September 2020 Magazine

NOW MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2020

Live Under The Arch

JUSTON MCKINNEY 9/3

KAT EDMONSON 9/17 AYLA BROWN & ROB BELLAMY 9/24 Live at the Historic Theater

PORTS. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: THE SOLDIER’S TALE 9/26

Credit: Kristen Bulger

SEASON SPONSORS

REOPENING UPDATE Keeping You Safe During COVID-19 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 have been trained on the proper measures for use of PPE. • We’ve upgraded our systems and HVAC to increase safety, and are changing filters more often and increasing the circulation rates on a 24-hour cycle.

• We created order-ahead, contactless concessions! You can order your snacks and beverages before the show.

• We’re asking parties to leave 6 feet of space in all directions in between other parties, and we will be capping our indoor audiences at 50 people per show to start off.

What We’re Asking You to Do When You Visit: • If you are feeling sick, have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, loss of smell or taste, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, gastrointestinal issues), or if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19, please stay home!

• We’re asking you to protect yourself, our staff, and our community by wearing 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 if you visit concessions or the restrooms.

For the most up-to-date information visit: TheMusicHall.org/Reopening

The Music Hall Needs Your Help Thank you to all of you who have continued to support us through this time. The arts face an existential crisis. We were among the first to close and we’ll be the last to open fully. If you are able, please consider a financial gift. You could become a member, renew, or upgrade your membership. We know that it is a very uncertain time for many people, so if a financial gift isn’t in your budget, we understand; you can help us by just spreading the word. The arts are more than just nice to have—saving the arts and cultural organizations means saving downtowns and cities, as well as 12 million jobs nationwide.

To donate, or for more information on membership: TheMusicHall.org/donate

ALREADY ON SALE LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER

THE MAMMALS

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER

Be the first to know about Just Announced shows!

Sign up for enews at TheMusicHall.org

SONS OF SERENDIP

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER

PATTY LARKIN

Fri., October 9 • 8pm • Historic Theater

Sat., October 17 • 8pm • Historic Theater

Sat., November 14 • 8pm • Historic Theater

The Mammals are a warm-blooded party band with a conscience, equally inspired by their folk predecessors and Americana peers.

The creative quartet Sons of Serendip’s emotionally stirring arrangements and fresh compositions make their way to the Historic Theater for a night of socially distanced music!

A visionary of sound and wonder, a real deal version of artistry made of equal parts guitar wizardry, vocals shot through with soul.

RESCHEDULED SHOWS LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER

LIVE AT THE LOFT

INTIMATELY YOURS

INTIMATELY YOURS

Fri., October 2 • 8pm Historic Theater

Sat., March 27, 2021 • 8pm • Loft

Thu., September 2, 2021 • 8pm • Historic Theater

Sat., October 23, 2021 • 8pm Historic Theater

CHRIS TRAPPER

Chris Trapper has become a modern-day acoustic troubadour and storyteller, using his honeyed tenor and humor.

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ETHEL

The vibrant, adventurous string quartet sets the standard for contemporary concert music.

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS

In honor of the album that made them an international act, they are celebrating Flood’s 30th anniversary.

ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO

Angélique Kidjo’s version of the Talking Heads’ Remain in Light adds electrifying rhythms and African guitars.

*Check website for ticket package details

CURATOR’S CORNER Join Us Under the Stars or in the AC! Thérèse LaGamma, Director of Programming; Chris Curtis, Film & Outreach Manager; and Brittany Wason, Literary Coordinator To this curator team (and the whole organization, really), there is nothing more exhilarating than the buzz of a show night: the cascade of applause, the hustle and bustle behind the curtain, and the excited chatter with patrons after the show. We missed that, just as we are sure you did. Thank you for your patience as we worked through programming challenges and safety protocols.

We’ve lined up some entertainment for you whenever you’re ready to come back to the Hall. Inside the Historic Theater, we will be showing some of those movies you were looking forward to. Out front, we packed our Live Under the Arch (LUTA) series with local and regional favorites, as well as some familiar faces! Our resident orchestra, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, will be back on our stages, having performed as a trio at LUTA and coming to the Historic Theater for “The Soldier’s Tale” this month (more on pg 4).

