The fan-favorite a cappella group return with their pop-infused sound.
INTIMATELY YOURS THOMPSON SQUARE: THIS IS US TOUR Sat., July 21 • 8pm • Historic Theater • $28; $35; $40 Country Music Award-winning husband and wife duo.
RENTAL PARTNERS
INTIMATELY YOURS AN EVENING WITH COWBOY JUNKIES
Fri., July 20 • 8pm • Historic Theater • $32; $42
Cowboy Junkies have been making the rich tradition of country, folk, and primal blues their own for over 30 years.
The “king of the rant” brings his trademark style of comedic yelling to Portsmouth.
NHPTV and Yankee Magazine present AN EVENING CELEBRATING WEEKENDS WITH YANKEE Mon., May 7 • 6pm • Loft
Oyster River Music Department presents SILENT FILM NIGHT Sat., June 9 • 7pm • Historic Theater
RECYCLED PERCUSSION Fri., June 15 • 7pm • Historic Theater
David Wold Associates presents PAUL DYKSTRA WITH GREAT BAY PHILHARMONIC Sat., October 20 • 8pm • Historic Theater
MET AT THE MUSIC HALL
New Subscribers: Fri., May 4
Tickets for Members: Fri., May 11
Tickets for Non Members: Fri., May 18
Tickets: $29; $15 for 18 & under
AIDA* (Verdi) Sun., October 7 • 1pm • Historic Theater
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST* (Puccini) Sun., October 28 • 1pm • Historic Theater
MARNIE* (Muhly) Sun., November 11 • 1pm • Historic Theater
LA TRAVIATA* (Verdi) Sat., December 22 1pm Historic
SAMSON ET DALILA* (Saint-Saëns) Sat., December 29 1pm
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR (Cilea) Sat., January 12 1pm
CARMEN* (Bizet) Sat., February 9 1pm
LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT (Donizetti) Sat., March 2 1pm Historic Theater
DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner) Sat., March 30 12pm Historic Theater
DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES (Poulenc) Sat., May 11 12pm Historic Theater *Due to The Music Hall programming, this opera will be broadcast after its live date.
OPERA CONNECTION
SEASON PREVIEW Thu., October 4 • 5:30pm • Loft • Free*
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST (Puccini) Sun., October 28 11:30am Loft $14*
LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT (Donizetti) Sat., March 2 11:30am Loft $14*
DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner) Sat., March 30 • 10:30am • Loft • $14*
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST (Puccini)
ALREADY ON SALE
WILDCARD GREASE SING ALONG
Fri., May 4 • 7pm • Historic Theater • $15
Sit back and watch Danny & Sandy and the gang, while singing along to the lyrics on the screen.
NAT'L THEATRE OF LONDON HD BROADCAST MACBETH
Sun., May 20 • 1pm • Loft • $19; $15 for 18 & under Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy, starring Rory Kinnear (Young Marx, Othello) and Anne-Marie Duff (Oil, Suffragette).
NEW SHOWS ON SALE
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP ON SCREEN INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL ON TOUR
Thu., June 28 • 7pm • Historic Theater • $12
Back by popular demand – the best ocean adventures and environmental documentaries.
Our “First Saturday” on sale event for members is Saturday, May 5. The following NEW shows go on sale to members at 10am for walk-up, at noon for phone and internet sales. Tickets on sale to non-members Saturday, May 19 at noon. To become a member, visit TheMusicHall.org or call 603.436.2400.
LIVE AT THE LOFT MOKOOMBA
Fri., July 6 • 8pm • Loft • $26‡
Their vibrant sound combines traditional Tonga and pan-African music cultures with dashes of rap, ska, soukous and Afro-Cuban music.
CURATOR'S CORNER
LIVE AT THE LOFT PHOTOCOMFORT
Sat., July 28 • 8pm • Loft • $10‡
Photocomfort's huge vocal hooks soar over harrowing and irresistibly catchy arrangements.
THE CLASSICS, A WESTERN, AND HITCHCOCK—MET
TITLES
ANNOUNCED!
CHRIS CURTIS, Film & Outreach Manager
The 2018-2019 season of Met at The Music Hall has classic big-name productions, world-famous singers, and a Hitchcockinspired new opera by a wunderkind composer. All are even more special when viewed on the big screen in our Historic Theater! The series begins with Verdi’s iconic Aida, starring the beloved soprano Anna Netrebko. Other classic crowd pleasers include a dazzling new production of another Verdi favorite, La Traviata, Bizet’s Carmen, and Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment. Richard Wagner’s classic Die Walküre, the second installment of his Ring cycle, is also in the queue this season.
