October 2014 NOW

NOW The Music Hall’s Monthly Magazine

George Benson THE LEGENDARY JAZZ AND R&B SENSATION

Plus!

SECOND CITY

55TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR COMEDIAN RON WHITE RETURNS WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE:

E.O. WILSON

THE DISTRICT RESTAURANT SINGER SONGWRITER SERIES JUST ANNOUNCED!

PAULA POUNDSTONE SEASON SPONSORS

October 2014

NEW SHOWS ON SALE!

This month, our “First Saturday” on sale event for members is Saturday, October 4. The following NEW shows go on sale to members at 10am for walk-up, at noon for phone and internet sales. Get your tickets and enjoy refreshments! Tickets on sale to non-members Sat., Oct. 18 at noon. To become a member, call (603) 766-2176 or email Lsaniuk@themusichall.org.

National Theater Live HD Broadcast

Hilarity @ The Music Hall

PAULA POUNDSTONE

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Fri., March 6 • 8pm • Historic Theater • $38; $24 Every show is unique! Known for her honesty and an off-kilter view of the world, Paula’s ability to create humor on the spot is legendary.

Whether she’s talking about politics or being a single working mom, her quirky observations have earned her the reputation of being one of the best comics working today!

The Distric Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

GLEN DAVID ANDREWS

Sun., Nov. 9 • 7pm • Loft • $30 This singer, trombonist, and New Orleans Jazz Fest regular is music royalty. He makes his Loft debut with his amazing 5-piece band.

Community Partner: Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra $25; $22 senior; $12 student • GA • Historic Theater Nov. 9 • 2pm lecture; 3pm performance: Sibelius - Finlandia; Rodrigo - Concierto de aranjuez with guitarist Jose Lezcano; Brahms - Symphony No. 2 Dec. 2 • 7:30pm & Dec. 3 • 7:30pm: Family Holiday Pops Mar. 15 • 2pm lecture; 3pm performance: Gershwin - An American in Paris; Debussy - The Sunken Cathedral; Ravel - La Valse; Mussorgsky/Ravel - Pictures at an Exhibition May 31 • 2pm lecture; 3pm performance: Holst - Mars, Venus, Jupiter from the Planets; Williams - Star Wars suite; Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel; Concerto Comp winner

Sun., Oct. 12 • 4pm • Loft • $27.50 Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece.

With Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) as Blanche, Ben Foster (Kill Your Darlings) as Stanley and Vanessa Kirby (BBC’s Great Expectations) as Stella.

The Distric Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

The Distric Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND

SINKANE

Sat., Feb. 21 • 8pm • Loft • $16 Signature Afrobeat grooves mix with earthy R&B, along with doo-wop harmonies, and a little country-music slide guitar.

Sat., Jan. 24 • 8pm • Loft • $10 Celebrating four talented songwriters: Guy Capecelatro III (guest curator), Mary Lou Lord, Mark Schwaber, and Drew O’Doherty.

Community Partner: Kent Stephens’ STAGE FORCE Presents The Play Reading Series Mon., Oct. 6 • 7:30pm • Loft • $12 Top professional actors read contemporary plays as the acclaimed series continues with Freud’s Last Session by Mark St. Germain.

Rental Partner: Gary Grant Talent Associates presents Rob Bartlett’s Holiday Extravaganza Sat., Nov. 29 • 8pm • Historic Theater • $45-$30 Bartlett’s Christmas Show features his hilarious take on the holidays along with all his famous characters from Imus in the Morning.

Community Partner: Great Bay Academy of Dance presents An 1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker Full-length: $44; $37 • Nutshell: $33; $28 Sat., Dec 20: 10am Nutshell • 2pm full-length • 7pm full-length Sun., Dec. 21: 11:30am Nutshell • 2:30pm full-length Now in its 27th year, this favorite holiday pastime enchants with the story of young Clara Goodwin and her Nutcracker Prince.

Community Partner: Back Alley Productions, SASS & A Safe Place presents V-Day Portsmouth 2015 The Vagina Monologues Sat., Feb. 21 • 8pm • $45-$30 • Historic Theater A benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s groundbreaking show, with proceeds going to SASS, A Safe Place, and V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls.

