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The Music Hall today announced it has added several new members to its impressive Board of Trustees.  Newly elected board members include, Eric Chinburg, owner of Chinburg Builders; Maile Buker, marketing specialist; Brad Honeyman, COO of Mad*Pow;  Bob Lord, CEO, Parma Recordings, and Ed Garside , CFO, Optima Bank.

Tickets on sale to members on June 1; to non-members June 15. Season highlights include Margaret Atwood, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Reggie Watts, Pilobolus, and more!

The Music Hall has just announced ten new shows coming to both the Historic Theater and the Loft this summer, that span four of its celebrated signature series.

The Music Hall introduces: Martingale Wharf Singer Songwriter Series With Three Shows @ The Loft: The Brew (Sat 7/13), Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche (Fri 7/26) and Pearl and the Beard (Fri 8/2).

The legendary San Francisco string quartet returns to Portsmouth on Saturday April 27, 2013 8pm. “The world’s best known, most innovative contemporary music quartet.” –New York Times

A Sea Captain, A Mayor, and a Music Hall Owner — and New Hampshire’s First Printing Press Sustainable Design and Local History featured in Music Hall’s 22nd Annual Kitchen Tour Saturday, May 4, 2013 10am – 3pm. Plus, get a peek inside chic homes in Portsmouth’s Mill Pond areas.

Music Hall Just Announced! Hilarity: Tom Cotter Saturday May 11, 2013 8pm; Tickets: $24. On sale to members Sat April 6; to non-members Sat April 13
From The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to The Late Late Show

The Music Hall has just announced four programs coming to its Historic Theater and The Loft for the month of June. Writers on a New England Stage: Carl Hiaasen, National Theater of London HD Broadcast: The Audience, Writers in the Loft: Steve Schirripa, Hilarity: Miss Richfield 1981: Sweet and Sour Richfield: Made in China! On sale April 6, 2013 for members and on April 20, 2013 for non-members.

The popular sketch comedy group returns to The Music Hall! Headquartered in Chicago, The Second City has been performing sketch comedy in front of audiences for 50 years, making it the standard by which comedy and improv in America is judged.

Writers in The Loft: Dan Shaughnessy. Wednesday, April 10, 5pm* and 7pm.  He will discuss his New York Times Bestselling Behind-the-Scenes Scoop on Legendary Manager Terry Francona, Francona: The Red Sox Years.

The Music Hall Presents – Film Matters: Girl Rising “Educate Girls. Change the World.”, Wednesday March 20, 2013 7pm. The Popular Music Hall Film Series explores global issues, local resources with top documentaries + conversation.

Just Announced! The Music Hall Presents: HD Broadcast: Great Expectations, Writers on A New England Stage: Joseph Ellis & Intimately Yours: Terence Blanchard Quintet. On sale to members Sat., Mar 16 and to non-members Sat., Mar 30 at noon.

The Music Hall Presents: Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival, Wednesday – Sunday, April 17-21, 2013. One unforgettable Spring weekend showcases Legends, Stars, & Up-And-Comers in a packed five-day festival at The Music Hall’s two venues in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The Music Hall Presents: The Fighting Jamesons. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early with The Music Hall! Also, Member Appreciation Night: Meet the band in the Loft after the show! Sunday March 10, 2013 7pm.

Just Announced! The Music Hall Writers in the Loft presents Elinor Lipman The View from the Penthouse B on Tuesday May 7, 2013 at 7pm. She is the “diva of dialogue” - People. Ticket package includes book, bar beverage, and author meet-and-greet/signing

The Music Hall Presents Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival Wednesday – Sunday, April 17-21, 2013. Acts include: John Prine, Aimee Mann, Sharon Van Etten, Dirty Projectors, rock poet Paul Muldoon, photojournalist Joe Stevens + many more!

The Music Hall’s Innovation and Leadership Forum and Writers in the Loft present The author of Mitten Strings for God and The Gift of an Ordinary Day, Katrina Kenison with her latest work, Magical Journey: An Apprenticeship in Contentment

With an exciting show, movie, or bestselling author appearing nearly every night at its two venues in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, The Music Hall has an unprecedented array of entertainment coming in the next four months.

Just Announced! Carlyle Brown with his acclaimed one-man show: The Fula from America: An African Journey; Folk-Pop legends The Indigo Girls and Four First-run Films already on sale- The Intouchables; The Sessions; The Central Park Five; and A Late Quartet.

