Treasure the Future Campaign Furthered with Appointments

Portsmouth, NH - The Music Hall, the landmark Victorian theater located in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, recently held its annual board retreat and strategic planning session, during which it voted in two new board members for the 2010-2011 year. Jay McSharry, local restaurateur and Barbara Henry, former newspaper publisher, have been named to The Music Hall Board of Trustees. They will help to further The Music Hall's mission to build community and support the development of Portsmouth as a major regional arts and cultural force.

Jay McSharry, Portsmouth insider and proprietor of multiple downtown restaurants, including Jumpin' Jay's Fish Cafe, has been a force behind The Music Hall’s $13.5 million capital campaign, Treasure the Future. He is a member of the campaign committee and a liaison to downtown businesses. He brings to the board a broader vision of the total impact The Music Hall has on the city.McSharry recently spoke about the arts center’s progress at a press conference which unveiled the design team for the new 6,000 square foot Center for Performing Arts and Education at 131 Congress Street, around the corner from The Music Hall. When speaking about The Loft project, McSharry stated, “The Loft is a wonderful re-use of downtown space that will clearly transform Congress Street.  The energy derived from the new multi-purpose space will have a powerful impact on our downtown and regional economy.” Likening the path that The Music Hall is on to a jet engine, McSharry made it clear that he is a strong advocate of the progress and development of the theater, particularly the Loft space, the arts center’s new performance and creative learning space offering the same high quality programming but in a smaller, more intimate space.

Barbara Henry is an active member of the corporate partnership committee. Henry recently moved to Portsmouth from the Midwest and made a point to become involved in The Music Hall.  She recently sponsored the Herbie Hancock show held in June at The Music Hall. Now elected to the board, Henry will use her prior experience as a fundraiser and board member of several non-profit groups to help The Music Hall become the region’s own Lincoln Center.

The addition of new board members will ultimately provide support for The Music Hall in its endeavors with the $13.5 million Treasure the Future Campaign which was officially announced in February 2010.  Key projects in the once-in-a-generation campaign include the fit up of the Loft, upgrades to the theater’s backstage systems – modernizing 19th century technology for a 21st century – the full historic restoration of the theater including the upstairs lobby, and the establishment of the endowment to support the theater’s educational programs and ensure its future.  These critical projects will help The Music Hall become more sustainable and dynamic while promoting Portsmouth’s advancement as the arts and cultural capital for the region.

The Treasure the Future Campaign has raised more than $9 million in funds so far, including nearly $1 million given by donors who have never given before to The Music Hall.  The majority of these new donors are downtown Portsmouth businesses owners and residents who recognize the economic impact of The Music Hall and, particularly, the Loft project – the vibrancy it will contribute to Portsmouth’s downtown and visibility in the tri-state area.

The Music Hall’s full Board is comprised of 22 members including President Michael C. Harvell of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, Vice President David Hills of Veris Wealth Partners, Board Secretary Josephine A. Lamprey of Lamprey Brothers and interim Treasurer Danny O’Brien. 

About The Music Hall: An American Treasure for the Arts
The Music Hall is a nonprofit performing arts center that entertains 100,000 patrons, including 20,000 school children, annually with acclaimed film, music, theater, and dance performances. Its historic 900-seat theater, built in 1878, is the oldest in New Hampshire and designated an “American Treasure” by the U.S. Senate in the Save America’s Treasures Program administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service. Living out its mission to be an active and vital arts center for the enrichment of the Seacoast community, The Music Hall presents diverse and relevant programming, including its signature series and innovative community outreach programs, and hosts numerous community fundraisers and celebrations for the benefit of more than 40 local nonprofits.  A cultural anchor in a thriving Seacoast economy, The Music Hall and its patrons contribute $5.5 million annually to the local economy through show and visitor related spending. The Music Hall is a 501c3 tax exempt, fiscally responsible nonprofit organization, managed by a professional staff with the assistance of a dedicated volunteer Board of Trustees. The historic hall is located in Portsmouth, the seaport city recently named a “Distinctive Destination” for 2008 by National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the “20 Best Towns in America” by Outside magazine (July 2008). For more information about The Music Hall and its schedule of events, visit www.themusichall.org.