ON SALE NOW! DECEMBER 10 - 14 HISTORIC THEATER Tickets start at $42; at $30 for age 18 & under

THE OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE at THE MUSIC HALL presents:

Don’t miss the Disney spectacular!

One week only — make your high-flying holiday plans today before tickets sell out! “...a very entertaining mix of Disney sugar and author P. L. Travers salt. There’s enough whimsy for children and substance for adults...in the most delightful way.”— BroadwayWorld.com SERIES SPONSORS: EVENING SPONSORS: Northeast Delta Dental; Regency Mortgage; Secure Planning, Inc.

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MEDIA PARTNERS: The Hippo

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LIVE ON STAGE OCT Great ll seats sti ! le availab

g Returnin ny Compa

GEORGE BENSON

(from the cover)

Sun., October 26 • 7pm • Historic Theater • $95; $60

SECOND CITY — 55TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Fri., October 3 • 8pm • Historic Theater • $32; $26 Performing classic sketches made famous by names such as Belushi, Colbert, Fey, Carell and Radner — along with satire stripped from today’s headlines and on-the-spot improvisation.

After redefining the world of jazz with the first platinum jazz album in 1976, Benson went on to win 10 Grammy Awards and enjoy tremendous crossover success—from jazz to pop and instrumental innovator to vocal sensation.

Don’t miss this music icon!

6pm in the Loft

SERIES SPONSORS:

SERIES SPONSORS:

EVENING SPONSORS: D. F. Richard Energy; J. Hilburn Men’s Custom Shirts & Apparel; Prime, Buchholz & Associates, Inc.; New Hampshire Public Radio

EVENING SPONSORS:

SIS Bank; PARMA Recordings; Wells Fargo Advisors; Clear Eye Photo

See page 9

r’s for our curato ith w w ie rv te in Brett!

BRETT DENNEN PRESENTS WATER COLORS, RON WHITE

Sun., October 5 • 7pm • Historic Theater • $177 (VIP); $78; $65

Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White, best known as the cigar smoking, scotch drinking funnyman from the “Blue Collar Comedy” phenomenon returns to The Music Hall stage!

A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC EVENING Wed., October 22 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater • $25

You can hear the folk and acoustic influences in the mellow, melodic music of this Northern California native’s latest album, Smoke and Mirrors.

SERIES SPONSORS:

SERIES SPONSORS: EVENING Regency Mortgage; SPONSORS: Carpe Diem Coffee Roasting Co. Like us on Facebook & follow us Twitter!

EVENING SPONSORS:

Blue Mermaid Island Grill; Clear Eye Photo TheMusicHall.org

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LIVE ON STAGE OCT SEAN HAYES

Thurs., Oct. 9 7:30pm • Loft • $18 Warm, resonant soul and dirt-road folk, laced with a wandering troubadour’s coo.

Writers on a new england stage.

CARLENE CARTER

Fri., Oct. 10 • 8pm Loft • $30 advance; $34 day of Daughter of country superstar Carl Smith & June Carter Cash.

Presented by The Music Hall & NH Public Radio

An extraordinary opportunity to see one of the greatest thinkers of our time.

E. O. WILSON

DARLINGSIDE

Tue., October 14 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater • $13.25 Book: The Meaning of Existence. Purchase a voucher in advance ($24)

Fri., October 24 8pm • Loft • $18 Boston based quartet features bluegrass, classical, and even barbershop.

to ensure you get a signed hardcover book on the night.

The Pulitzer Prize winner and Harvard professor emeritus visits with his new work examining the future of our human species and how advances in science and technology bring us great moral dilemmas. Don’t miss hearing from this best-loved author of The Social Conquest of Earth and co-author of On Human Nature at the height of his powers — the renowned naturalist and humanist E.O. Wilson.

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER Sat., Oct. 25 • 8pm Loft • $15 Refreshing, modern day, indie rock with pop sensibilities.

&

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

MEDIA SPONSOR:

SERIES SPONSORS:

Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service; Calypso Communications

N E W

EVENING SPONSORS: RKM Research and Communications; Seacoast Area Libraries

E N G L A N D ’ S

M A G A Z I N E

SERIES SPONSOR:

Please use the Yankee logo and tagline as shown above based on listed size. If you have any questions about how to use or resize the logo and tagline, please contact Heather Atwell at 603-563-8111. heathera@yankeepub.com.

