We’ve also been lucky to partner with and support more than 60 educational, cultural, artistic, performance, and historical programs and events in Portsmouth and with our neighboring 400-year-old towns of Dover, New Castle, and Rye. It’s been quite the summer! Even with four weeks remaining, the return to school at the end of August always tricks us into thinking that the fun is over.

But—it’s not over yet! And we’ve got much still to offer.

In September we’ve got several PNH400 partner events including the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show on Sep 9-10, the third annual BIPOC Festival on Sep 24, the 2023 Lantern Festival on Sep 30. Many other events (tours, art exhibits, and more) can be found at our website program page.

We’ve also got our final Signature Event to announce in this issue — The Great Portsmouth NH400 Community Picnic! So make sure to keep on reading!

We’ll see you out there!

Wishing you the best,
Valerie Rochon, Managing Director

Seacoast theatre legend Michael J. Tobin relives the origin story of Theatre by the Sea on Thursday, August 24 with "Theatre by the Sea: A Red-Carpet Gala Honoring Portsmouth's Theatrical Past" as part of the Portsmouth NH 400 celebrations. The event takes place in the historic St. John’s Masonic Lodge, 351 Middle Street in Portsmouth at 6 pm.

This one-night-only event created by Tobin, who is now the founding Executive Artistic Director of Footlights Theatre in Falmouth, Maine begins with a “meet, greet and reminisce” no-alcohol beverage bar. The two-hour show starting at 7 pm is designed to be a journey through the iconic theater's history and features multi-media and live performances, with special guests who created and worked at Theatre by the Sea.

Jon Kimball, who joined the company in 1968 and was its artistic director from 1974 to 1983, will be the gala’s guest of honor. Joining Kimball will be cherished, formally local performers including Scott Weintraub and Ginny Russell. There will also be tributes to longtime Theatre by the Sea favorite, Tom Celli, Prescott Park/NHAA icon, Grace Casey, and other faces familiar to theater goers during that critical time in the evolution of Portsmouth’s arts scene.

In keeping with the evening’s theatrics, dress for the event has been billed as “informally formal, fashionably fun.” Tickets for the evening are $20 and are available by phone at (207) 400-7153 or email to tbsevent@aol.com.

Born and raised in Portsmouth, Tobin was part of the staff at Theatre by the Sea and Prescott Park Arts Festival, performing and directing on their stages. He was working at Theatre by the Sea the day the theater closed. Though he now works in Maine, Tobin says his roots in Portsmouth remain strong, especially within the theater and arts community.

“Theatre by the Sea and Prescott Park Arts Festival were a masterclass in the Arts,” said Tobin. “How blessed I was to be a small part of their history and to now share their legacy at this special gala, in this historic venue.”

This event will bring back memories of what was once the oldest year-round non-profit professional theater company in New England – a venue nationally recognized as an arts destination that helped Portsmouth earn that mantle. “From 1965 to 1987, Theatre by the Sea was the only year-round Equity repertory theater in Northern New England,” said Tobin. “It was a 93-seat theater at 93 Market Street, beside what is now Macro Polo, but the lobby had a Ceres Street entrance.”

From 1975 to 1983, the company produced shows at Prescott Park. Then they relocated to 125 Bow Street, now home to the Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Having presented hundreds of shows, seen by thousands of patrons, Theatre by the Sea and the Prescott Park Arts Festival were a financial anchor for the city - their patrons spending money not only at the theater, but at restaurants and other businesses on the Seacoast as well.

"Even those who are new to Portsmouth, who have never heard of Theatre by the Sea, will be captivated by the stories and amused by the anecdotes," Tobin said. "The special celebratory evening has something for everyone."

"Theatre by the Sea: A Red-Carpet Gala Honoring Portsmouth's Theatrical Past” captures the magic of a vitally important and vibrant era in Portsmouth that is part of the tapestry being woven to celebrate the Portsmouth NH 400.

Contact: Michael J. Tobin, (207) 400-7153 or tbsevent@aol.com

Portsmouth NH 400 announces The Great Portsmouth NH 400 Community Picnic, to take place on Sunday, October 1st, from 12 noon to 3 pm at Leary and Central Fields. The event will be free and open to everyone in the Portsmouth community, providing food, entertainment and lawn games/activities for kids and families on the field.

The picnic will be held inside the Connie Bean Center, on the same date and time, in the event of rain.

The PNH400 team has enlisted the support of members of the City Council to grill and serve hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers -- while supplies last and contingent on Health Department approval. Food trucks offering free snacks and ice cream are also expected.

The entertainment is scheduled to include two bands on the infield of Leary Field. Councilor Rich Blalock is organizing a pickup wiffle-ball game to take place on Central Field.

“The goal of Portsmouth NH 400 is to make the celebration of the city’s 400th anniversary as fun and inclusive as possible,” said PNH400 Managing Director Valerie Rochon. “We have designed each of our signature events to be as safe and welcoming as their venues have permitted, which can be a challenge when excitement grows and the spaces can’t. We have planned the Great Portsmouth NH 400 Community Picnic to take place in one of the city’s largest and most accessible places – Leary and Central Fields – in the middle of downtown Portsmouth. There’s still lots of 2023 left and many more opportunities to join the celebration. We look forward to seeing everyone who can make it on October 1st!”

The Great Portsmouth NH 400 Community Picnic will be the last Signature Event of the year.

With her background in nursing and photography, Suzanne was accepted into a year-long certificate program in medical photography at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, and was on staff at the hospital for three years on completion of the program.

Suzanne is a 30-year veteran reporter/photographer for various newspapers and publications, most recently for the Portsmouth Herald and 603 Diversity. She is also a juried photography member of the New Hampshire Art Association. She worked as a contractor for the NHAA doing public relations for six years and is now doing publicity for the Players’ Ring in Portsmouth.

“I’ve always loved cities and street photography is a specialty of mine. I enjoy creating images that evoke a mood or emotion,” Suzanne said. “Although I started with black and white photography, film and darkroom chemicals, I enjoy looking for colorful street art after (reluctantly) switching to digital cameras.”

She was intrigued by volunteering with the PortsmouthNH400 photography team, reconnecting with former colleagues, and visually recording the events of the year-long celebration.