The Music Hall

The Music Hall is Portsmouth's primary performing arts venue, housed in a beautifully restored 1878 Victorian theatre on Chestnut Street. The auditorium seats 895 and hosts a year-round program of concerts, film series, author events, stand-up comedy, and theatrical productions. The acoustics are good and the sightlines from all parts of the house are excellent.

The venue also operates a second, smaller space called The Loft for more intimate performances and events. Checking the Music Hall program before a visit to Portsmouth often turns up something worth building an evening around. Tickets can be bought online or at the box office.

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A story
The Music Hall opened in 1878 as a vaudeville and opera venue at a time when Portsmouth was a prosperous port city. It fell into decline during the 20th century and was used variously as a cinema, a warehouse, and a bingo hall before a preservation campaign in the 1980s restored it to use as a performing arts venue. The Victorian interior — ornate plasterwork, tiered balconies, original gas-to-electric light fixtures — survived largely intact.