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Feb. 2008

MEET & GREET BOOK SIGNING WITH

POET BILLY COLLINS

Tuesday, October 21 • 7pm • Loft His evening event is sold out, but you can still meet this celebrated poet and get a signed copy of his latest collection, Aimless Love. Join us for this pre-event meet & greet from 5pm - 6pm for only the cost of the book itself!

SERIES SPONSOR:

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MEDIA PARTNERS: Live Free Photography – [Liv] Frame Print; WOKQ & The Shark

Sold out!

BRANDI CARLILE

Wed., Oct. 1 • 7:30pm • Historic Theater SERIES SPONSORS:

EVENING SPONSORS: Carpe Diem Coffee Roasting Co.; Clear Eye Photo Get more with e-news - new shows, special deals, and updates!

ON SCREEN OCT extraordinary cinema

BOYHOOD R • 165min • USA 10/7, 10/8, 10/9 @ 7pm Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s latest film is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, the film charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before.

“A film that dares to honor small moments and the life they add up to” — WASHINGTON POST K2 SIREN OF THE HIMALAYAS NR • 75min • USA 10/10, 10/11 @ 7pm For every four people who have reached the summit of K2, one person has died trying. This breathtaking film follows an attempt to summit on the 100-year anniversary of the Duke of Abruzzi’s landmark 1909 K2 expedition. World-class alpinists Fabrizio Zangrilli and Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner team up with veteran climbers Jake Meyer and Chris Szymiec in a dangerous foray of high altitude mountaineering.

“The film gets in close and captures the sound of piercing winds at high altitude.” — NEW YORK TIMES MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT PG13 • 97min • USA 10/25, 10/28, 10/30 @ 7pm In the latest from Woody Allen, Chinese conjuror Wei Ling Soo is the most celebrated magician of his age, but few know that he is the stage persona of Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), a grouchy and arrogant Englishman with an aversion to phony spiritualists’ claims. Stanley goes on a mission to the mansion of the Catledge family in order to debunk the alluring young clairvoyant Sophie Baker (Emma Stone) who is staying there with her mother (Marcia Gay Harden).

“Ms. Stone is entrancing...and so is the movie as a whole.” — WALL STREET JOURNAL

extraordinary cinema

THE TRIP TO ITALY

NR • 107min • UK 10/1, 10/2 @ 7pm Michael Winterbottom’s largely improvised 2010 film, The Trip, took comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon-or semifictionalized versions thereof-on a restaurant tour around northern England. In this witty and incisive follow-up, Winterbottom reunites the pair for a new culinary road trip, retracing the steps of the Romantic poets’ grand tour of Italy and indulging in some sparkling banter and impersonation-offs.

MY OLD LADY

PG13 • 107min • US 10/3, 10/4, 10/7, 10/8 @ 7pm Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) is a down-on-his-luck New Yorker who inherits a Parisian apartment from his estranged father. But when he arrives in France to sell the vast domicile, he’s shocked to discover live-in tenants (Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas, who plays Smith’s daughter) who are not prepared to budge. And it gets worse...

FRANK

R • 95min • UK 10/11, 10/14 @ 7pm Acclaimed Irish director Lenny Abrahamson’s offbeat comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), who finds himself out of his depth when he joins an avant-garde pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender), a musical genius who hides himself inside a large fake head, and his terrifying bandmate Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

FINDING FELA

NR • 119min • USA 10/22, 10/23 @ 7pm The latest doc from Oscar-winner Alex Gibney tells the story of Fela Kuti’s life, his music, and his social and political importance. This in-depth look at the man who created Afrobeat brings audiences close to Mr. Kuti’s fight against the dictatorial Nigerian government of the ‘70s and ‘80s. With his audacious music and a great deal of courage, Fela Kuti helped bring change in Nigeria and became a global inspiration.

THE ONE I LOVE

R • 91min • USA 10/29, 10/30 @ 7pm The highly anticipated debut feature from acclaimed author Charlie McDowell. On the brink of separation, Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss) escape to a beautiful vacation house for a weekend getaway in an attempt to save their marriage. What begins as a romantic and fun retreat soon becomes surreal, when an unexpected discovery forces the two to examine themselves, their relationship, and their future.

