depends on rope, block and tackle, and counterweight to raise the curtain and create theatrical magic like making Santa’s sleigh fly in Elf The Musical. Our acoustically rich space has inspired the work of artists like The Indigo Girls and Brandi Carlile.
As proud as we are of our historic roots, modern amenities are necessary to keep up with the times. A decade ago, we celebrated the completion of a restoration and renovation that included our award-winning restrooms and the lower lobby. In 2020 we replaced the Historic Theater’s HVAC with a state-of-the-art system complete with hospital-grade MERV13 filters. Our lighting system was updated in 2021 and the backstage green room and dressing rooms were renovated in summer 2022, which provide artists more creative comfort. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our donors.
THE FUTURE
We strive to ensure that The Music Hall is here for future generations. There is always going to be more to do—just ask anyone living in a historic home! From the roof to the brick walls, there are continuous maintenance expenses that need to be covered, and sometimes surprise issues pop up that need an immediate solution. Through our Strategic Planning survey process, you and other patrons shared great ideas to enhance our venues that we are looking to implement. Thank you! We want everyone in our community, both today and in the future, to be able to comfortably enjoy our performances.
Thanks to our members and donors, we will be able to maintain this historic gem, honoring the past while offering entertainment, education, and inspiration today.
Want to Learn More? Check Out Bite-Sized History
J. Dennis Robinson and filmmaker Jay Childs produced eight short videos, weaving together the history of Portsmouth, musical roots in the community, past performers, and prominent local figures. Watch the full series at YouTube.com/MusicHallNH
Credit: Monte Bohanan
AT A GLANCE
Schedule subject to change. Check TheMusicHall.org for updates.
LEGEND: At The Historic Theater | At The Lounge | Offsite/Online | **Member Event contact Wesley Lovell (WLovell@themusichall.org) for more info
NOVEMBER 2022
Music
Blind Boys of Alabama with special guest Charlie Musselwhite
Sunday, November 13 • 7pm
Music
Brian Dunne
Sunday, November 13 • 7:30pm
Book Club
Both/And**
Monday, November 14 • 6pm
Talks
An Evening with Mary Ann Esposito
Tuesday, November 15 • 7pm
Comedy
Sara Schaefer: Going Up
Friday, November 18 • 6pm & 9pm
Music
Lucy Kaplansky
Saturday, November 19 • 7:30pm
Comedy
Midweek Comedic Relief ft. Jon Rineman
Wednesday, November 23 • 6:30pm
DECEMBER 2022
The Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall presents Elf The Musical
Wednesday, November 30 -
Sunday, December 18
Music
Kat Wright
Saturday, December 3 • 8pm
Director’s Club
Sol**
Wednesday, December 7 • 5:30pm
Music
Antje Duvekot
Thursday, December 8 • 7:30pm
Music
Great Bay Philharmonic Quartet
Friday, December 9 • 8pm
Music
Thanks to Gravity
Saturday, December 10 • 8pm & Sunday, December 11 • 7pm
Book Club
American Rascal**
Monday, December 12 • 6pm
Comedy
Discovering Magic in Portsmouth
Friday, December 16 • 8:30pm
Music
A Sinatra Christmas with Rich DiMare
Saturday, December 17 • 6:15pm & 8:30pm
Resident Orchestra
Ports. Symphony Orchestra Family Holiday Pops
Saturday, December 17 • 7:30pm & Sunday, December 18 • 3pm
DECEMBER 2022 CONT...
Music
Nat Zegree
Thursday, December 22 • 7:30pm
Cinema
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Friday, December 23 • 1pm
Cinema
Love, Actually Friday, December 23 • 7pm
Cinema
Arthur Christmas Saturday, December 24 • 1pm
Cinema
Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights
Saturday, December 24 • 4pm
Comedy
Juston McKinney’s A Year in Review 2022 Monday, December 26 • 7pm; Tuesday, December 27 • 7pm; Wednesday, December 28 • 8pm & Thursday, December 29 • 8pm
Music
New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops Saturday, December 31 • 8pm
Music
Rockspring’s New Year’s Eve Party
Saturday, December 31 • 10pm
JANUARY 2023
Met at The Music Hall
The Hours (Puts)
Saturday, January 7 • 12:55pm
Book Club
West with Giraffes**
Monday, January 9 • 6pm
Opera Connection
Fedora
Saturday, January 14 • 11:30am
Met at The Music Hall Fedora (Giordano)
Saturday, January 14 • 12:55pm
School Days Series Llama Llama - Live!
Tuesday, January 24 • 9:30am & 11:30am
FEBRUARY 2023
Rental Partner
Miss NH USA & Miss NH Teen USA 2023
Saturday, February 18 • 8pm & Sunday, February 19 • 2pm
Comedy Caitlin Peluffo
Saturday, February 18 • 8:30pm
Music
Griffin House
Saturday, February 25 • 8pm
Music
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
Sunday, February 26 • 4pm
CINEMA COMING SOON! The Return of Tanya Tucker featuring Brandi Carlile, Triangle of Sadness, Corsage, Exhibition on Screen: Cézanne, Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams, NT Live: The Seagull. Check TheMusicHall.org/Cinema for on-sale dates.
THE OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE AT THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS
MARCH 22APRIL 9, 2023
On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for one of the greatest jam sessions of all time.
Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits that includes “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog,” and more!
UPCOMING SHOWS
MIDWEEK COMEDIC RELIEF
November 23
December 31
LEAD SPONSOR:
MID-NOV./DEC 2022