Strawbery Banke Museum + The Music Hall Present: Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth the entire month of December; Now in its eighth year of Strolls, Shows & Stayovers there will once again be a Free Vintage Christmas Trolley. There’s always great tax free shopping, galleries, restaurants, as well as, Holiday door decorations, and Market Square Carolers.  For a downloadable map, visit VintageChristmasNH.org/

Met@The Music Hall has one more opera broadcast in the month of December, with a Post-Opera Dinner at The Library Restaurant adjacent to the Historic Theater, and with a pre-broadcast conversation, Opera Connection, for the December 22 opera.

Music Hall Film Matters Series: Powerhouse women in the media post film panel announced for Miss Representation, Friday November 2, 2012 “An Inconvenient Truth of sexism in the media”-IndieWire

The Music Hall has two great Film Matters coming up in November – Miss Representation Fri., November 2 and Unacceptable Levels on Tue., November 13 – both at 7pm in the Historic Theater.

We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our roster of Intimately Yours concerts – Guster: A Night of Acoustic Music Saturday January 19, 2013 at 9pm. Tickets go on sale to members noon Tuesday October 23, 2012 and on sale to the public noon Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

Writers on a New England Stage Presents: Jeffrey Toobin the prizewinning author will take the stage to discuss his current New York Times bestseller The Oath:The Obama White House and the Supreme Court on Thursday, October 25, 7:30pm

Just Announced! Hilarity @ The Music Hall Bill Cosby on Sunday, November 11, 2012, 7:30pm. Tickets go on sale to members: noon, Saturday, September 22; on sale to non-members: noon, Wednesday, October 3.

The Gala A Benefit for The Music Hall: Saturday September 29, 2012, 7-11pm at PlaneSense, Inc. It’s the party of the year! Silent and live auction Special guest performance/musical toast: Cabaret star Ute Gfrerer Dance to tunes of DJ Mike Marchand.

The Music Hall in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire announced today that its latest restoration project has been completed – the upper lobby of its landmark Historic Theater. Now as patrons head upstairs from the Beaux Arts Founders Lobby for a live show or film, they will pass through the perfect transition into the Victorian auditorium.

Telluride by the Sea is here September 14-16, 2012. See Bill Murray as Roosevelt in Hyde Park on Hudson, Academy Award best actress Marion Cotillard in Rust in Bone, Midnight’s Children adapted from Salman Rushdie. Individual tickets on sale noon Friday August 31, 2012

Just Announced! The Music Hall Country superstar Lyle Lovett, Prize-winning authors Jeffrey Toobin and Colm Toibin, delta blues virtuoso Rory Block and acclaimed singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick. Plus, four Opera Connection discussions with Dennis Neil Kleinman.

Going on sale in July, famed funnyman Bob Newhart, blockbuster author Lee Child, plus: Hilarity double bill; Live@the Loft: Round Robin; Listening Party. There’s also Met @ The Music Hall documentary: Wagner’s Dream. First Saturday for Members. Tickets on sale to members Saturday July 7 to non-members Saturday July 21 July films also on sale - to the public Woody Allen’s latest: To Rome with Love, Fixing the Future, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hysteria.

Alison Bechdel comes to Writers in the Loft with her newest work Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama Thursday, June 14, at 7pm “… complicated, brainy, inventive and satisfying … lightning bolts of revelation, maps of insight … in a singularly beautiful style.” – New York Times Book Review

Writers on a New England Stage welcomes The National Book Award-Winning author Joan Didion, the “Master of American Prose” joins us with her latest work Blue Nights A National Bestseller and New York Times Notable Book, Tuesday, June 19.

Comedy Highlights of Hilarity @ The Music Hall: Irish Comedy Tour, Miss Richfield 1981, & Super Secret Project. Also, Whit Stillman’s film Damsels in Distress

Welcome to Summer at The Music Hall in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire! Find out why the Miami Herald calls Portsmouth “New England’s most appealing city”—with an unprecedented variety of authors, comics, concerts, and cinema coming to The Music Hall in June, July, and August.

Just Announced! Tickets on sale – June 2 to members, June 16 to general public. The internationally acclaimed author will present his latest work Joseph Anton: A Memoir on Wednesday, October 10, 7:30pm.

Just Announced! Intimately Yours: Al Green Tuesday, August 28, 2012 7:30pm. Tickets on sale to members Saturday June 2 to non-members Saturday June 16

Tickets on sale to members Saturday June 2; to non-members Saturday June 16. Season Highlights: Chris Botti, Shaolin Warriors, Natalie MacMaster, Juston McKinney; Joshua Bell, and more!

