NOW MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2021
Intimately Yours
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN 12/4*
Stage Door Cabaret
RICH DIMARE 12/9 SHEMEKIA COPELAND 12/11 SHARON JONES 12/16 AND MORE! Hilarity
JUSTON MCKINNEY 12/26-28
The Music Hall Presents
NEW YEAR'S EVE CHAMPAGNE POPS 12/31
*ON THE COVER
SEASON SPONSORS
ON SALE NOW
Be the first to know about Just Announced shows! Sign up for enews at TheMusicHall.org
INTIMATELY YOURS
PHILLIP PHILLIPS X JON FOREMAN
HILARITY
DREW LYNCH
Sat., January 22 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Wed., January 19 • 7pm • Historic Theater
From humble beginnings to multi-platinum selling records, Phillip Phillips and Jon Foreman rock the stage in this singersongwriter double-bill.
America’s Got Talent finalist Drew Lynch captured America’s heart with his hilarious performances.
INTIMATELY YOURS CITIZEN
COPE
Tue., January 25 • 8pm • Historic Theater Citizen Cope takes us all on a journey with his unique brand of urban-folk.
INTIMATELY YOURS INTIMATELY YOURS PINK
WINTER CARNIVAL
BIG BAND OF BROTHERS:
TALKING FISH
A JAZZ CELEBRATION OF THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Sat., February 5 • 8pm • Historic Theater Sun., February 6 • 1pm • Historic Theater
Fri., February 25 8pm Historic Theater •
RENTAL PARTNERS
Pink Talking Fish is a hybrid tribute-fusion act that creates a special treat for fans.
•
Celebrate the Allman Brothers Band with some of the greatest jazz musicians!
INTIMATELY YOURS
AOIFE O'DONOVAN
Tue., March 1 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater Grammy award-winning artist Aoife O'Donovan operates in a thrilling musical world beyond genre.
ANOTHER TEQUILA SUNRISE - EAGLES TRIBUTE Sat., February 26 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Another Tequila Sunrise is America’s premier Eagles tribute band, delighting sell-out crowds across the country with a catalog of music that encompasses the classics and deep cuts from the Eagles’ collection.
COVID-19 UPDATES For up-to-date information about what we're doing to keep you safe and what to do when you visit, go to TheMusicHall.org/CovidProtocols
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
MAGAZINE
Monte Bohanan
Tina Sawtelle
Gail VanHoy Carolan
Wesley Lovell
Sara Turner
Brittany Wason
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS
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DESIGN Kaitlyn Huwe
A FOND FAREWELL GAIL VANHOY CAROLAN
Director of Institutional Advancement My friends, I have news to share: at the end of this month I’m retiring from my role
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS
as Director of Institutional Advancement at The Music Hall. Over the last eighteen
BOOK CLUB:
years—ten served on the Board and eight as part of the creative professional team
HOMEGOING BY YAA GYASI
here—I’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime working on a labor of love with you, our Credit: David J. Murray/ ClearEyePhoto.com
community.
Together, we’ve been part of something transformational, ensuring the sustainable health of our 1878 American Treasure, using arts and culture to ignite an economic renaissance downtown while building a close-knit and diverse family. Whether we’re enjoying an “I can’t believe I’m in Portsmouth” kind of wow concert, a literary event bringing the best and the brightest to our writers series, or hosting a safe place for provocative conversations, film festivals, comedy, and theater, The Music Hall helps our town live larger! The Music Hall family will continue to play a big role in my life. The relationships that we have built have been the greatest gift from my experience here. Your steadfast support, particularly over these last two
Mon., 12/13 • 6pm Portwalk Place, Portsmouth
More Book Club and Director’s Club events coming in 2022! For more info, contact Wesley Lovell at 603.766.2182 or WLovell@themusichall.org
years, and the remarkably talented team here has given me the confidence to take this next step. I will forever be grateful that you entrusted me to play a role in the storied life of this 143-year-old venue. I join the many over the last year that have taken a reassessment of life and know that this is the right time for me to move forward. I’ve got a lot of travel to finish, family and friends that I want to spend more time with, and a hunger to pick up some long-neglected artistic passions. My intention is to stay in New Hampshire and I’ll look forward to seeing you often. I wish for the organization the greatest success and can’t wait to see what’s ahead! It’s been a pleasure and a joy!