You will see some changes to our calendar and procedures, thanks to COVID-19. LUTA will continue until the end of September and Loft shows will move over to the Historic Theater for more social distancing in the cooler months. The seats will be spread out and noted so you can find seats at least six feet away from your fellow patrons. And through it all, we remain focused on our town, the Seacoast, and our community as whole. Our mission to give back while putting on great shows is thanks to your support, whether it’s by purchasing tickets, donating, becoming a member, or simply spreading the word. Thank you for your patronage and support of your local arts center—we wouldn’t be here without you!

ON STAGE LIVE UNDER THE ARCH JUSTON

COMEDY AT A DISTANCE

MCKINNEY:

Thu., Sept. 3 • 6pm & 8pm • Chestnut St The Seacoast’s favorite, Juston McKinney, joins us for a hilarious evening!

SERIES SPONSORS:

LIVESTREAM NICK FLYNN IN CONVERSATION WITH MARIE HOWE Wed., Sept. 9 • 7pm • Streaming

LIVE UNDER THE ARCH KAT

EDMONSON

A searing memoir from the critically acclaimed author on how childhood spills into parenthood.

A rare musician who embodies the spirit of the past while remaining resolutely au courant.

Thu., Sept. 17 • 6pm & 8pm • Chestnut St

SERIES SPONSORS:

SERIES SPONSORS: Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service

INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP

CREATIVEMORNINGS PKX Fri., Sept. 18 • 9am Streaming

A local chapter of the global lecture series for creatives, featuring a local speaker on the month’s topic.

Photo: RayaOnAssignment.com

SERIES SPONSORS: Bangor Savings Bank; Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine MEDIA PARTNER:

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER

LIVE UNDER THE ARCH

AYLA BROWN & ROB BELLAMY

Thu., Sept. 24 6pm & 8pm Chestnut St After finding each other in Nashville, the Massachusetts natives and new country duo bring their music back to New England.

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SERIES SPONSORS:

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PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:

THE SOLDIER’S TALE

Sat., Sept. 26 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater This folklike narrative interweaves music, theatre, and dance to tell a tale of fortune, fate, and man’s search for meaning.

MEDIA PARTNERS:

Live Free Print & Frame

TheMusicHall.org

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HERE & NOW

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

Portsmouth Symphony Presents Music, Theatre, and Dance—all in one!

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has long wowed us with their exciting and fresh performances, rooted in craft and community. We always look forward to our resident orchestra’s Mainstage shows throughout the year.

While many rehearsal and performance spaces have been closed, the PSO has been working on a creative solution.

The result is this month’s performance of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale (L’histoire du soldat)” on Saturday, September 26.

Considered one of the 20th century’s little masterworks, this will be performed by seven musicians from the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by music director John Page, and four actors from Tufts University, under the stage direction of Carol Mastrodomenico. This folklike, dramatic narrative weaves music, theatre, and dance together for a show that will astound you. We hope you will join us for this stunning (and social distanced) show inside the Historic Theater.

Although the PSO has been The Music Hall’s resident orchestra for only a year, this partnership makes perfect sense by marrying two organizations with deep backgrounds in serving the community through high quality art and education.

By distinguishing the PSO as our resident orchestra, they are provided with box office subscription services, specialized marketing services, and seasonally based programming support to put on the vibrant concerts you know and love. We are looking forward to their return on our stage and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

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Leaving a Legacy

Credit: Sydney Bilodeau

The 1878 Legacy Society was created to recognize the generosity of individuals and families who have made, or provided for, gifts to The Music Hall in their estate plans. Members of the 1878 Legacy Society are helping to ensure the long-term viability and success of The Music Hall for future generations.

Please join us in thanking these individuals who have prioritized The Music Hall, identifying it as a place that exhilarates, engages, and transforms our patrons’ lives while creating a sense of community. To learn more about leaving a legacy, or if you’ve made plans and haven’t yet made us aware, please contact us so we can express our gratitude.

Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Aeschliman, Esq.