See Anna Netrebko again when she sings the title role of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur in a Met premiere. And don’t miss tenor Jonas Kaufmann in Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West; Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez in La Traviata; and Roberto Alagna in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila and again in Carmen. I’m also excited to see Marnie, a new opera and Met premiere by the great young composer Nico Muhly. Based on Winston Graham’s novel, which in turn inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful thriller, Marnie’s score is said to reflect Muhly’s passion for the English church vocal tradition.
A special benefit for Music Hall members at all levels is the opportunity to purchase a season subscription. This guarantees the same seat selection for every opera airing during the season, and the option to keep those seats for the following season.
For illuminating, entertaining insights into the operas, opera-expert /writer-producer Dennis Neil Kleinman will be back by popular demand for his Opera Connection series in the Loft; sharing history and commentary on four productions before they air in the Historic Theater. Also don’t miss Kleinman’s season preview event on Thu., October 4. This event is free but tickets are required and always go quickly!
ON STAGE
SAVE THE DATE - 27th Annual Kitchen Tour
27TH ANNUAL KITCHEN TOUR
Sat., May 12 • 10am - 4pm • $25; $27; $30 day of tour
Sat., May 12 • 10am-4pm • Portsmouth, NH
This year, we return to Portsmouth’s walking-friendly Little Harbour neighborhood, with brand new state of the art dream kitchens of all shapes, sizes and styles.
This year, we return to Portsmouth’s walking-friendly Little Harbour neighborhood, with brand new, state of the art, dream kitchens of all shapes, sizes and styles.
ANNUAL SPONSOR:
PREMIER SPONSOR:
LEAD SPONSORS:
Budget Blinds of the Seacoast; Chase Construction & The Webhannet Co.; Chinburg Properties; Coastal Home Magazine; DeStefano Architects; Ethan Allen, Inc.; Haven Hill Builders; Mari Woods Kitchen/Bath/Home, LLC; New England Home Magazine; Northeast Credit Union; St. Mary's Bank; Summer House Furnishings; Tate & Foss Sotheby's International Realty; Weekender House
PHOTO: GregWestPhotography.com
HILARITY BRIAN REGAN
Sat., May 12 • 7pm & 9:30pm
Historic Theater $45; $55
Brian Regan is one of the best comedians performing today. His comedy, big enough for everyone, sharp enough for you, keeps audiences coming back time and again.
SERIES SPONSORS:
EVENING SPONSORS:
Eastern Bank; Maine Lobster Outlet; Regal Limousine Service
INTIMATELY YOURS MICHAEL MCDONALD
Tue., May 15 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater
$58; $78; $95; Meet & Greet Package: $225*
An enduring force in popular music, touring behind his fabulous new album, Wide Open.
SERIES SPONSORS:
EVENING SPONSORS:
Clear Eye Photo; Eastern Bank; Jardiniere
ON STAGE
INTIMATELY YOURS JOSH RITTER
Sun., May 13 • 7pm • Historic Theater • $28; $35
Cited by Paste magazine as among the “100 Best Living Songwriters,” Ritter returns to Portsmouth following the release of his ninth fulllength album, Gathering.
LIVE AT THE LOFT THE BLUE RIBBONS FT. DIETRICH STRAUSE
Sat., May 5 • 8pm • Loft • $12
Boston Music Award winners The Blue Ribbons and acclaimed Boston singer/songwriter Dietrich Strause join forces for a special night of original music.
Live Free Photography –[Liv] Frame Print
LIVE AT THE LOFT THE LOW ANTHEM
Thu., May 10
• 8pm • Loft • $26
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP EXPERTS FROM NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY
Tue., May 1 7pm Loft $36*
Just in time for planting season - don’t miss this essential gardener’s guide to growing native in New England.
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
SERIES SPONSOR: Petersen Engineering
WRITERS IN THE LOFT RICHARD RUSSO
Wed., May 9 7pm Loft $40
A master of the novel, short story, and memoir, this bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author gives us his very first collection of personal essays, ranging throughout writing and reading and living.
SERIES SPONSOR: RMC Research Corporation
LIVE AT THE LOFT HEATHER MALONEY
Thu., May 17 • 7:30pm • Loft • $18
Founded by multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky, the band is known for their personal, abstract sound, and love for non-traditional musical instruments and arrangements. Live Free Photography –[Liv] Frame Print MEDIA PARTNERS:
Free Photography –[Liv] Frame Print
Her pure, crystalline voice calls to mind Joni Mitchell. She is a talented young performer who lays it all on the line. The results are stunning.