CURATOR'S CORNER YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SPECIAL THANKS For supporting initiatives to provide memorable
TINA SAWTELLE, Executive Director
holiday programming and
Gail’s retirement at the end of this year is bittersweet. It will be difficult to let her go,
to Seacoast families and
and impossible to replace her. At the same time, knowing her devotion to our theater
veterans, we are grateful for:
complimentary tickets
assures me that our future is bright;otherwise she wouldn’t be leaving! Credit: PizzutiPhotography.com
Fortunately, our many holiday events this month will provide us with ample opportunities to celebrate and the perfect place to gather together with family and
friends. We have an array of incredible musical acts in the Historic Theater with the dazzling Michael Feinstein and his “Home for the Holidays” show, as well as the return of our Stage Door Cabaret series. If you love movies, find that festive feeling at a favorite holiday film. Mark the end of 2021 with a good laugh as the Seacoast’s own Juston McKinney reviews the year that was. And ring in 2022 with our resident orchestra, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, as we break out the bubbly for the Champagne Pops! While all this excitement is happening in the Historic Theater, we’ll be hard at work in the Loft, revitalizing the space to better suit our purposes and your needs. I’ll have more to share with you soon as we head to a grand reopening in the spring.
OUR HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING SPONSOR: Novocure
OUR GIVE THE GIFT SPONSORS: BankProv Hampton Ford Hyundai Tara and Morgan Rutman
AND OUR VETERANS NIGHT SPONSORS: The Kane Company Wilcox Industries TheMusicHall.org
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ON STAGE
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
H A M P T O N F O R D
H Y U N D A I
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP PRESENTING SPONSOR:
DECEMBER MEDIA PARTNER:
SERIES SPONSORS: Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine; Bangor Savings Bank
INTIMATELY YOURS
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Sat., December 4 • 2pm Historic Theater
Michael Feinstein’s dazzling holiday show features classics by Gershwin and Cole Porter, as well as other seasonal surprises performed as only Michael can— sure to put you in the Yuletide spirit! EVENING SPONSOR:
INNOVATION + LEADERSHIP
JEN SINCERO [LIVESTREAM]
Tue., December 7 • 7:30pm Virtual In this special virtual workshop, New York Times bestselling author Jen Sincero gets to the core of habits: breaking, making, understanding, and sticking with them like never before.
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ON STAGE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
INTERCONNECTIONS PRESENTING SPONSOR:
HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:
DECEMBER
HILARITY
JUSTON MCKINNEY: A YEAR IN REVIEW Sun., December 26 • 6pm; Mon., December 27 • 6pm; Tue., December 28 • 7pm • Historic Theater
End the year with laughter as the Seacoast’s own Juston McKinney performs what have become annual must-see shows at The Music Hall!
THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS NEW
YEAR'S EVE CHAMPAGNE POPS WITH THE PORTSMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Fri., December 31 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Ring in the new year in style with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s cheerful sounds. In this concert filled with celebration and excitement, we’ll usher 2021 out and welcome a fresh start together. EVENING SPONSORS:
Beswick Engineering; Market Square Architects
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ON STAGE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
STAGE DOOR CABARET PRESENTING SPONSOR:
DECEMBER
Photo Credit: Credit: Will Zimmermann
THE STAGE DOOR CABARET RETURNS! Celebrate the holiday season with our elegant Stage Door Cabaret series, featuring world-renowned artists in a speakeasy martini bar atmosphere. With an intimate layout, you can enjoy seating on the Historic Theater’s stage with professional table service.
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR STAGE DOOR CABARET This season of the Stage Door Cabaret series features two specialty seating options: the Opera Box returns, and new this year, lounge seating! • Catch a show in our lounge on comfy couches for 6 people—this unique experience brings together the comfort of home with the classy atmosphere of the Cabaret! • Experience the elegant seating and decor of one of the theater’s bestkept secrets: prime seating for 4 people in an opera box! Reservations include: Beverage service, appetizer plates, and admittance to the Cabaret event of your choice based on availability.
STAGE DOOR CABARET NAT
ZEGREE
Fri., December 10 • 8pm • Historic Theater Having starred in Million Dollar Quartet in the role of Jerry Lee Lewis over 400 times, Nat Zegree brings his high-octane energy and passionate piano-playing to the forefront. 6
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STAGE DOOR CABARET
A SINATRA CHRISTMAS WITH RICH DIMARE Thu., December 9 • 6pm & 8pm • Historic Theater
Join us for a Merry Little Christmas with Rich DiMare, an American jazz singer who specializes in the Frank Sinatra songbook.
