NOW MAGAZINE • APRIL/MID-MAY 2022
The Music Hall Presents
DAN BROWN’S WILD SYMPHONY BENEFIT CONCERT 4/2
Hilarity
KEVIN NEALON 4/16
Intimately Yours
DIONNE WARWICK 4/29*
Writers on a New England Stage
AMOR TOWLES 5/10
*ON THE COVER
SEASON SPONSORS
ON SALE NOW
Be the first to know about Just Announced shows! Sign up for enews at TheMusicHall.org
THE OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE AT THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS ELF Holiday 2022 - schedule coming soon!
THE MUSICAL
Back by popular demand! Elf The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan child who thinks he’s one of Santa’s elves. It’s a modern-day Christmas classic for the whole family.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT Members can take an additional 10% off their tickets to the first week of the show. Promotion runs through July 31. Don’t be a cotton-headed ninnymuggins—get your tickets early. • 10% discount for Friend level (save up to $9.90/ticket) • 20% discount for Advocate-Patron (save up to $19.80/ticket) • 30% discount for Backer-Stakeholder (save up to $29.70/ticket) PRESENTING HOLIDAY SPONSOR:
INTIMATELY YOURS
HILARITY
BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN
PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON AND PUDDLES PITY PARTY
Thu., June 9 • 7:30pm Historic Theater
Tue., May 17 • 7pm Historic Theater
Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman create energetic transatlantic folk music.
Two viral sensations and “losers” from America’s Got Talent band together for a hilarious double bill, the Piff and Puddles Misery Loves Company Tour.
FILL THE HALL
Sun., June 26 • 9am-3pm • Historic Theater Our annual collaboration with Gather to fill every seat in the Historic Theater with bags of food for the Meals 4 Kids program, which feeds 700 Seacoast children each week throughout the summer.
HILARITY PAULA
POUNDSTONE
Sat., October 1 • 8pm • Historic Theater
INTIMATELY YOURS COLBIE
Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor, and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend.
The two-time Grammy Award-winning singersongwriter returns to The Music Hall!
RESCHEDULED
RENTAL PARTNERS
INTIMATELY YOURS
SELT PRESENTS WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY Sun., February 26, 2023 • 4pm • Historic Theater
Fri., April 22 • 7pm • Historic Theater
TEDxPORTSMOUTH: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Fri., May 20 • 8am • Historic Theater
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
MAGAZINE
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603.436.2400
DESIGN
Monte Bohanan
Mary Beth Johnson
John Page
Sara Turner
Dan Brown
Wesley Lovell
Tina Sawtelle
Brittany Wason
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS
CAILLAT
Wed., October 19 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater
Kaitlyn Huwe
CURATOR’S CORNER A SparkleJollyTwinkleJingley Announcement! TINA SAWTELLE, Executive Director
Every May, The Music Hall team celebrates you, our members, whose
While the snow is melting to make way for spring bulbs and blooms, I encourage you to hold on to that winter wonder feeling for just a moment longer...because the Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall holiday production is returning this December with the jolly and joyful Elf The Musical! That's right! Everyone's favorite elf and all of his friends are back for this hilarious musical. Don't miss the stunning dance (and ice skating!) Credit: Chris Keeley Photography
Thank You to Our Members!
numbers, whimsical sets, and catchy songs—after all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!
support and generosity anchor the success of our organization in the Seacoast community. You are the reason we are able to welcome artists and musicians, scholars and authors, comedians and actors to the stage week after week. Simply put—we do what we do because of you. We love seeing you at sold-out shows, hearing
The other big news is our smaller venue (formerly known as The Loft) has a new name: The Music
your thoughts at our members-
Hall Lounge! This name better reflects the open and comfortable seating arrangements and the
only Book Club, and catching up at
exciting vibe of the renovated space. Read more about The Lounge and check out the latest layout
Director’s Club events throughout the
rendering on page 15. Stay tuned for updates on TheMusicHall.org/Lounge2022.
year. We are grateful for your steadfast commitment and passion, and we
HERE & NOW
thank you for supporting us.
