For the most up-to-date information visit: TheMusicHall.org/CovidProtocols
What We’re Doing to Keep You and Our Staff Safe:
• We are following guidance issued by the Governor’s task force and CDC, as well as adding other safety measures.
• Staff and volunteers will be wearing masks and PPE.
• We’ve upgraded our HVAC system to include medical grade filters and an iWave ionization component. We are also changing filters more often and increasing the circulation rates on a 24-hour cycle.
• We’re seating our patrons with 6 ft. of space in all directions in between other parties.
What We’re Asking You to Do When You Visit:
• If you are feeling sick, have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19, please stay home!
• We ask that you wear a mask in all communal areas. You may remove your mask while sitting in your seat, but please wear your mask while entering, exiting, and visiting concessions or the restrooms.
• The ticket purchaser name will be on the seats with white bands, please do not move these bands around the chairs or remove the name cards themselves. Do not sit in the seats with black bands.
THANK YOU!
We are fortunate to have such a dedicated support system in this community. So many of you contributed to our COVID-19 emergency fund, donated tickets, or attended our socially distanced shows. This means the world to us—we wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for allowing us to do what we love. Please continue to help make a difference for us by spreading the word about our shows or following us on social media! Feel free to like and share our posts and blogs. And for the most up-to-date information on our theaters and events, sign up for the enews at TheMusicHall.org.
CURATOR’S CORNER
ALL TOGETHER NOW
TINA SAWTELLE,
Executive Director
Spring is in the air and our thoughts turn to the re-emergence of not only our arts and cultural organizations, but also restaurants, shops, and getting outside to enjoy the natural beauty of the Seacoast in spring. There is no doubt that businesses have suffered in this last year due to the pandemic, and we’ve all had to be resilient and resourceful. If you've been waiting for the right moment to return to downtown Portsmouth, let us provide your incentive.
I am so pleased to announce that we will be partnering with 3S Artspace and Prescott Park Arts Festival (PPAF) to bring a series of shows to The Music Hall's stage as a fundraiser event for 3S and PPAF. All Together Now: A Benefit for the Music Lover in Us All will help kickstart not just our organizations, but also bring people back downtown to eat, shop, and stay. More details are online at TheMusicHall.org/AllTogetherNow.
Utilizing The Music Hall’s Historic Theater for its spaciousness, new HVAC system, and central location allows all three organizations to operate safely, and because The Music Hall had success securing emergency support through the State of NH Live Venue Relief Fund, we couldn’t be happier to share the wealth with two other beloved arts and cultural organizations in our town. We hope you will join us this spring for this benefit to help restore the arts and economic viability of the Seacoast.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Saving a Seat for Our Sponsors
We are always looking for ways to celebrate our sponsors. We love to see representatives from these organizations in the house, because that means we can thank them in person. To ensure this happens, and to demonstrate our gratitude, we offer partners tickets and memberships when opportunities allow. It’s thrilling to have the people behind our season sponsors—the Labrie Group, Carey & Giampa, and Portwalk Place, as well as the University of New Hampshire and B2W Software—on site to experience the full impact of their support.
It seems only natural that the leader in employee participation with The Music Hall would be B2W Software, with their multi-year commitment to the source of all tickets, our B2W Box Office. There are 97 employees in the Portsmouth office, and many an impromptu party has erupted when employees from either the same department or those who are friends outside of the office arrive at an event to discover they’ve all won the office pool for Music Hall tickets!
B2W staff consider themselves fortunate to have The Music Hall, such a historic and meaningful place, so close, and we in turn are appreciative of the devoted following. Our partnership with B2W is just one of our many mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. As a community-supported cultural center, these connections—and you our members—are what makes our work possible.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
BOOK CLUB: THE FEATHER THIEF BY KIRK WALLACE JOHNSON
Mon., 4/12 • 6pm Historic Theater & Livestream
BOOK CLUB: THE FOUR WINDS BY KRISTIN HANNAH Mon., 5/10 • 6pm Historic Theater & Livestream
For more information, contact Wesley Lovell at 603.766.2182 or WLovell@themusichall.org
Photo: Sydney Bilodeau
ON STAGE/ONLINE APRIL & MAY
LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER SERIES SPONSORS:
PRESENTING CINEMA SPONSOR:
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN SERIES SPONSOR: Sheehan Phinney
LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER NHTP’S 5TH
ANNUAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Sat., April 10 8pm Historic Theater & Livestream
New Hampshire Theatre Project presents the 5th Annual Storytelling Festival, with five tales of personal trials, overcoming adversity, and finding joy in even the darkest of times.