Wendy Lynne Klodt*

Francis Aguilar*

Tannye Wold & Stephen Kosacz

Regina Baraban

Josephine A. Lamprey

Jude Blake

Donna Ryan & Andy Livingston

Jim* & Gail VanHoy Carolan

Bob Lord & Laura Reagan

David & Elizabeth Choate

Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Mallon

Geoffrey & Martha Fuller Clark

Jay & Suzanne McFarland

Elizabeth & Ed Cole

Jay McSharry

Robert & Dorothy Davidson*

Edward Mehigen

David & Karen Della Penta

Bob Merriman*

Dean Diggins

Maxine Morse

Stephen & Susanne Falzone in memory of Robert & Dorothy Davidson*

Doug & Karin Cullity Nelson

C. Dennis Fink

Marianne Pernold*

Lois Fonda*

Anna Porter

Dean Fournier

Elisabeth Robinson

Barbara Franzoso & Robert LeGros

Harry Schult*

Jameson French & Priscilla Stevens French

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Schwarz, Esq.

Mark & Julie Geller

Peter Squires

Michael & Cynthia Harvell

Mark B. Stevens*

Jo Haskell

Joan White*

Arthur Heard*

Diane F. Woods

George & Juliana Patten

David Hills & Catherine McLaughlin-Hills *Deceased

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT Celebrating a Decade of Season Sponsorship The Music Hall is delighted to celebrate a milestone this season as The Labrie Group and The River House, our first and longest-standing Season Sponsor, celebrates their 10th anniversary in that role. We are so grateful for their generous support and for all they do for our community.

The Labrie Group is owned and operated by brothers Michael and Peter Labrie, who describe their family as being “motivated by a passionate commitment to local history, arts and culture, culinary excellence and community involvement.” The family supports a number of area arts and cultural organizations, individually and through their restaurants The River House, The Atlantic Grill, and (opening Summer 2021) Jimmy’s On Congress — the new downtown music club they are creating in Portsmouth’s historic 1905 YMCA building.

Credit: Rick Dumont Images

Since signing on as the first Season Sponsor a decade ago, the Labries have continued to expand their commitment. Their steadfastness has motivated others to sponsor and sponsorship retention has increased significantly with the example they have set. The Labrie Group’s support directly benefits you and the more than 110,000 patrons who come through our doors each year to experience quality arts programs. Their ongoing commitment has enabled us to develop lasting partnerships to provide educational opportunities for some 60 community organizations.

The impact of the family’s support for the arts at The Music Hall is experienced far and wide.

Should you have the opportunity, please let the Labries and all of our corporate partners know how much you appreciate their support of The Music Hall and, by extension, our Seacoast community.

TheMusicHall.org

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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.

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AT A GLANCE

B2W BOX OFFICE @ THE HISTORIC THEATER: 28 Chestnut Street

At the Historic Theater At the Loft

At press time, the information below was the most up-to-date, but likely there will be changes by the time you receive this magazine.

For updates on our ability to offer programming, please visit TheMusicHall.org and sign up for our enews.

SEPTEMBER

DECEMBER

MARCH 2021

Live Under The Arch

The Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall presents

Live at the Loft

Thursday, September 3 • 6pm & 8pm

Wed., November 25 - Sun., December 13

Saturday, March 27 • 8pm

Juston McKinney: Comedy at a Distance

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Musical

ETHEL (NEW DATE)

Writers: Livestream

Hilarity

School Days Series

Wednesday, September 9 • 7pm

Saturday, December 12 • 8pm

Tuesday, March 30 • 9:30am & 11:30am

Nick Flynn

Hari Kondabolu (NEW DATE)

Live Under The Arch

Hilarity

Thursday, September 17 • 6pm & 8pm

Saturday, December 26 • 5pm & 8pm; Sunday, December 27 • 5pm

Kat Edmonson

Innovation + Leadership

Juston McKinney: Last Laugh: A Year In Review

CreativeMornings PKX (Livestream)

