Hackmatack Playhouse Competitors

“the beating cultural heart of New Hampshire’s seacoast” – Boston Globe The Music Hall, established in 1878 as a Vaudeville theater, has become a cornerstone of Portsmouth’s vibrant arts scene. Over nearly 150 years, it has evolved into a premier performing arts center, featuring two distinct venues: the landmark Victorian-era Historic Theater, designated an American Treasure by the National Park Service, and the modern Music Hall Lounge, an intimate 116-seat cabaret-style space. Together, they host over 130,000 patrons annually, offering a diverse array of live performances and on-screen programming that foster creativity and community. In 2024, The Music Hall expanded its cultural offerings by taking over the New Hampshire Film Festival (NHFF), the state’s longest-running film festival, which attracts thousands of visitors each fall with independent films, panels, and networking events. That same year, it opened a new Members Club with McKeon’s Bar and the Box Office & Ticketing Hub, housed in the historic Kearsarge House on Congress Street. This exclusive speakeasy-style club allows members and sponsors direct access to the Historic Theater. Since 1987, The Friends of The Music Hall, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, have upheld its mission: to present diverse, high-quality arts programming as a vital cultural hub for the Seacoast community. Today, The Music Hall continues to enrich Portsmouth’s cultural fabric with world-class entertainment.

For 90 years, Ogunquit Playhouse has been the crown jewel of Maine's southern seacoast, delivering world-class Regional theatre and arts education programs, creating memories for generations. From big splashy musicals and side-splitting comedies to gripping dramas, the Playhouse attracts the best and brightest production teams from New York, Los Angeles, and London to self-produce and deliver unique shared theatrical experiences you won't find anywhere else. It's the reason we're a vacation destination people keep returning to year after year.

The Palace Theatre is a non-profit performing arts center that hosts its own professional company, youth and teen program and presenting acts. We are committed to achieving our mission through preserving the historic facilities of the theatre, responding creatively to the cultural and entertainment needs of the community and governing in a fiscally responsible and strategic manner. The Palace Theatre offers performances that fall into one of three categories: events produced by the Palace, events presented by the Palace and events performed at the Palace by outside groups/entertainers renting our space. Events produced by the Palace include all of our Professional Productions, known as the Citizens Bank "Performing Arts Series", as well as all children's theatre, Palace Youth Theatre and teen productions including the Palace Teen Company and the Palace Professional Theatre for Children . These events are produced entirely by Palace staff and are our signature events because the artistic staff at the Palace is dedicated to producing the highest quality theatre in the area. Events presented by the Palace fall into the Celebrity Series. While we do not have a large part in the artistic production of these events, we are proud to present them to you in our beautiful theatre. These events include concerts, comedy acts, magicians and many other types of performances. Our beautiful 890 seat theatre is the only one of its kind in this area and the staff who work here are committed to preserving it. Our administrative offices are located adjacent to the theatre in the renovated United Arts Center which is also home to other local non-profit arts organizations. In addition to these office spaces, the United Arts Center is the rehearsal center of the theatre, with two large dance studios used for rehearsals by the Palace Professional Theatre, the Palace Youth and Teen Theatre and the Palace Teen Company as well as all other Palace performing groups.