STAGE DOOR CABARET SHEMEKIA
COPELAND
Sat., December 11 • 7pm • Historic Theater
Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland is one of the most talented and passionately candid artists, blending blues, R&B, and Americana into a sound that is now hers alone.
ON STAGE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
STAGE DOOR CABARET TWISTED
STAGE DOOR CABARET PRESENTING SPONSOR:
PINE
Sun., December 12 • 8pm • Historic Theater Fans of the Punch Brothers, Béla Fleck, and Lake Street Dive will love Twisted Pine’s jazzy bluegrass, poppy folk, and funky music.
STAGE DOOR CABARET
STAGE DOOR CABARET SHARON
DECEMBER
JONES
Thu., December 16 • 6pm • Historic Theater Portsmouth gem Sharon Jones lights up our historic stage with riffdriven, high-energy R&B and Blues tunes that will have you dancing in your seat!
GREAT BAY PHILHARMONIC STRING QUARTET
STAGE DOOR CABARET HONEYSUCKLE
With their superlative sound, Great Bay Philharmonic’s strings—led by cellist Jacques Lee Wood—bring sparkly, elegant music to life, including festive holiday favorites!
Boston-based Honeysuckle combines older influences and traditional instrumentation with modern effects and inspiration in their awardwinning, progressive folk act.
Fri., December 17 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Sat., December 18 • 8pm • Historic Theater
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CINEMA
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING PRESENTING SPONSOR:
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA BEANS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN SERIES SPONSOR: Sheehan Phinney
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA SPENCER
Wed., November 24 7pm Historic Theater
Sat., November 27 • 3pm & 7pm Historic Theater
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN SUNFLOWERS
Twelve-year-old Beans has to grow up fast to become a tough Mohawk warrior during the 1990 Indigenous uprising, The Oka Crisis.
Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.
In an extraordinary exhibition, the Van Gogh Museum took a new and revealing look at the five publicly-owned versions of Sunflowers.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA BENEDETTA
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
•
•
Tue., November 30 • 7pm • Historic Theater
Fri., December 3 3pm & 7pm Historic Theater
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA LOVE
Special Premiere! A 17th-century nun in Italy suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions.
A successful song-and-dance duo become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save a failing Vermont inn.
Following eight very different couples’ love lives in various interrelated tales, all set the month before Christmas in London.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA THE
•
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) Wed., December 22 • 3pm & 7pm Historic Theater
George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all until his guardian angel intervenes. 8
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Tue., December 21 • 3pm • Historic Theater
Thu., December 23 • 3pm* Historic Theater
ACTUALLY
Tue., December 21 • 7pm • Historic Theater
GRINCH (2018)
Benedict Cumberbatch is the Grinch in the newest animated feature. *Join us for children's storytime with Santa at 2pm!
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA LAST
CHRISTMAS
Thu., December 23 • 7pm • Historic Theater Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, and Emma Thompson star in a romantic comedy inspired by a George Michael beat.
DON'T MISS HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:
JANUARY
INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS: H A M P T O N F O R D
HILARITY DREW
LYNCH
Wed., January 19 • 7pm Historic Theater
Drew Lynch captured the hearts of America with his performance on America’s Got Talent, where he finished in second place. Since, Drew has appeared on Maron and CONAN, and amassed over 2 million subscribers on YouTube.
INTIMATELY YOURS
CITIZEN COPE
Tue., January 25 • 8pm Historic Theater Citizen Cope takes us all on a journey with his unique brand of urban-folk.
H Y U N D A I
INTIMATELY YOURS
PHILLIP PHILLIPS X JON FOREMAN Sat., January 22 • 8pm Historic Theater
From humble beginnings to multi-platinum selling records, Phillip Phillips and Jon Foreman rock the stage in this singersongwriter double-bill. EVENING SPONSORS: Market Square Architects; Whole Life Health Care
INTIMATELY YOURS KEB' Fri., January 28 • 8pm Historic Theater
MO'
This five-time Grammy Award winner draws upon his bottomless roots-music expertise to make deeply expressive, highly personal music. EVENING SPONSORS: Market Square
EVENING SPONSOR: Popzup Popcorn
Architects; Northeast Delta Dental; Petersen Engineering; Popzup Popcorn
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
Make Portwalk Place part of your next Portsmouth experience!
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AT A GLANCE
B2W BOX OFFICE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER: 28 Chestnut Street
LEGEND: At the Historic Theater | Loft | Offsite/Online
NOVEMBER 2021
JANUARY 2022 CONT.
MARCH 2022 CONT.