FILM EVENT KEY: @ HISTORIC THEATER @ MUSIC HALL LOFT

See Calendar on page 6 for Show & Tell Discussions

TheMusicHall.org

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ON SCREEN OCT

NOSFERATU

MORE THAN HONEY

NR • 81min • Germany

NR • 91min • Switzerland

10/29 @ 7pm • Historic Theater

10/2 @ 7pm • Historic Theater

This documentary by Marcus Imhoof looks at the fascinating world of bees and the relationship between humans and honeybees. Post-film panel discussion features local bee experts.

AMERICAN BEAR

NR • 90min • USA

10/23 @ 7pm • Historic Theater

Sarah and Greg set out to explore American culture, compassion, and fear by relying on the kindness of strangers for a home each night as they travel through 30 states in 60 days. In affiliation with New Heights Adventures for Teens. Q&A with the filmmakers (Sarah and Greg) follows film.

FILM MATTERS SERIES SPONSORS: Allergy Associates of New Hampshire; Rudi’s Portsmouth; SoldatiPR; NH Gazette

WILDCARD SERIES SPONSORS: Cocked Hat Ventures, LLC; RAM Printing

the met @ the music hall

HD BROADCAST:

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Sun., Oct. 12 @ 4pm • Loft $27.50; $15 for 18 & under Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire is the fastest-selling production in the Young Vic’s history. With Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) as Blanche DuBois, Ben Foster (Kill Your Darlings) as Stanley and Vanessa Kirby (BBC’s Great Expectations) as Stella.

NT LIVE SERIES SPONSOR: New Hampshire Public Television

The silent German Expressionist masterwork by F.W. Murnau starring Max Schreck. An unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Stoker’s heirs won a court battle and all copies of Murnau’s film were ordered destroyed. One copy survived in exile in America, however, and the film lived on to influence generations of filmmakers. Presented with an original live score performed live by Boston ‘Steam-Crunk’ ensemble and RPM Challenge favorites, Walter Sickert & the Army of BRoken TOys. Presented in affiliation with, and as a fundraiser for, the Portsmouth Halloween Parade.

the met @ the music hall

HD BROADCAST: MACBETH (VERDI)

Sat., Oct. 11 @ 1pm • Historic Theater $27.50; $15 for 18 & under

Star soprano Anna Netrebko delivers her searing portrayal of Lady Macbeth, the mad and murderous mate of Željko Lučić’s doomed Macbeth in Adrian Noble’s chilling production of Verdi’s masterful adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

Opera Connection at 11:30am in the Loft with opera expert Dennis Neil Kleinman!

HD BROADCAST:

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (MOZART) Sat., Oct. 25 @ 12pm • Historic Theater $27.50; $15 for 18 & under Met Music Director James Levine conducts a spirited new production of Mozart’s masterpiece, directed by Richard Eyre, who sets the action of this classic domestic comedy in a 19th-century manor house in Seville, but during the gilded age of the late 1920s.

See page 9 for our interview with Dennis.

EXPLORE + LEARN

org/blog TheMusicHall. r more on

School Days Series: Live Theater for our Littlest Patrons!

See our blog fo ries!

School Days Se

We’re thrilled about the upcoming lineup for School Day Series, one of The Music Hall’s longest-running programs under our Explore + Learn banner. For the past 20 years, SDS has brought live theater to our littlest patrons, typically Pre-K to Middle School children from the greater Seacoast community. “In many cases, seeing an SDS show is a young person’s first exposure to live theater,” says Programming Coordinator Chris Curtis. “They may be familiar with television, but few have had the chance to see stories performed on stage, particularly something geared to their age group that is musical and colorful. This really is a magical experience for them.” While school groups are welcomed, shows are also open to everyone. “No reservation—or attendee—is too small,” says Curtis. For reservations, contact Kate Mitchell at the SDS Box Office; 603-433-3100 x 4013.

SERIES SPONSORS: Bank of America; Cogswell Benevolent Trust; The French Foundation; Kohl’s; Market Basket; New England Audio Tech LLC; Target 5

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MEMBERS, SPONSORS & MORE! Martingale Wharf & The Rosa Sponsoring Intimately Yours

Colbie Caillat Backstage Meet & Greet!