Visit TheMusicHall.org/Blog for the full interview!
Family Fun with Dan Brown's Wild Symphony! On Saturday, April 2, bestselling author Dan Brown and The Music Hall’s resident orchestra, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (PSO), will join forces to present Brown’s first-ever children’s book, Wild Symphony. PSO’s musical director John Page connected with Dan Brown for this exclusive interview ahead of the benefit event (full interview on our blog!).
Photo Credit: David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com
JOHN PAGE: What can people expect to see on stage from the performance?
Not a Member Yet?
DAN BROWN: Animals, music, playful
Hall’s success, and we would love for
poetry and colorful illustrations—plenty
you to join us. If you are not a member
of fun awaits! The Portsmouth Symphony
or you let your membership lapse,
Orchestra will perform the music of Wild
now is a perfect time to join (or rejoin)
Symphony—a series of short pieces that
the family. Not only do you receive
each depict a different animal—and I
our eternal gratitude for becoming a
will read the accompanying poems with
member, but also there are other great
them on stage. I hope to see this show
benefits to being a part of this fantastic
as a way to share my own love of music
group. You can learn more about our
and reading, and also help ignite the
membership levels and the associated
imaginations of children in the audience.
benefits by visiting us online or calling
JP: Tell us a bit more about the benefit aspect to this performance and why you are supporting The Music Hall and Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra?
Membership is vital to The Music
our Ticket and Member Services team. As we look toward the future, we
DB: The pandemic has impacted not only arts and culture but also education. The chance to
invite you to join today and be an
share Wild Symphony here in my own community feels like a wonderful opportunity to get back
active part of The Music Hall’s next
to the wonderful joy of art, culture, and learning. I have close ties to The Music Hall and count
exhilarating chapter.
myself very lucky to live in a town that attracts such world-class entertainment. And of course, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic organization, and I’m very excited to hear them play Wild Symphony.
JOIN OR UPGRADE TODAY! TheMusicHall.org/Membership TheMusicHall.org
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ON STAGE THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS MEDIA PARTNER:
THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS DAN
BROWN’S WILD SYMPHONY BENEFIT CONCERT
Sat., April 2 • 2pm • Historic Theater
Dan Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author, has a new credential on his already-singular resume: composer of the orchestral music from Wild Symphony, his new illustrated children’s book. The book features twenty-one musical portraits drawn from the animal kingdom. From the joyous rhythms of “Bouncing Kangaroo” to the mysterious melodies of “Wondrous Whale” to the hair-raising harmonies of “Brilliant Bat,” Wild Symphony is a very wild symphony indeed. The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will join Dan Brown on our stage to perform this classical debut for the young at heart. Proceeds benefit Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra and The Music Hall. 4
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ON STAGE INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
H A M P T O N F O R D
H Y U N D A I
INTIMATELY YOURS STRAIGHT
NO CHASER
Mon., April 4 • 8pm • Historic Theater
Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music, having built a reputation as an unforgettable live act. EVENING SPONSORS:
AC Hotel Marriott; BANKW Staffing, LLC; Leone, McDonnell and Roberts, PA
THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS NEW
HAMPSHIRE THEATRE PROJECT’S 6TH ANNUAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Fri., April 8 • 8pm • Historic Theater
New Hampshire Theatre Project’s 6th Annual Storytelling Festival will once again take place at The Music Hall. Featured performers include Anne Jennison, Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti, and Megan Wells. Music will be provided by Ben Baldwin and Kent Allyn. This year’s Festival will focus on traditions and lessons from the past, woven around NHTP’s season theme of Are We There Yet? TheMusicHall.org
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ON STAGE THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS MEDIA PARTNER:
INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS: H A M P T O N F O R D
H Y U N D A I
THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS
RANDY ARMSTRONG AND VOLKER NAHRMANN: BEYOND BORDERS
Sat., April 9 • 8pm • Historic Theater Fusion pioneers Randy Armstrong and Volker Nahrmann bring their electrifying blend of jazz and world music traditions to The Music Hall for a captivating evening of global music.
