December 2021 Magazine

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.

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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

TheMusicHall.org

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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.

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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

TheMusicHall.org

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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.

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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

TheMusicHall.org

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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