HILARITY STEVEN ROGERS
Sat., April 17 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Steven’s comedic ability has established him as a feature act in comedy clubs and also a regular opener for Brian Regan. His clever, rapid-fire material full of observations about his life and the world around him has entertained audiences from coast to coast!
HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN FRIDA KAHLO
Wed., April 14 7pm Historic Theater
Who was Frida Kahlo? Take a journey through the life of a true icon, discover her art, and uncover the truth behind her often turbulent life.
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP SCOTT WEIDENSAUL
Tue., April 20 • 7pm • Historic Theater
From the ornithologist, naturalist, and Pulitzer finalist comes a breathtaking work of nature writing on global bird migration in the face of climate change. Moderated by Jameson French.
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP CREATIVEMORNINGS PKX Fri., April 30 & Fri., May 21 8:30am Livestream • Free, RSVP required
CreativeMornings Portsmouth is a local chapter of the global breakfast lecture series for the creative community. Every meeting will feature a local speaker on the month’s topic and is free and open to the public.
Photo:
ON STAGE/ONLINE APRIL & MAY
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
SERIES SPONSORS: Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine; Bangor Savings Bank
A profound and humorous exploration of authenticity in work and life by a female doctor, with candid stories from the AIDS era to today’s COVID-19 pandemic. In conversation with Andrew Solomon.
ALL TOGETHER NOW: A BENEFIT FOR THE MUSIC LOVER IN US ALL
A new series in collaboration with and as a benefit for 3S Artspace & Prescott Park Arts Festival For the full schedule, visit TheMusicHall.org/AllTogetherNow
RACHAEL & VILRAY
Sat., May 22 • 6pm & 8pm • Historic Theater
Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive and guitarist-singer-composer Vilray bring their jazz, old vinyl duo to Portsmouth for a special fundraiser concert.
*
ZACHARY WILLIAMS
Fri., May 14 • 6pm & 8pm • Historic Theater
Hailing from Nashville, TN, Zachary Williams is an accomplished singer-songwriter, widely known as the front man for Americana band The Lone Bellow.
SON LITTLE
Fri., June 11 • 6pm & 8pm • Historic Theater
Bluesy chords, Latin rhythm, classic soul, and old-school R&B come together with Son Little's raw, raspy vocals and instrumental virtuosity.
bringing the arts home...
The Ar T s A re T he A nswer to vibrant and prosperous communities where we treasure our heritage, celebrate our diversity and nurture our ingenuity.
HERE & NOW
History, in Short Bites
MEMBERSHIP MAY
This May, we celebrate our members and your steadfastness. Because of you, we have confidence that this theater will recover and bring us together for moments of joy and wonder. Not a member? Consider joining; tax-deductible memberships start at $50 per household. Time to renew? Please do. If you have the capacity, consider upgrading. With a 90% loss of earned revenue, you have never mattered more. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
We’ll be raffling items each week: Your name in lights on the marquee, a film “party” for up to 20, and a private tour with your family or COVID pod.
Questions? Call the B2W Box Office at 603.436.2400 and Wesley and Jillian, our Ticket and Member Services team, will be happy to help.
Historian, author, and movie star!? The Seacoast’s very own J. Dennis Robinson is working on a series of short videos talking about the history of The Music Hall and Portsmouth. These fun and engaging videos bring history to life for all ages, and will air on our Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channels! These are designed to be companion-pieces to his award-winning history book, Music Hall: How a City Built a Theater and a Theater Shaped a City. Books are available for purchase at our bar/concessions.
Live Under the Arch Returns!
Last summer, our outdoor concert series, Live Under the Arch, was a big hit with audiences and artists alike, and this year we’re going to make it even better! Join us for socially distanced concerts right outside the theater, with the stage set under the Chestnut Street Arch and the best in local and regional talent from May to October! You can purchase a table for two, four, or six people, and enjoy the show with friends and family. Of course there will be music and we’ll have comedians and authors, too. Stay tuned for the line-up and see you there!
AT A GLANCE
At the Historic Theater At the Loft Offsite/Online
APRIL 2021
Rental Partner
Safe Haven Ballet presents Don Quixote Thursday, April 8 & Friday, April 9 • 7pm
Live at the Historic Theater
NHTP’s 5th Annual Storytelling Festival* Saturday, April 10 • 8pm
Exhibition On Screen Frida Kahlo
Wednesday, April 14 • 7pm
Hilarity
Steven Rogers Saturday, April 17 • 8pm
Innovation + Leadership
Scott Weidensaul
Tuesday, April 20 • 7pm
Innovation + Leadership
CreativeMornings PKX (Livestream) Friday, April 30 • 8:30am
* This show will also be livestreamed, for more information, please visit our website.
MAY 2021
All Together Now Zachary Williams Friday, May 14 • 6pm & 8pm