Rental Partner
Intimately Yours
Opera Connection
Thursday, November 18 Saturday, November 20 • various times
Saturday, January 22 • 8pm
Sunday, March 20 • 11am
Warren Miller's Winter Starts Now
DECEMBER 2021 Intimately Yours
Michael Feinstein: Home for the Holidays Saturday, December 4 • 2pm Innovation + Leadership
Jen Sincero [LIVESTREAM]
Tuesday, December 7 • 7:30pm Stage Door Cabaret
Phillip Phillips x Jon Foreman
Ariadne auf Naxos
Intimately Yours
Met at The Music Hall
Tuesday, January 25 • 8pm
Sunday, March 20 • 12:55pm
Citizen Cope
Intimately Yours
Ariadne auf Naxos (R. Strauss)
Keb' Mo'
Friday, January 28 • 8pm
APRIL 2022
The Met at The Music Hall
Opera Connection
Rigoletto (Verdi)
Saturday, January 29 • 12:55pm
Don Carlos
Sunday, April 3 • 10am Met at The Music Hall
A Sinatra Christmas with Rich DiMare
Thursday, December 9 • 6pm & 8pm
FEBRUARY 2022
Stage Door Cabaret
Intimately Yours
Intimately Yours
Don Carlos (Verdi)
Sunday, April 3 • 12pm
Pink Talking Fish Winter Carnival
Straight No Chaser
Friday, December 10 • 8pm
Saturday, February 5 • 8pm
Monday, April 4 • 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Intimately Yours
Hilarity
Nat Zegree
Pink Talking Fish 4 Kids
Kevin Nealon
Saturday, December 11 • 7pm
Sunday, February 6 • 1pm
Saturday, April 16 • 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
School Days Series
Intimately Yours
Sunday, December 12 • 8pm
Monday, February 7 • 9:30am & 11:30am
Saturday, April 30 • 8pm
Stage Door Cabaret
Intimately Yours
Shemekia Copeland Twisted Pine
Sharon Jones Quartet
Thursday, December 16 • 6pm Stage Door Cabaret
Great Bay Philharmonic String Quartet Friday, December 17 • 8pm Stage Door Cabaret
Honeysuckle
Saturday, December 18 • 8pm The Music Hall presents
Children's Storytime with Santa
Thursday, December 23 • 2pm Hilarity
Juston McKinney: A Year in Review
Warriors Don't Cry
Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band Friday, February 25 • 8pm Rental Partner
Another Tequila Sunrise - Eagles Tribute Saturday, February 26 • 8pm Intimately Yours
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Sunday, February 27 • 4pm
MARCH 2022 Intimately Yours
Sunday, December 26 • 6pm; Monday, December 27 • 6pm; Tuesday, December 28 • 7pm
Aoife O'Donovan
The Music Hall Presents
The Tallest Man on Earth
Friday, December 31 • 8pm
School Days Series
New Year's Eve Champagne Pops
JANUARY 2022 The Met at The Music Hall
Eurydice (Aucoin)
Saturday, January 8 • 12:55pm The Met at The Music Hall
Cinderella (Massenet)
Saturday, January 15 • 12:55pm
Tuesday, March 1 • 7:30pm Intimately Yours
Friday, March 4 • 8pm
MAY 2022 Met at The Music Hall
Turandot (Puccini)
Saturday, May 7 • 12:55pm School Days Series
PSO presents Dan Brown's Wild Symphony Tuesday, May 10 • 10am & 12:30pm Rental Partner
Gordon Lightfoot: 80 Years Strong Tour Wednesday, May 11 • 8pm Opera Connection
Lucia di Lammermoor
Saturday, May 21 • 11am Met at The Music Hall
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Saturday, May 21 • 12:55pm
Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends
Wednesday, March 9 • 9:30am & 11:30am
JUNE 2022
Rental Partner
Rental Partner
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Winter Concert Sunday, March 13 • 3pm School Days Series
The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon
Monday, March 14 • 9:30am & 11:30am
Hilarity
The Music Hall Presents
Wednesday, January 19 • 7pm
Saturday, March 19 • 8pm
Drew Lynch
Angélique Kidjo
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert Sunday, June 5 • 3pm Met at The Music Hall
Hamlet (Dean)
Sunday, June 12 • 12:55pm
The Moth Mainstage
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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 9, ISSUE 8
UPCOMING SHOWS
NAT ZEGREE
December 10
HONEYSUCKLE December 18
JUSTON MCKINNEY
A YEAR IN REVIEW
DECEMBER 2021
12/26-28