Photo: Jasmin Hunter Photography​

Martingale Wharf and The Rosa have come on as a sponsor of our Intimately Yours series for The Music Hall’s 2014-2015 season.

Martingale Wharf, a picturesque waterfront dining experience, and The Rosa, a family-style Italian restaurant, are both staples in downtown Portsmouth. They offer unique dining experiences and do not disappoint with their diverse menu offerings. With their support we are able to have incredible artists coming to The Music Hall in our Intimately Yours series such as Brandi Carlile, The Mavericks, and Renée Fleming.

Joe Baroni, owner of both restaurants and a great supporter of The Music Hall, truly values what we bring to Portsmouth. “There is something for everyone at The Music Hall. What makes a city desirable to work and live in is the community. If Portsmouth didn’t have The Music Hall, it would be a very different place.”

Thank you to Martingale Wharf and The Rosa for your support of this series — you help make the show go on.

For sponsorship information, contact Pete Squires at psquires@themusichall.org or (603) 766-2179.

Local students Elsa Chinburg and Noa Siegel had the opportunity to meet Colbie Caillat before her show at The Music Hall on September 1! To stay in the know about all upcoming shows, sign up for e-news at TheMusicHall.org.

6:30pm-8pm at the loft

VIP Lounge

the loft will be transformed into a prohibition-era speakeasy with live music, amazing food, and complimentary beverages!

7:30pm – 11pm at the historic theater

The Gala MAIN EVENT

food stations hosted by local restaurants • live band dancing on stage • festive cocktail attire starting november 1

a benefit for the music hall The Music Hall is thrilled to announce that The University of New Hampshire Catering Services has signed on as our 2014-2015 Hospitality Sponsor. Music Hall patrons will have the chance to enjoy UNH Catering’s incredible offerings at our annual Gala fundraiser on November 15th, where UNH Catering will once again provide preevent food for VIP ticket-holders at the Loft. We can’t wait to see their vision come to life, including impressive ice sculptures and unique, playful menu items. The University of New Hampshire Catering Services promises amazing food and surprises for our VIP Gala guests.

HOSPITALITY SPONSOR: Like us on Facebook & follow us Twitter!

SPONSOR:

Online PRE-AUCTION

online auction opens November 1 - trips, sports tickets, art & more! place your bids at: www.biddingforgood.com/themusichallgala

Tickets:

vip lounge: $200 each or $150 each for members at the supporter level and above (VIP Tickets include admission to the Loft and Historic Theater Main Event)

the gala main event: $85 each or $75 for members at any level tickets available at the box office: 28 chestnut street (603) 436-2400 • online at www.themusichall.org TheMusicHall.org

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OCT @ THE MUSIC HALL

ORG THEMUSICHALL.deos,

t vi Check out artis d more! an , rs ile tra movie

Fall at the Hall — don’t miss this month’s line-up of concerts, films & authors!

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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Extraordinary Cinema The Trip to Italy 7pm

No Film Tonight

Intimately Yours Brandi Carlile (Sold Out) 7:30pm

Film Matters More Than Honey 7pm

Hilarity @ The Music Hall: Second City: 55th Anniversary Tour 8pm

Extraordinary Cinema The Trip to Italy 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema The Trip to Italy 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema My Old Lady 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema The Trip to Italy 7pm

Box Office opens at 10am for member walk-up...

Rental Partner Will Todd: Mass in Blue 7pm Extraordinary Cinema My Old Lady 7pm

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Hilarity @ The Music Hall: Ron White 7pm

Community Partner Kent Stephens’ STAGE FORCE Presents: The Play Reading Series 7:30pm

Extraordinary Cinema Boyhood 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema Boyhood 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema Boyhood 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema K2: Siren of the Himalayas 7pm

The Met @ The Music Hall: Macbeth 1pm

Extraordinary Cinema My Old Lady 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema My Old Lady 7pm

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series: Sean Hayes 7:30pm

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series: Carlene Carter 8pm

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Writers on a New England Stage: E.O. Wilson 7:30pm