INTIMATELY YOURS CLUB
FT. JOHN MEDESKI
D'ELF
WITH SPECIAL GUEST: VAPORS OF MORPHINE Sun., April 10 • 7:30pm Historic Theater
Moroccan trance influences combine with a wide spectrum of styles, including jazz, hip hop, electronica, avant garde, prog-rock, and dub, in Club d’Elf’s music. EVENING SPONSOR: oHive
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ON STAGE INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
H A M P T O N F O R D
THE MUSIC HALL PRESENTS MEDIA PARTNER:
H Y U N D A I
INTIMATELY YOURS
AN EVENING WITH COWBOY JUNKIES Tue., April 12 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater
Cowboy Junkies pull the rich tradition of country, folk, and blues from the earth, and make it their own by running it through an achingly heartbeat-paced psychedelia. EVENING SPONSORS: Carpe Diem Coffee Roasting Co; Office Resources, Inc.
INTIMATELY YOURS TODD
SNIDER
Wed., April 13 • 7pm • Historic Theater Touring behind his latest release, First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder, Snider is a storyteller who works in a similar creative soil to John Prine and Shel Silverstein. TheMusicHall.org
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ON STAGE
HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:
HILARITY KEVIN
NEALON
Sat., April 16 • 8pm • Historic Theater Best known for his time on SNL and for his role on Weeds, Kevin Nealon sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit, and likable demeanor. EVENING SPONSORS:
The Friendly Toast; Prime Buchholz & Associates, Inc.
HILARITY HARI
KONDABOLU AT 3S ARTSPACE
Sat., April 23 • 8pm • 3S Artspace Hari Kondabolu is a Brooklyn-based comedian, writer, and podcaster. The NY Times called him “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today” and his 2018 Netflix special Warn Your Relatives was named on many “Best of” lists, including Time, Paste Magazine, Cosmopolitan, E! Online, and Mashable.
About 3S Artspace
Through the unique lens of contemporary arts experiences, 3S Artspace invites divergent perspectives and encourages lively discourse centered around issues of today. Located at 319 Vaughan Street, a short walk from The Music Hall. 8
603.436.2400
ON STAGE INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
H A M P T O N F O R D
H Y U N D A I
INTIMATELY YOURS
NEKO CASE
Thu., April 28 • 7:30pm Historic Theater Bending decades of pop music into new shapes, New England-based singersongwriter Neko Case wields her voice like a kiss and her metaphors like a baseball bat.
INTIMATELY YOURS
DIONNE WARWICK
Fri., April 29 • 8pm • Historic Theater Dionne Warwick is a six-time Grammy Award-winning music legend who has recorded more than 75 charted hit songs and sold over 100 million records.
EVENING SPONSORS: Leone, McDonnell and Roberts, PA; Piscataqua Savings Bank; Whole Life Health Care
TheMusicHall.org
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ON STAGE
INTIMATELY YOURS SERIES SPONSORS:
H A M P T O N F O R D
H Y U N D A I
HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:
INTIMATELY YOURS
AN EVENING WITH ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO
Sat., April 30 • 8pm • Historic Theater Four-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force delivering high-energy, rousing live performances around the globe. EVENING SPONSOR: Petersen Engineering
HILARITY JIMMY
TINGLE LIVE!
Sat., May 7 • 8pm • Historic Theater Jimmy Tingle weaves the good, the bad, and the ugly of the pandemic with the humor, hope, and humanity the world so desperately needs in 2022. 10
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ON STAGE SCHOOL DAYS SERIES SPONSOR:
SCHOOL DAYS SERIES PSO
GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: D.F. Richard; Demoulas Foundation; The Fabulous Find; The French Foundation
WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
MEDIA PARTNER:
SERIES SPONSOR:
PRESENTS DAN BROWN’S WILD SYMPHONY
Tue., May 10 • 10am & 12:30pm • Historic Theater
Meet Maestro Mouse and learn about the symphony orchestra! The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra presents an abbreviated version of Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony, a whimsical adventure for children about the orchestra and its musical instruments. Animated episodes from the book will be projected on the screen during the performance and excerpts from the book will be read during the concert.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL DAYS SERIES Top-caliber affordable (only $7!) shows that entertain children from 80 Seacoast Pre-K to Middle School groups, homeschoolers, and families. Any group is welcome.
WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE AMOR Tue., May 10 • 7pm • Historic Theater
TOWLES
Join us in person as the bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction returns with a propulsive novel set in 1950s America—now a #1 New York Times bestseller! TheMusicHall.org
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CINEMA
Schedule subject to change. Check TheMusicHall.org for updates.
MET AT THE MUSIC HALL SERIES SPONSOR: RiverWoods Exeter
THE MET AT THE MUSIC HALL
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
Sun., April 3 • 12pm
Wed., April 6 • 7pm
DON CARLOS (VERDI)
For the first time in company history, the Met presents the original five-act French version of Verdi’s epic opera of doomed love among royalty, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition.
Filmed live at the Barbican in London, this major new 5-star production of the classic musical comedy features an all-star cast led by renowned Broadway royalty Sutton Foster.
NATIONAL THEATRE OF LONDON HD BROADCAST
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
THE BOOK OF DUST Thu., April 7 7pm •
Eighteen years after his groundbreaking production of His Dark Materials at the National Theatre, director Nicholas Hytner returns to Phillip Pullman’s parallel universe. Recorded live from London’s Bridge Theatre.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
THE TORCH
Sat., April 23 • 7pm Guitar icon Buddy Guy reflects on his legacy and the blues lessons he received from legends Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf.
Fri., April 15 • 7pm A young boy and his working-class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960s. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, and starring Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, and Judi Dench.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION: THE PURPLE RAIN TOUR Wed., May 4 • 7pm & Thu., May 5 • 7pm
Widely regarded as one of Prince’s finest shows, the iconic two-hour concert includes cinema-exclusive content.
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA
Sat., May 7 • 12:55pm
Sun., May 8 • 3pm
Tenor Yonghoon Lee is the bold prince determined to win Turandot’s love, alongside soprano Ermonela Jaho as the devoted servant Liù and legendary bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as the blind king Timur. 603.436.2400
BELFAST
THE MET AT THE MUSIC HALL
TURANDOT (PUCCINI)
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ANYTHING GOES
SABRINA (1954)
A Mother’s Day special, hosted by Jeannie MacDonald! Starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT Engaging with Authors, with Thanks to Our Sponsors Music is in our name, but The Music Hall is your place for a diverse array of experiences. Fans of the written word, for example, flock to The Music Hall for literary exposure and inspiration. We welcome bestselling authors from around the globe through our celebrated Writers on a New England Stage series, which we host in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio and with the support of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service. Noted scientists and thought-leaders grace our stages for stimulating Innovation + Leadership events, thanks to our sponsors Atlantic Orthopaedics NHPR'S Peter Biello interviews Erik Larson, February 2022 Credit: Sydney Bilodeau Photography | SydneyBPhoto.com
& Sports Medicine and Bangor Savings Bank. Our Book Club gathers at Portwalk Place on a monthly
basis to chew through award-winning works under the leadership of a skilled moderator and with the support of sponsor Sheehan Phinney. We love books. We love authors. And as we mentioned in the Membership article, we love you, our members. We encourage you to join us at an upcoming literary event, participate in an insightful Q&A with an author, or attend our Book Club. Check our calendar to plan your schedule for this spring and beyond!
UPCOMING MEMBER EVENTS BOOK CLUB
Portwalk Place, Portsmouth
THE SPARROW
by Mary Doria Russell moderated by Dana Clinton Mon., 4/11 • 6pm
POINT OF GRAVES
by J. Dennis Robinson moderated by Ashleigh Tucker Pollock & J. Dennis Robinson Mon., 5/9 • 6pm
THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles Mon., 6/13 • 6pm
For more info, contact Wesley Lovell at WLovell@themusichall.org BOOK CLUB SPONSOR: Sheehan Phinney
PORTWALK PLACE
Make Portwalk Place part of your next Portsmouth experience!