Just Announced! Met@the Music Hall 2012-2013 season: 12 opera broadcasts Tickets on sale: To new subscribers (members only): noon Saturday May 12 To members: noon Saturday May 19 To public: noon Saturday May 26

The Music Hall Presents, KidsRULE! Movie: The Secret World of Arrietty, Saturday, May 19, 2012 4pm &  KidsRULE! Live: Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players Sunday, May 20, 2012 3pm.

Writers on a New England Stage welcomes America’s laureate of real life Anna Quindlen The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and author of A Short Guide to a Happy Life joins us with her memoir Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake Wednesday, May 23, 7:30pm.

Author presentation followed by an on-stage interview with NH Public Radio host Virginia Prescott Friday, May 18, at 7:30pm in the Historic Theater. Benefit ticket buyers can meet Dan Brown at a backstage book signing reception by purchasing a voucher for an illustrated edition of The DaVinci Code through The Music Hall box office.

The Music Hall Loft, the 124-seat theater around the corner from the organization’s landmark 1878 Historic Theater, has been recognized as a 2012 “Editors’ Choice” winner in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England, on newsstands now. This designation is awarded by Yankee’s editors and contributors, who name select restaurants, lodgings, and attractions in New England to the exclusive list.

Live @ The Loft: The Sweetback Sisters (7/13), Intimately Yours: Vaud & the Villains (7/14), Writers in the Loft: Deborah Harkness (7/19), Hilarity: Super Secret Project (7/20, 21), Writers on a New England Stage: Chris Cleave (7/25)

Andover Chamber Music: Sense and Sensibility. Sunday, April 29, 2012 2pm and 4pm At The Music Hall Loft. World-class musicians, unstuffy, unpredictable, unmatched.

Writers on a New England Stage welcomes Erik Larson The author of The Devil in the White City with his #1 New York Times nonfiction bestseller In The Garden of Beasts on May 8 in the Historic Theater.

Just Announced! Two June shows at The Music Hall. Intimately Yours: Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Writers on a New England Stage: Joan Didion

The Music Hall’s Singer Songwriter Festival Announces slate of 15 Seacoast musicians for Round Robin Sunday April 22, 2012 1-6pm, emceed by music critic Chris Hislop. Tickets for $10: only available at the door.

The Music Hall Presents its 21st Annual Kitchen Tour: 1,200+ visitors view modern, historic, waterfront homes around New Castle, NH on Saturday May 5, 2012, 10-3. Buy tickets now for early discount!

Today’s changing business world and how we operate in it are key topics in two upcoming provocative Writers in the Loft events at The Music Hall.

More music, comedy and literary events are on the way! Tickets for the just announced additions go on sale to Music Hall members at noon, Friday, March 16, and to non-members at noon, Friday, March 30.

The American Led Zepplin will play a two hour set of blues-soaked, groove-driven rock anthems, capturing the essence of the band’s hallowed discography on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 8pm. Headlines Portsmouth’s Restaurant Week, March 22-31.

The Music Hall’s annual spring ballet on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 4pm, featuring sumptuous sets, exquisite costumes, and spectacular dancers. Bring the family and make a day in Portsmouth - $15 for 15 and under!

Announcing, An Evening with Dan Brown: A Benefit and Celebration of Writers on a New England Stage Friday, May 18 at 7:30pm in the Historic Theater. Author presentation followed by interview
with New Hampshire Public Radio host Virginia Prescott.

We have a whole host of shows going on sale to everyone today at noon. The Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival including Merle Haggard & The Strangers, The Felice Brothers, O’Death, Rosanne Cash and many more, Dan Brown, James B. Stewart, Anna Quindlen & Alison Bechdel. More shows and info after the jump.

Direct from Ireland for an early St. Patrick’s Day Celebration! Friday, March 9, 2012 8pm

Followed by a special encore over African Burying Ground on Chestnut Street Monday, February 13, 2012, 7pm.

This year we are in New Castle, New Hampshire Saturday May 5, 2012, 10am - 3pm. 1,200+ visitors view modern, historic, waterfront homes New this year: trolley service
 

Portsmouth Singer Songwriter Festival: 23 singer songwriters - Legends, Stars, & Up-And-Comers - in a packed festival weekend, this year celebrating Americana music. Concerts, parties, round robin featuring Seacoast talent, two venues.

The Music Hall has just announced Blue Collar Comedy phenomenon Ron White as the latest addition to its wildly successful new series – Hilarity @ The Music Hall.