Rental Partner Mountain Hardwear Presents: Days of My Youth 8pm

Community Partner New Hampshire Film Festival See nhfilmfestival.com for schedule

Community Partner New Hampshire Film Festival See nhfilmfestival.com for schedule

Community Partner New Hampshire Film Festival See nhfilmfestival.com for schedule

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Rental Partner Dave Rasmussen Presents: Jazz Reunion 3pm

No Film Tonight

Extraordinary Cinema Frank 7pm

National Theater of London HD Broadcast A Streetcar Named Desire 4pm

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Community Partner New Hampshire Film Festival See nhfilmfestival.com for schedule

No Film Tonight

School Days Series John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean 9:30am & 11:30am

Intimately Yours Brett Dennen 7:30pm

Film Matters American Bear 7pm

Rental Partner Comics for K-9s 7:30pm

Writers in the Loft: Billy Collins 7pm (Sold Out); 5pm book signing still available

Extraordinary Cinema Finding Fela 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema Finding Fela 7pm

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series: Darlingside 8pm

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Intimately Yours George Benson 7pm

No Film Tonight

Extraordinary Cinema Magic in the Moonlight 7pm

Wildcard Movie Nosferatu 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema Magic in the Moonlight 7pm

Film TBD

Extraordinary Cinema The One I Love 7pm

Extraordinary Cinema The One I Love 7pm

EVENT KEY:

@ 6pm in the Loft

@ HISTORIC THEATER @ MUSIC HALL LOFT

Box Office/Historic Theater: 28 Chestnut Street The Loft: 131 Congress Street

Opera Connection 11:30m

Extraordinary Cinema K2: Siren of the Himalayas 7pm Extraordinary Cinema Frank 7pm

The Met @ The Music Hall: Figaro 12pm Extraordinary Cinema Magic in the Moonlight 7pm The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series: Air Traffic Controller 8pm

1 NOV Box Office opens at 10am for member walk-up...

The Met @ The Music Hall: Carmen 1pm Opera Connection 11:30am

Historic Theater Box Office Hours: Monday - Saturday, noon - 6pm Film tickets: $10 Adults; $8 Seniors 60+, Students & Military

Show & Tell discussion follows the film

HERE & NOW

org/blog TheMusicHall. r more fo og bl See our nes info! behind-the-sce

Rising Star Brett Dennen Dishes on Life, Music, and Nature If you make the time to listen to the songs on Brett Dennen’s latest work, Smoke and Mirrors, you will likely have difficulty sitting still. His songs, fast climbing on the Billboard charts, are lively and energetic. Brett has toured with John Mayer, Michael Franti, and Jack Johnson. He’s had a busy summer playing the festival circuit and shows no signs of slowing down. I was able to catch up with him in between shows. Here’s a snippet of that conversation.

Join us on Wednesday, October 22 in the Historic Theater as Brett makes his debut appearance in Portsmouth, NH! — Thérèse LaGamma, Deputy Director of Programming & Performing Arts Curator TL: How has your love for the outdoors and working as a camp counselor influenced you as an artist?

BD: It sets the tone. I’m more inspired by the natural world than I am by an urban landscape. You have to pull my teeth out to get me to write in the city. Music and lyrics come to me much easier in nature. I have a closer connection to the source.

TL: Talk about your time in Nashville, the hotbed of country music, while recording Smoke and Mirrors. Did you find time to jam with Nashville’s greatest? Were you able to explore the city and its historic music venues?

BD: I didn’t do any of that sort of exploring. I explored a lot of wildlife areas and went to all the city’s great restaurants.

I didn’t get to meet any country stars and I respectfully didn’t let country music influence the record too much.

TL: Your song Make You Go Crazy garnered over a million hits on YouTube. What made you decide to work with Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti?

BD: He’s a legend. I’d work on every song with him if I could. He’s the greatest performer I’ve ever seen. When you are around him, you feel the presence of greatness. Spiritually, I mean.

TL: You were home schooled. How did that shape your thinking?

BD: It gave me the space to be a self-learner. It gave me the freedom to become an artist. Because of home schooling, I became an abstract thinker.

TL: While on the road, you have sometimes painted city-specific watercolor prints. What inspired this idea?

