Portsmouth New Hampshire Arts Theaters
Here in Portsmouth New Hampshire we have three great theatrical treasures , and two of them offer year-round enjoyment for residents and visitors alike!
The Portsmouth Music Hall is a historic theater that was built in 1878. It's the oldest theater in New Hampshire, and the second oldest theater in New England. This beautiful 900 seat theater is one of only fifteen theaters built in the 1800s still in use in America.
In its early years, Portsmouth Music Hall was home to vaudeville performances and silent film shows. Today, it offers a wide variety of offerings, from films, comedy, concerts, evenings with authors, and so much more.
In 2004, the theater went through a multi-phased, multi-million dollar restoration that returned this gem to its turn-of-the-century splendor. Much of the beauty and original structural construction and design was able to be restored, as well as upgrades to technology, stage systems, and patron amenities that will enable this beautiful theater to continue offering fabulous programs for many years to come.
This is the stunningly beautiful restored arch above the stage. It's called the "proscenium", and you just have to see this in person to see just what an amazing restoration job this was.
In 2003, the US Senate voted to include Portsmouth' Music Hall in the "American Treasures" because of its preservation and restoration work.
Some of the upcoming events are "A Vintage Christmas"; "A Celtic Yuletide"; "Holiday Pops with the NH Symphony Orchestra"; and "Clara's Dream - A Jazz Nutcracker".
Just a couple of blocks away from The Music Hall is another of Portsmouth's special little gems - The Seacoast Repertory Theater. This theater in the round was orginally built as a beer and grain warehouse in 1892. It was renovated into the theater we know today back in 1979. Because of the size of this theater and due to it being a theater in the round, you'll experience a much more intimate setting here.
Boston Magazine has selected The Seacoast Rep Theater for their "Spotlight on the Arts Award for Best Year Round Theater" in the Seacoast. They've won this award several times for their premier entertainment offerings.
Some of the upcoming plays on the calendar here are, "Miracle on 34th Street"; "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; "The Spitfire Grill";
and a varierty of
other plays. The schedule here usually has 3-4 different plays offered each month.
Both The Music Hall and The Seacoast Repertory offer annual memberships as well as ticket sales for each individual event.
We are very fortunate here in Portsmouth to have both year-round and summer theaters!
Our beautiful Prescott Park has offerings all summer long that include concerts, plays, story-telling, art shows, chili and chowder cook-off festivals, and more.
Come and visit us, and check out all three theaters! With all the various offerings each has to offer, you'll certainly find something everyone will enjoy. Once you've been to Portsmouth New Hampshire to visit us, you'll fall in love and want to make this area your home!!
Ann Cummings, New Hampshire & Maine Broker
RE/MAX Coast to Coast
Portsmouth NH
ann@anncummings.com
888-349-5678 x 3839
Servicing the Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine 
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Ann ~ The Music Hall is gorgeous! I bet sitting in the audience you can feel the presence of patrons past.
Great blog about your town.
kk