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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603.436.2400
AT A GLANCE
LEGEND: At the Historic Theater | Offsite/Online Schedule subject to change. Check TheMusicHall.org for updates.
B2W BOX OFFICE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER: 28 Chestnut Street
APRIL 2022
APRIL 2022 CONT...
MAY 2022 CONT...
The Music Hall Presents
Hilarity
Extraordinary Cinema
Saturday, April 2 • 2pm
Saturday, April 16 • 8pm
Sunday, May 8 • 3pm
Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony Benefit Concert
Kevin Nealon
Sabrina (1954)
Met at The Music Hall
Rental Partner
School Days Series
Sunday, April 3 • 12pm
Friday, April 22 • 7pm
Tuesday, May 10 • 10am & 12:30pm
Don Carlos (Verdi)
SELT presents Wild & Scenic Film Festival
PSO presents Dan Brown's Wild Symphony
Intimately Yours
Extraordinary Cinema
Writers on a New England Stage
Monday, April 4 • 8pm
Saturday, April 23 • 7pm
Tuesday, May 10 • 7pm
Straight No Chaser
The Torch
Amor Towles
Extraordinary Cinema
Hilarity
Rental Partner
Wednesday, April 6 • 7pm
Saturday, April 23 • 8pm • 3S Artspace
Wednesday, May 11 • 8pm
Anything Goes
Hari Kondabolu at 3S Artspace
Gordon Lightfoot: 80 Years Strong Tour
National Theatre of London HD Broadcast
Intimately Yours
Hilarity
Thursday, April 7 • 7pm
Thursday, April 28 • 7:30pm
Tuesday, May 17 • 7pm
The Book of Dust
Neko Case
Piff the Magic Dragon and Puddles Pity Party
The Music Hall Presents
Intimately Yours
Rental Partner
Friday, April 8 • 8pm
Friday, April 29 • 8pm
Friday, May 20 • 8am
NHTP’s 6th Annual Storytelling Festival The Music Hall Presents
Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann: Beyond Borders Saturday, April 9 • 8pm
Dionne Warwick
TEDxPortsmouth: Hidden in Plain Sight
Intimately Yours
Met at The Music Hall
Saturday, April 30 • 8pm
Saturday, May 21 • 12:55pm
An Evening with Angélique Kidjo
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)
MAY 2022
JUNE 2022
Extraordinary Cinema
Rental Partner
Tuesday, April 12 • 7:30pm
Wednesday, May 4 • 7pm & Thursday, May 5 • 7pm
Sunday, June 5 • 3pm
Intimately Yours
Met at The Music Hall
Bonny Light Horseman
Intimately Yours
Club d'Elf ft. John Medeski
Sunday, April 10 • 7:30pm Intimately Yours
An Evening with Cowboy Junkies Todd Snider
Wednesday, April 13 • 7pm Extraordinary Cinema
Belfast
Friday, April 15 • 7pm
Prince & the Revolution: The Purple Rain Tour
Turandot (Puccini)
Saturday, May 7 • 12:55pm Hilarity
Jimmy Tingle Live!
Saturday, May 7 • 8pm
Ports. Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert Intimately Yours
Thursday, June 9 • 7:30pm Met at The Music Hall
Hamlet (Dean)
Sunday, June 12 • 12:55pm
Fill The Hall
Sunday, June 26 • 9am-3pm
Meet The Music Hall Lounge! Our smaller venue (formerly known as The Loft) has a new name: The Music Hall Lounge! This name better reflects the more open, comfortable seating arrangements and the exciting vibe of the renovated space. The Lounge will present musicians, comedians, authors, and panelists in a gorgeous and intimate setting. With construction well underway and the grand reopening scheduled for July, we're eager to share the line-up with you soon. Stay tuned for sneak peeks, the latest construction updates, and new features at TheMusicHall.org/Lounge2022 and on our social media! 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 10, ISSUE 3
UPCOMING SHOWS
KEVIN NEALON April 16
JIMMY TINGLE LIVE! May 7
NEKO CASE APRIL/MID-MAY 2022
4/28