SERIES SPONSOR:
ON STAGE
LIVE AT THE LOFT MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ
Fri., May 18 • 8pm • Loft • $15
Vasquez fuses passion and poetry in his writing and then ignites this volatile mix with extraordinarily expressive singing.
SERIES SPONSOR:
MEDIA PARTNERS:
Live Free Photography –[Liv] Frame Print
SCHOOL DAYS SERIES THE FOURTH "R" - RHYTHM! WITH THE PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Join the inquisitive, lovable little monkey in this delightful new musical.
SERIES
SPONSORS:
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY: Cogswell Benevolent Trust; Demoulas Foundation; The French Foundation; The Fuller Foundation; Heinemann Publishing; Speedway Children’s Charities Measured Progress
Bestselling author, actor, and former fake news practitioner on The Daily Show shares his real-life, all true wanderings through New England.
SERIES SPONSOR: RMC Research Corporation
SOLD OUT
INTIMATELY YOURS INDIGO GIRLS
Fri., May 18 • 8pm • Historic Theater • $42; $52
Decades into their career, these Grammy Award-winning folk rock musicians still amaze audiences with their ability to grow and thrive.
SERIES SPONSORS:
EVENING SPONSORS: Carpe Diem Coffee Roasting Company; Clear Eye Photo; The Financial Advisors; Whole Life Health Care
OUR COMMUNITY
EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING
There is nothing like fully experiencing the arts on stage or on the big screen together with an audience as one. Be transformed with exhilarating and thought-provoking performances that spark conversation and linger long after the curtain closes.
Join The Music Hall family and become a member! Tax-deductible annual memberships start at just $50 for the entire household.
Join today at TheMusicHall.org or call 603.436.2400
Become a New Member or Upgrade Your Membership in the Month Of May!
Have Twice the Impact
We have a match—if you upgrade or become a new member in May, a generous donor will match your donation.
Be Entered Into a Drawing For Our Holiday Package
Enjoy a $100 gift certificate to The Friendly Toast and four center orchestra seats for opening night of Elf The Musical on 11/30. BONUS: Special invite to the post-show opening night party with the cast.
Discounts for Elf The Musical
Get early bird discounts for the first week of the show November 28–December 2. Promotion ends June 30. Full details at TheMusicHall.org
• 10% discount for Friend level (save up to $9.70/ticket)
• 20% discount for Advocate-Patron level (save up to $19.40/ticket)
• 30% discount for Backer-Stakeholder (save up to $29.10/ticket)
Join the Club!
Meet like-minded people and enhance your knowledge in different ways with these special interest clubs. Join one, or join them all—get the most out of our Music Hall community of arts lovers! See our upcoming events on page 13.
Visit TheMusicHall.org/Blog for more behind-the-scenes info!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: IAN MARTIN & NOAH LEFEBVRE
Membership Coordinator
Alexis Hahalis chatted with our Assistant Technical Director/Audio Supervisor Ian Martin (right) and our Master Electrician Noah Lefebvre (left) about tips for members.
Are there any upcoming performances that you’re looking forward to working?
IM: Loft shows are fun for me because I actually get to work directly with the artist to create the sound that the audience will be experiencing. After listening to Jalen N'Gonda a bit, I'm excited to mix him. He's got a cool style and sound that I think will complement the room nicely and will keep the energy up. It should be a good time.
NL: I always look forward to the productions we share with the Ogunquit Playhouse. We spend nearly two months together every year and it becomes more like a family reunion every year. Also, I can’t wait to spend an evening with The Low Anthem. I've been running into them since 2009!
Can you tell us a behind-the-scenes secret?
IM: Looking for a great seat in the house? Sit as close to the sound engineer as possible. Chances are good that you will better experience all of the little nuances that they are implementing.
NL: Occasionally, we will watch fireworks and air shows from the roof of the Historic Theater. Also, sometimes people mix up the light board and the soundboard, but if someone tells the lighting guy: "The sound is great! Great job!" they will still smile and say thanks. Don’t worry; the compliment still goes to the appropriate operator.
Photo: David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com
Photo: David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com
ON SCREEN HISTORIC THEATER
Film tickets: $12 Adults; $9 Seniors 60+, Students & Military
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
SERIES SPONSOR:
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
4/27, 4/28, 5/2, 5/3 • 7pm, 4/29 • 4pm
See Calendar on page 14 for Show & Tell Discussions
PRESENTING
CINEMA SPONSOR:
PG • 1h 45m • US
Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, this original musical celebrates the birth of show business and a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. With Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Michelle Williams. Score by Oscar (La La Land) and Tony (Dear Evan Hansen) winners Ben Pasek and Justin Paul.