The Music Hall Presents

Live Under The Arch

Thursday, December 31 • 8pm

Friday, September 18 • 9am

Ayla Brown & Rob Bellamy

Thursday, September 24 • 6pm & 8pm

New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra

Live at the Historic Theater

JANUARY 2021

Saturday, September 26 • 7:30pm

Hilarity

Ports. Symphony Orchestra: The Soldier’s Tale

Brian Regan (NEW DATE)

Thu., January 21 & Friday, Jan. 22 • 8pm

OCTOBER Live at the Historic Theater

Chris Trapper (NEW DATE) Friday, October 2 • 8pm

FEBRUARY 2021 Intimately Yours

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy (NEW DATE)

Live at the Historic Theater

Sunday, February 28 • 4pm

Friday, October 9 • 8pm

MARCH 2021

The Mammals

Innovation + Leadership

Kimberly Hamlin (NEW DATE)

The Music Hall Presents

Live at the Historic Theater

Thursday, March 4 • 7:30pm

Thursday, October 15 • 7pm

Masters of Illusion: Believe the Impossible

Sons of Serendip

Intimately Yours

Intimately Yours

Sunday, March 7 • 7pm

Saturday, October 17 • 8pm

Josh Turner (NEW DATE)

Saturday, October 24 • 8pm

NOVEMBER Online Holiday Auction

Sunday, November 8- Sunday, November 22 Writers in the Historic Theater

Martha Ackmann (NEW DATE)

Tuesday, November 10 • 7pm Rental Partner

DSP Shows: Wailin’ Jennys (NEW DATE) Friday, November 13 • 7:30pm Live at the Historic Theater

Patty Larkin

Saturday, November 14 • 8pm

Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony Benefit Concert Sunday, November 15 • 2pm

The Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall presents

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Musical Wed., November 25 - Sun., December 13

Show listings/dates are subject to change

Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends

APRIL 2021 School Days Series

Giraffes Can’t Dance - The Musical

Wednesday, April 7 • 9:30am & 11:30am Hilarity

Steven Rogers (NEW DATE) Saturday, April 17 • 8pm Intimately Yours

Melissa Etheridge: 2021 Tour (NEW DATE) Wednesday, April 21 • 7:30pm Hilarity

Whose Live Anyway? (NEW DATE) Friday, April 30 • 8pm

MAY 2021 School Days Series

Pete’s Big Hollywood Adventure

Tuesday, May 4 • 9:30am & 11:30am School Days Series

Have a Wild Time with the Portsmouth Symphony!

Tuesday, May 11 • 9:30am & 11:30am School Days Series

It’s Okay To Be Different—Stories by Todd Parr Wednesday, May 19 • 9:30am & 11:30am

The Tallest Man on Earth (NEW DATE) School Days Series

JUNE 2021

Monday, March 8 • 9:30am & 11:30am

Intimately Yours

Intimately Yours

Wednesday, June 2 • 7:30pm

The Pout-Pout Fish

Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group (NEW DATE)

Keb’ Mo’ (NEW DATE)

Friday, March 12 • 8pm

Hilarity

School Days Series

Saturday, June 26 • 8pm

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Classics

Kevin Nealon (NEW DATE)

Wednesday, March 17 • 9:30am & 11:30am Intimately Yours

The Mavericks (NEW DATE)

Thursday, March 18 & Friday, March 19 • 8pm The Music Hall Presents

The Moth Mainstage (NEW DATE) Saturday, March 20 • 8pm Hilarity

Justin Willman: Magic in Real Life Tour (NEW DATE) Saturday, March 27 • 8pm

THIS MONTH’S MEMBER EVENTS BOOK CLUB THE GREAT ALONE BY KRISTIN HANNAH Mon., 9/14 • 6pm

For more information, contact Jess Bunker at 603.766.2176 or JBunker@themusichall.org TheMusicHall.org

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PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY:

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

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PORTSMOUTH, NH PERMIT NO. 202

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 9

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

KAT EDMONSON 9/17

SEPTEMBER 2020

NEW SHOWS & EVENTS ARE ADDED ALL THE TIME! Sign up for enews at TheMusicHall.org Be the first to know about: Just Announced shows • Last-minute schedule changes • Special offers for our subscribers!