Support the Arts for a Bright Future for All
One of the most magical things about theater is the anticipation. The early morning click as the marquee turns on, the shuffle of the Box Office opening up for the day, kernels popping at Concessions, cheers of delight as the audience greets friends and finds their seats—all before that final whoosh of the curtain going up. This feeling is impossible to replace and one I’m lucky to be a part of every day.
In a constantly changing live entertainment industry, we sometimes have to improvise in order to deliver the best of the best. The Music Hall has been adapting for over 140 years and we hope to continue to do so for generations to come. Luckily, we’re creative people and we are constantly working on solutions to keep our doors open. We’ve extended our outdoor Live Under the Arch series offerings to the end of October and are working with local and regional artists across all of our programming. We are doing everything we can so we can continue to bring the finest artists, authors, and films to Portsmouth, and be an economic driver for our neighboring Seacoast businesses and restaurants. This community will only survive if we help and support each other.
Still, the urgency remains. One of the challenges we are facing is that our max capacity has been greatly reduced to allow for social distancing. With six-feet spacing, the 900-seat Historic Theater is limited to 250 people, while the 120-seat Loft space is currently shuttered. The Music Hall and all of your other favorite venues, theaters, and stages need your help. Nationally, the arts and entertainment industry is in crisis. We will need the arts when the pandemic is over; not because they’re nice to have, but because our culture survives in them, our greatest lessons are passed down through the arts, and our humanity and empathy shine through. Your advocacy and support now will keep our future bright.
Ask your representatives to sponsor the RESTART Act and Save Our Stages/HEROES Act using our template here.