BD: I used to be a very comfortable with a paintbrush and I’m longing to get back to that feeling. Sometimes music can be torture. That’s how passion works. I need another creative outlet so I can stay inspired and be happy. I will be painting and selling prints on this tour.

TL: What else is new on your Fall tour?

BD: It’s just me and a guitar. I plan on playing a lot of songs that aren’t in the usual repertoire.

TL: Will this be your first visit to Portsmouth?

BD: Yep. Can’t wait.

Best Kept Secrets on Verdi & Shakespeare You don’t have to be an opera buff to enjoy Dennis Neil Kleinman’s illuminating and always entertaining Opera Connection talks at The Music Hall Loft that precede some of the season’s Met @ The Music Hall HD Broadcasts (at the Historic Theater). “Opera, above all else, is about great storytelling,” says Dennis—who is himself a riveting storyteller, as well as a cultural historian and composer. Hearing Dennis’s insights and observations before a Met broadcast always enriches the viewing that follows. This season’s first Opera Connection, at 11:30am on Saturday, October 11, covers Verdi’s first Shakespearen opera, Macbeth.

Asked to share a bit of trivia about this opera, Dennis replied “When listing the greatest musical theater partnerships, names like Gilbert & Sullivan, Rogers & Hammerstein, and Lerner & Lowe spring to mind. I would propose another pairing of names be added to that illustrious list: Verdi and Shakespeare. That these two titans of the stage, separated by hundreds of years and miles, connected on the deepest creative levels is evidenced by the fact that Guiseppe Verdi wrote three magnificent operas based on the Bard. And, although 300 hundred-plus operas based on Shakespeare were written in the 19th century, only these three still hold the stage— Macbeth, Othello, and Falstaff. Join us to see what happens when the greatest musical dramatist of the Romantic period connects up with the greatest theatrical dramatist of all time!”

Admission to Opera Connection includes coffee and light breakfast fare. Dennis’s second talk will take place on Saturday, November 1, prior to the Met @ The Music Hall HD Broadcast of Carmen.

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Visit our blog to read the full interview: TheMusicHall.org/blog

Staff Pick: Marketing Loves Mary!

This summer, three marketing department staffers took at field trip to the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine to see Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins—and got totally pumped about this high-flying show, coming to The Music Hall December 10-14! Here’s their feedback: “The production quality is astounding.

The dance numbers instantly draw the audience in, and the magic tricks on stage make everyone smile. There are enough changes from the movie that there is something new and exciting for even the most die-hard fans.”

— Kaitlyn Huwe, Marketing Communications Manager “So magical—and perfect for the holidays! I cannot wait to see Mary come to life on the Music Hall stage!”

— Kait Smith, Content Marketing and Copywriting Associate “I’ve been seeing Broadway shows in NYC since I was 12, and the caliber of this show is up to the best of them on every level! And the moral of the story—that what makes us happy in life is about what’s in our hearts, not our pocketbooks, and that magic is everywhere if we choose to see it —is “a spoonful of sugar” in our turbulent times.”

— Regina Baraban, Content Editor Get more with e-news - new shows, special deals, and updates!

AT A G LANCE

On Stage & On Screen

2014 - 2015

October 2014

Date

October 2014

Date

November 2014

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Intimately Yours Brandi Carlile Wed., Oct. 1 • 7:30pm (SOLD OUT)

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The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

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The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

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Hilarity

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Community Partner Community Church of Durham presents:

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Second City - 55th Anniversary Tour Friday, October 3 • 8pm

Will Todd - Mass in Blue

Saturday, October 4 • 7pm Hilarity Ron White Sunday, October 5 • 7pm

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Air Traffic Controller

Saturday, October 25 • 8pm Intimately Yours George Benson Sunday, October 26 • 7pm

29

29

Wildcard Movie Nosferatu (1922) Wednesday, October 29 • 7pm

29

Date

November 2014

Community Partner Kent Stephens’ Stage Force presents:

1

Opera Connection Carmen Saturday, November 1 • 11:30am

Monday, October 6 • 7:30pm

1

Met @ the Music Hall Carmen (Bizet) Saturday, November 1 • 1pm

4

Writers on a New England Stage

5

Intimately Yours The Mavericks Wednesday, November 5 • 7:30pm

The Play Reading Series

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series Sean Hayes Thursday, October 9 • 7:30pm The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series Carlene Carter Friday, October 10 • 8pm Opera Connection Macbeth Saturday, October 11 • 11:30am Met @ the Music Hall Macbeth (Verdi) Saturday, October 11 • 1pm Community Partner Dave Rasmussen presents Jazz Reunion Sunday, October 12 • 3pm Nat’l Theatre of London HD Broadcast A Streetcar Named Desire Sun., October 12 • 4pm Writers on a New England Stage

8 8 9 9

E. O. Wilson

Tuesday, October 14 • 7:30pm Rental Partner Mountain Hardwear presents Days of my Youth Wednesday, October 15 • 8pm

10

New Hampshire Film Festival

15

Writers in the Loft

Billy Collins pre-event book signing

19

Writers in the Loft Billy Collins Tue., October 21 • 7pm (SOLD OUT)

20

Intimately Yours Brett Dennen Wednesday, October 22 • 7:30pm

22

Community Partner Working Dog Foundation presents Comics for K-9s Friday, October 24 • 7:30pm

23

Rental Partner

Thu., Oct. 16 - Sun., Oct., 19

Tuesday, October 21 • 5-6pm

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series Darlingside Friday, October 24 • 8pm Met @ the Music Hall

Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart)

Saturday, October 25 • 12pm

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24-26

Anne Rice

Tuesday, November 4 • 7:30pm

Rental Partner Teton Gravity Research presents Almost Ablaze Saturday, November 8 • 7:30pm

The Sweetback Sisters

Friday, November 28 • 8pm The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series Skyler Saturday, November 29 • 8pm Retnal Partner Rob Bartlett Saturday, November 29 • 8pm

December 2014

Date

2

Writers in the Loft Kathryn Harrison Tuesday, December 2 • 7pm

2-3

Community Partner Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra: Family Holiday Pops Tuesday, December 2 & Wednesday, December 3 • 7:30pm

6

The Music Hall presents

The Ragpicker’s Dream

Saturday, December 6 • 4pm

7

The Music Hall presents

The Ragpicker’s Dream

Sunday, December 7 • 2pm

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series Mike + Ruthy Saturday, November 8 • 8pm

10-14

The Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall presents Mary Poppins Wed., Dec. 10 - Sun., Dec. 14

Community Partner Portsmouth

20-21

Community Partner Great Bay Academy of Dance presents The Nutcracker Thu., Dec. 20 - Fri., Dec. 21

Symphony Orchestra

Sunday, November 9 • 3pm The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

Glen David Andrews

Sun., November 9 • 7pm Community Partner Kent Stephens’ Stage Force presents

The Play Reading Series

Monday, November 10 • 7:30pm

The Gala - A Benefit for The Music Hall Saturday, November 15 • 7:30pm

School Days Series Skippyjon Jones Wednesday, November 19 9:30am & 11:30am Writers on a New England Stage

Janet Evanovich

Thursday, November 20 • 7:30pm Met @ the Music Hall

Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Saturday, November 22 • 1pm

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series DakhaBrakha Sunday, November 23 • 7pm Rental Partner Warren Miller Entertainment presents No Turning Back Mon., Nov. 24 - Wed., Nov. 26

22

The Music Hall presents Messiah Sing Monday, December 22 • 7:30pm

27

Hilarity

Date

January 2015

Juston McKinney’s Last Laugh 2014 Saturday, December 27 • 8pm

4

Met @ the Music Hall

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Sunday, January 4 • 12pm

17

Met @ the Music Hall

The Merry Widow (Lehár)

Saturday, January 17 • 1pm

17

Hilarity Jimmy Tingle Saturday, January 17 • 8pm

24

The District Restaurant Singer Songwriter Series

Songwriters in the Round Sat., January 24 • 8pm

31

Met @ the Music Hall

Les Contes d’Hoffman (Offenbach) Saturday, January 31 • 1pm

@ The Loft @The Historic Theater

KEY

Date

TheMusicHall.org

NOW

10

NOW

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

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PORTSMOUTH, NH PERMIT NO. 202

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3

WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO...

ANNE RICE: 11/4

THE GALA: 11/15 THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON SPONSORS! proud supporters of the Music hall

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