New Date! Event Resheduled! Writers in the Loft welcomes acclaimed scholar and critic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. with his new book Life Upon These Shores: Looking at African American History, 1513-2008 Monday, April 16, at 7pm (Previously Tuesday, January 17).

“Entertainment that connects with our African-American history.” Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (1/17) Carolina Chocolate Drops (1/26) Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires (2/3), Soweto Gospel Choir (2/13), Temptations (2/24).

The Music Hall is thrilled to welcome back the Seacoast’s largest Messiah Sing! Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30pm, for a sixth season of the Seacoast’s best-loved choruses and conductors, guest soloists and orchestral accompaniment, and friends and family in a community performance featuring Handel’s triumphant Christmas oratorio.

National Theatre of London HD Broadcast series. Comedy of Errors, Travelling Light and She Stoops to Conquer all on sale to members now, on sale to non-members on Friday December 16.

Join NPR Celtic Sojourn host Brian O’Donovan Saturday, December 10, 2011 3pm and 8pm. The Christmas spectacular that has sold out shows throughout New England returns to The Music Hall this season for what promises to be an unforgettable holiday event!

Holiday Humor at The Music Hall: Juston McKinney with bandleader Bob Lord with the rocking holiday quintet, The Gaudy Baubles + four headlining comedians from both coasts! Appearing Dec 8 & 9.

Writers on a New England Stage welcomes Chris Matthews, the MSNBC host and New York Times bestselling author of Hardball: How Politics is Played will present his latest work, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero Friday, December 2, 7:30 pm

The Music Hall + Strawbery Banke Museum Present: Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth December 2011. New this year: Vintage Christmas Pop-Up Market, extended free trolley service, Market Square Carolers. Now in its seventh year of Strolls, Shows & Stayovers!

The Music Hall has announced exciting additions to its 2011-2012 season of music, theater, dance, cinema, and literary events both onstage and onscreen. Tickets for the just announced additions go on sale to Music Hall members at noon, Friday, November 18, and to non-members at noon, Friday, December 2.

Let the Season Begin! Leahy Family Christmas: Sat Dec 3, 8pm & Sun Dec 4, 2 pm “Leahy makes Christmas a true family affair!”—Calgary Herald

Handsome Little Devils Present Squirm Burpee Circus; Friday, November 25, 2011 7pm. You’ve eaten Thanksgiving leftovers, survived your Black Friday shopping—now it’s time to kick back and enjoy some big-time family entertainment at The Music Hall!

The Music Hall Celebrates Restaurant Week (November 3-12, 2011) and its restaurant sponsors with great programming!

Writers in the Loft welcomes Ann Beattie, Monday, November 7, at 7pm. “A National Treasure” –  NY Times Book Review With her remarkable new work, Mrs. Nixon:  A Novelist Imagines a Life Recently excerpted in The New Yorker magazine  

The Music Hall and New Hamphire Public Radio present Writers on a New England Stage Chuck Palahniuk Thursday, November 3, 7:30pm The New York Times bestselling author of Fight Club and Choke will present his new book, Damned.

Hilarity @ The Music Hall Presents: Women Fully Clothed Friday, October 28, 2011 8pm “...funniest women in Canada!”  – Eugene Levy “Totally hysterical. . .funny and smart.” – Martin Short

Saturday, October 22, 2011 8pm The always astounding MacArthur Award winner Martha Clarke teams up with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Alfred Uhry to collaborate on an evening-length dance/theater/music piece about forbidden sex and unchanneled lust in New England’s 18th century Shaker community. Inspired by the life of Ann Lee, founder of the Shaker movement, the piece envisions the hysteria of human passion gone awry.

The true story of a sister’s unwavering devotion to her brother. Thursday, October 20, 2011 7pm “a solid, straightforward story of sacrifice and allegiance” - Detroit News

Get ready for the feel-good, get-up-and-dance event of the fall, when the hip, electrifying Kings of Salsa ignite the stage at The Music Hall’s Historic Theater on Wednesday, October 12.

in two celebrated series, Writers on a New England Stage and Writers in the Loft; Stephen Greenblatt, Chris Bohjalian, Chuck Palahniuk, Ann Beattie, Chris Matthews, Adam Gopnik. Tickets for all on sale now!

Just Announced! Met@the Music Hall makeover “Opera in an Opera House” Music Hall upgrades sound/screen experience; major upgrade to existing sound system and projector; huge screen moved closer; 11 opera broadcasts in 2011-2012 season.