THE DEATH OF STALIN
R • 1h 47m • UK
5/5, 5/8, 5/9, 5/10 • 7pm, 5/6 • 4pm
The one-liners fly as fast as political fortunes fall in this uproarious, wickedly irreverent satire from Armando Iannucci (Veep, In the Loop). Moscow, 1953: when tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin drops dead, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to be the next Soviet leader. Among the contenders are the dweeby Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor), the wily Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi), and the sadistic secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale).
HOSTILES
R • 2h 14m • US
5/11, 5/16, 5/17 • 7pm
From Telluride by the Sea 2017. In 1892, a legendary army captain (Christian Bale), after stern resistance, reluctantly agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family back to tribal lands. Making the harrowing journey from an isolated Army outpost in New Mexico to Montana, the former rivals encounter a young widow (Rosamund Pike), whose family was murdered on the plains. Together, they must overcome the punishing challenges they encounter along the way.
THE LEISURE SEEKER
R • 1h 52m • Italy
5/19, 5/22, 5/24 • 7pm
The film stars Academy Award winner Helen Mirren and two-time Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland as a runaway couple going on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker, traveling from Boston to the Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. They recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the end.
LEAN ON PETE
PG • 2h • UK
5/25, 5/26, 5/29, 5/30, 5/31 • 7pm, 5/27 • 4pm
Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray (Travis Fimmel), both of them eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks. While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds acceptance and camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete. The horse's gruff owner Del Montgomery (Steve Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) help Charley fill the void of his father's absence.
ON SCREEN LOFT
Film tickets: $12 Adults; $9 Seniors 60+, Students & Military
See Calendar on page 14 for Show & Tell Discussions
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA PRESENTING CINEMA SPONSOR:
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
SERIES SPONSOR:
GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND
BAMI NR • 1h 55m • UK
4/27, 5/2, 5/3 • 7pm
This documentary takes the viewer on an intimate and electrifying journey that moves between four cinematic layers – performance, family, artist, and traveler – to explore the fascinating world of this pop cultural phenomenon. Here we see her behind the mask as a daughter, mother, sister, and grandmother, alongside taking to the stage for a specially commissioned performance, with legendary hits including “Pull Up to the Bumper” and “Slave to the Rhythm” showcased in full.
HITLER'S HOLLYWOOD
5/4, 5/8, 5/11 • 7pm
NR • 1h 45m • Germany • some subtitles
Filmmaker Rüdiger Suchsland suggests that the Third Reich was essentially an immersive movie produced and directed by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Hannah Arendt gives perspective and context: What convinces masses are not facts, not even invented facts, but only the consistency of the illusion. It's a frightening insight that could just as easily apply to the American political landscape today. Narrated by Udo Kier.
RBG PG • 1h 37m • US
5/16, 5/22, 5/24, 5/25, 5/26, 5/29 • 7pm
At the age of 84, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But without a definitive Ginsburg biography, the unique personal journey of this diminutive, quiet warrior's rise to the nation's highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans–until now. RBG is a revelatory documentary exploring Ginsburg's exceptional life and career from Betsy West and Julie Cohen.
ON SCREEN ONE NIGHT ONLY
See Calendar on page 14 for Show & Tell Discussions
PRESENTING
CINEMA SPONSOR:
SERIES SPONSORS: Cocked Hat Ventures; The Hippo; RAM Printing; WSCA 106.1FM Portsmouth Community Radio WILDCARD
OF
SERIES SPONSORS:
GREASE SING-ALONG
PG 13 • 1h 50m
Fri., May 4 • 7pm • Historic Theater • $15
Following on the success of the Sing-Along Sound of Music a couple years back, we’re excited to bring Sing-Along Grease! Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential.
KING KONG
NR • 1h 40m • US
Director: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack; Composer: Max Steiner Tue., May 15 • 7pm • Loft • Individual Ticket: $15
Considered one of the great films of all time, King Kong set an all-time attendance record for an indoor event. The score for the film first brought Max Steiner to the world’s attention.
MACBETH
Sun., May 20 • 1pm • Loft • $19; $15 for 18 & under
Shakespeare’s most intense and terrifying tragedy, directed by Rufus Norris (The Threepenny Opera, London Road), will see Rory Kinnear (Young Marx, Othello) and Anne-Marie Duff (Oil, Suffragette) return to the National Theatre to play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
br ts home...
