The Music Hall of Portsmouth building Members Club with passageway to theater

Special to Seacoastonline

PORTSMOUTH — The Music Hall announced construction is under way on a new Members Club and Box Office hub in the Kearsarge House 1866 building located on Congress Street adjacent to the historic Music Hall theater.

The space was formerly leased by LaBelle Winery. The Members Club will have a passageway leading directly to the theater, enabling Music Hall members and sponsors to enjoy cocktails and concessions prior to and during shows and films. The Members Club is expected to open in early 2024.

According to Music Hall Executive Director Tina Sawtelle, the club will be open to all members at the annual $60-level on non-show nights and will be available for reservations at higher membership levels on show nights. The space will have a comfortable, speakeasy lounge decor with a full bar accommodating up to 75 people.

Music Hall Executive Director Tina Sawtelle and Director of Institutional Advancement Mary Beth Johnson are seen at the entrance of the upcoming Ticketing Hub and Members Club under construction at the Kearsarge Building on Congress Street in Portsmouth.
Music Hall Executive Director Tina Sawtelle and Director of Institutional Advancement Mary Beth Johnson are seen at the entrance of the upcoming Ticketing Hub and Members Club under construction at the Kearsarge Building on Congress Street in Portsmouth.

Arrangements are being made with local restaurants for food service on select show nights. The primary bar space will be called McKeon’s Bar in honor of Paul and Jessica McKeon, who made a significant investment to allow the project to move forward. Sawtelle said, “We are incredibly grateful to the McKeons for their transformational support, and I look forward to welcoming everyone to what will surely be another gem in the town’s crown jewel, our historic theater.”

A look at the concept for the soon-to-be Members Club at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.
A look at the concept for the soon-to-be Members Club at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.

Opal Collection, a group of luxury hotels on the East Coast, has also pledged significant financial support for the project. In the new club, a room will be named after the collection’s New Castle, New Hampshire hotel – Wentworth by the Sea – which will also display artifacts from its 150-year history.

“Improving the guest experience is something that we have prioritized in our most recent strategic plan," said Ashleigh Tucker, associate executive director of The Music Hall. "We have received longstanding feedback that our patrons want easier access to drinks and concessions, so that’s what we intend to provide with this major renovation effort.”

Tucker said the space will likely be available for rentals and special events.

Sawtelle said there will be audio/visual technology to allow guests to watch a live feed of a concert or performance happening on the theater’s stage. Market Square Architects in Portsmouth provided architectural and code review services for the project while Chinburg Builders, Inc. was selected for the design/build scope of work.

A look at the design for the Members Club coming to The Music Hall in Portsmouth.
A look at the design for the Members Club coming to The Music Hall in Portsmouth.

According to Sawtelle, the B2W Box Office inside the Historic Theater will remain but an additional box office is being built at the Congress Street frontage of the Kearsarge building to provide better visibility and access.

For information on becoming a member and the benefits visit TheMusicHall.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The Music Hall of Portsmouth NH building Members Club

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