Music Hall Presents: Intimately Yours: Mike Gordon, Saturday, November 12, 2011 8pm. On sale to members noon Saturday October 1; On sale to non-members noon Saturday October 8.

Just Announced! The Music Hall Presents:  Intimately Yours Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Friday, November 4, 2011 8pm Opener: Kitty, Daisy and Lewis On sale to members: Thu Sep 22 at noon; non-members; Fri Sep 30 at noon

The Music Hall Presents Sierra Hull Sunday October 23, 2011 7, 9pm At the Music Hall Loft. On sale to members noon Saturday September 17; On sale to non-members noon Saturday October 1 Bluegrass prodigy, virtuoso mandolin player.

Music Hall Presents Intimately Yours: Madeleine Peyroux Tuesday, October 4, 2011 7:30pm  “Peyroux has branched out to refine an enigmatic, low-key personal style that is all her own.” –   The New York Times Opening artist: Nellie McKay

Just announced! Explore + Learn: Historical Tours of The Music Hall’s Landmark Historic Theater the third Tuesday of each month October 2011 to May 2012.

Writers in the Loft welcomes The New York Times Bestselling Author of Will in the World, Stephen Greenblatt with his new book The Swerve: How the World Became Modern Tuesday, September 27, at 7pm.

The Music Hall Explore + Learn Program Presents the 17th Annual School Days Series,14 educational performances in 2011-2012 season. Top caliber, affordable matinees for schools, homeschoolers and families.

The Music Hall and RiverRun Bookstore announce a new event in the Writers in the Loft series. On Monday, November 7, the award-winning writer and celebrated New Yorker magazine contributor Ann Beattie will join the series with her new work, Mrs. Nixon:  A Novelist Imagines a Life.

Telluride by the Sea September 23-25, 2011 Six films straight from their debuts at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado! Glenn Close, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, Tilda Swinton, John C Reilly star; New films from director of A History of Violence and Cannes Grand Jury Prize winners Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. Passholders only: Telluride Film Festival past gems: Fitzcarraldo and Burden of Dreams. Patron & Weekend Passes & individual film tickets on sale now.

The Music Hall Presents September On Screen; Extraordinary Cinema; Telluride by the Sea: 9/23-25; KidsRULE!: Rio; National Theater of London: One Man, Two Guvnors;
Fashion’s Night Out 9/8: Bill Cunningham New York; Four hits from SummerFilm return in September!

Save the Date! The Music Hall Presents Telluride by the Sea September 23-25, 2011 Six Movies. Three Days. One Weekend Festival of New Cinema! At two locations: the Historic Theater and Music Hall Loft

Meredith Viera Productions Presents Life in a Marital Institution “20 years of monogamy in one terrifying hour” September 9-11, 2011. Meet the Artist after Friday Sept 1 performance! 2011-2012 season includes Paula Poundstone, Lily Tomlin, Women Fully Clothed

Writers on a New England Stage: Chris Matthews; Paula Poundstone kicks off new comedy series; Big Sam’s Funky Nation appears for two shows at The Loft; Two new comedies broadcast from National Theater of London and more!

The Music Hall announced today the latest installments in the popular Intimately Yours concert series: the triple Grammy Award-winning Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers, Saturday September 3, 2011 at 8pm, and Grammy Award winner Gillian Welch, Saturday November 26 at 8pm. Both shows will be at the Historic Theater in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The comedies continue to roll out as we announce two new shows for – one, a live one-man show exploring marriage in America, the other, a broadcast of a classic Italian comedy updated and set in 1963 Brighton, England.

As seen this week on CBS Sunday Morning, in Parade magazine and the New York Times…heard on Imus in the Morning and Morning Joe… Next week another superstar author is coming to Writers on a New England Stage: Ben Mezrich.

We are happy to announce the latest installment in the roster for its Intimately Yours series, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Wednesday August 17, 2011 at 7:30pm in the Historic Theater. The five-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter tours behind her latest album, the critically acclaimed The Age of Miracles.

The Music Hall Board of Trustees Meets, Elects Officers for 2011-2012 Season. David Hills Succeeds Michael C. Harvell As Music Hall Board President. Five New Board Members Welcomed. Group Celebrates Continued Strong Sales in Current Season: $1.9M in Tickets Sold. For the Year Ahead, Record Pre-Season Ticket Sales: up 19%
 

The Music Hall will be hosting Get the Led Out, the “American Led Zeppelin,” at its Historic Theater in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Saturday June 4, 2011 at 8pm.