THE ARTS ARE THE ANSWER to vibrant and prosperous communities where we treasure our heritage, celebrate our diversity and nurture our ingenuity.
HERE & NOW
LET’S GATHER TOGETHER TO FIGHT HUNGER
It’s our fourth year collaborating with Gather for the Fill the Hall Food Drive on Saturday, June 23. It is core to our mission to give back, and we do that best by connecting with one another through the arts.
For 200 years, Gather has provided emergency food aid, personal care products, and education for healthy living to Seacoast residents. Fill the Hall benefits their Summer Meals 4 Kids program, helping to fill the gap when subsidized school meals are not available. They provide 10 meals a week for over 400 children on the Seacoast for the 11 weeks of summer. It takes more than 12 tons of food to do this. We want to get it donated in one day and we need your help.
Join us on Saturday, June 23 to Fill The Hall with food or a monetary gift to help the people in our community who need it the most. Find out more about the event at TheMusicHall.org. Learn more about Gather at GatherNH.org.
Kitchen Tour Tips & Tricks
Our 27th Annual Kitchen Tour takes place on Saturday, May 12 in the Little Harbour neighborhood in Portsmouth. The tour showcases houses, located just steps away from downtown shops and restaurants, and features some of the hottest kitchen design trends in New England, created and built by local artisans. Here are some quick tips to help you have a great tour.
Get your tickets early. Make sure to get your tickets before the day of the tour to get the best price and, as an added bonus, you’ll be able to skip the line at our B2W Box Office that morning.
Read our blog. Nancy Winkley, Kitchen Tour Committee member and avid cook, is once again sharing fun facts, design inspirations, and intelligence on some of the homes. Check the blog for her inside scoops. Plan your route. You can start at any of the houses on the tour by making your own route.
Wear your walking shoes. The tour requires walking from house to house, so be sure you have comfortable footwear. Speaking of footwear, every attendee will be supplied with a pair of booties for the day, to wear inside the homes.
Parking tips. Public parking lots located close to the houses include the Parrott Avenue lot, the South Mill Pond lot, and the City Hall parking lot. There is also parking at Little Harbour School at 50 Clough Drive.
Get a group together! Round up your friends and family and make a day of it in the historic seacoast city of Portsmouth—a stroller’s paradise with plenty of boutique shops and cultural attractions. Our kitchen tour is the perfect anchor experience for a Mother’s Day celebration, or for get-togethers of design aficionados and home culinarians.
Bring your design questions. The craftsmen, artisans, designers, and architects who created the kitchens will be on-site throughout the day.
Make lunch reservations in advance. Portsmouth is known as a foodie town and there are many excellent restaurants nearby serving a variety of cuisines. Find some recommendations on our Kitchen Tour map, available on TheMusicHall.org on Wed., May 1.
Check out our new guidebook. This year our guidebook shows professional photos of the kitchens in full color. There’s also more information on each of the designs, with homeowners commenting on their favorite kitchen details. Bring a pen: photography is not allowed, but the guidebook has note-taking space on each kitchen's page for you to write impressions and ideas.
Thank you to our Corporate Partners
Photo: GregWestPhotography.com
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Chase Construction Makes Us Smile
April is National Humor Month, and May is Kitchen Tour Month, making this the perfect time to celebrate Chase Construction, a long-term Corporate Partner contributing here on both fronts. Since 2012, Chase Construction has been consistently supporting the Kitchen Tour and sponsoring our Hilarity comedy series. As sixthgeneration Maine builders, Chase understands the value of strong and enduring relationships. In the past six years, their support has helped The Music Hall bring joy to more than 20,000 Hilarity patrons through performances by comedians including Paula Poundstone, Juston McKinney, Trevor Noah, and Jay Leno. Over seven years of Kitchen Tours, they have also helped The Music Hall usher approximately 12,000 bootie-clad feet through dozens of homes, raising more than $250,000 to support our essential operating costs. This is in addition to their full-time business of “bringing dreams to reality” through construction and renovations.
Gail VanHoy Carolan, Director of Institutional Advancement, notes that “The steady, generous support of Chase Construction has allowed The Music Hall to bring increasingly exciting acts to Portsmouth. Committed partnerships like this are central to our ability to fulfill our mission to serve as an active and vital arts center for our community.” To learn more about Chase Construction, visit ChaseConstruction.com.
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
BOOK CLUB: EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU BY CELESTE NG Mon., 5/14 • 6pm • Portwalk Place
