A Year to be Grateful for at The Music Hall
As we celebrate our 140th birthday, I am pleased to share with you the inspiring and incredible year we’ve had and to give you a preview of the fantastic year to come! Along with our membership hitting an all-time high, we’ve brought 130,000 people to the Music Hall and downtown area. There is a little piece of magic for everyone at The Music Hall.
This year our programming, in addition to all the music, comedy, and authors, introduced thousands of students to theater through the School Days Series. For the second year in a row, we were able to fully subsidize the School Days Series experience for nearly 600 students from two local Title I schools, by giving them tickets, paying for the buses, and bagging lunches. These are students who otherwise would not be able to go on a field trip. Our Fill The Hall Food Drive brought in 12 tons of food in one day, allowing Gather to provide 10 meals a week for over 400 children on the Seacoast for the summer when their need is the highest. With Give the Gift of Magic we worked with Families First and Cross Roads House to make over a hundred tickets available to families in need who were able to experience the warmth and wonder of our holiday musical. Last winter, we were also able to provide 100 local veterans with tickets to Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, thanks to a generous gift to Veterans Count.These programs mean so much to the community and we are committed to helping them grow.
All of this fills me with gratitude as we enhance our front door with the Chestnut Street renovation project. The partnership with the City of Portsmouth has been truly rewarding and collaborative. The street is now a pedestrian-friendly walkway that will bring visitors and tourists from Portwalk and act as a gateway to the African Burying Ground Memorial Park and this whole section of town. Along with the safety and visibility improvements to the street, the project tips its hat to the city’s rich history when arches were prominent throughout downtown in the 19th century. The Music Hall’s gift of public art to the city, the Chestnut Street Arch is a celebration of art and community. The arch was also the first piece of public art to go through the new Art-Speak vetting process.
Thanks to visionary donors we were able to raise enough money to match the City in order to upgrade Chestnut Street. We were also able to fully fund the Chestnut Street Arch and our new vintage-inspired marquee with these earmarked gifts. It’s been a huge undertaking and effort for all. A big shout out to the local artist and designer, Terrence Parker, our Facilities Committee, vendors, and the whole team for taking this project from dream to reality. Lastly, I want to thank all of you. We couldn’t do what we do without you and together we’ve made the magic. Through this transformative project, and with your continued support, we have strengthened the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the organization for years to come.
See you on Chestnut Street under the Arch and in the glow of the marquee!