Historic Tour Of The 1878 Music Hall

The Music Hall will open its doors twice monthly for guided tours, taking visitors behind the scenes and through the restorations, renovations and history of the celebrated 1878 theater, designated An American Treasure by the U.S. Senate.. The tours will run on the first Wednesday of the month at 5pm and on the third Thursday at 12:30pm.
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The october historical tours offer some of the first access to the newly opened beaux arts lobby which has been heralded in the regional and national press as "jaw-dropping" (traditional building magazine cover story), and a "giant leap renovation project... a one-of-a-kind surprise.... A world class space (portsmouth herald ).. The expanded 2,600 sq. ft space, including the box office, lower lobby, restrooms, elevator and coat check, reflects the Beaux Arts beauty of the theater above and showcases the theater's history in a bold and theatrical way while offering striking 21st century amenities.. It makes the antique building accessible and as 'green' as possible with new lighting and heat efficiency.
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Also on show is the theater's auditorium including restored decorative paintings on the ceiling dome and the proscenium arch adorned with cherubs - award-winning restorations unveiled to the public in September 2007 and 2006. The extraordinary decorative artistry had been covered over and forgotten for decades, the work of original owners of The Music Hall and artisans from 1878 to 1901.. Visitors gain insight into the paintings' history and their one-of-a-kind discovery in Winter 2007 - a find architectural conservators called "so dramatic, it takes your breath away."
Arranged by Music Hall Historian Zhana Morris, the tour paints a full picture of the history of the hall, including the tales of sailors who rigged the theater in the late 19th Century, its flashy and famous owners, and stars who have taken stage, from Buffalo Bill to Paul Newman, Pearl Bailey to Alan Alda, John Philip Sousa to Wynton Marsalis..
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Visitors are invited backstage to view antique riggings still operating today, up to the theater's magnificent horseshoe balcony, and through the orchestra to the grand proscenium arch surrounding the stage. Merging a colorful past and present, the 75-minute tour provides tour-goers with unique perspectives on yesterday, today, and the future of the oldest operating theater in northern New England.
The Historic Tours of The Music Hall will begin in the lobby of the theater at 28 Chestnut Street in downtown Portsmouth. Tour tickets are $6 ($5 Member) and can be purchased day of tour, in advance by following the link below, or through the box office at 603-436-2400.. Box office hours are noon-6:00pm Monday through Saturday.