2024-12-12T07:55:33-06:00 2024-06-30 020417217 Leone McDonnell & Roberts PA 273 Locust Street Suite 207 Dover NH 03820 990 2023-07-01 020403452 Friends of The Music Hall FRIE 6034333100 28 Chestnut Street Portsmouth NH 03801 Tina Sawtelle Executive Director 6034333100 2024-12-05 1 1 Paula J DePlanche CPA P00433746 6037492700 2024-11-13 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z The Music Hall Tina Sawtelle 28 Chestnut Street Portsmouth NH 03801 12706156 0 X themusichall.org X 1986 NH Educational and cultural community enrichment. 23 23 129 363 0 0 2669085 4385029 4681146 6720001 -3044 88684 555354 455332 7902541 11649046 0 0 0 0 2302687 2784904 0 0 628154 5266126 6708134 7568813 9493038 333728 2156008 12977731 15059539 3019709 2901536 9958022 12158003 X The Music Hall (TMH) is a community-supported, nonprofit live entertainment venue with acclaimed film, music, theater, literary, and dance performances in two theaters in downtown Portsmouth, NH. Its 900-seat Historic Theater, built in 1878, is the oldest in New Hampshire. Its second venue, built in 2011 and renovated in 2022, is The Lounge, a modern 116-seat cabaret seated venue. In addition to presenting diverse and relevant programming, TMH hosts community fundraisers and celebrations and partners with more than 60 local nonprofits. In a typical year, TMH offers 52 weeks of programming (~600 events), engages over 120,000 patrons in the arts and learning, and contributes more than $15 million to the local economy through show- and visitor-related spending (according to the Americans for the Arts "Arts and Economic Prosperity" 2022-2023 survey). 1 0 7163813 7169512 To provide a facility for performing arts organizations and present theater, music, dance, and films for the cultural enrichment of the community. 7163813 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 32 0 1 129 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 23 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 NH X Joe Gleason 6034333100 28 Chestnut Street Portsmouth NH 03801 Tim Allison Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jude Blake Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Megan Davis Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Blair Demers Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Paul Durham Vice Chair 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Cynthia Fenneman Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Maureen Flaherty Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Stephen Gaykan Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Bev Giblin Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jim Hamilton Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Dawn Heffron Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Eric MacDonald Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Hope Martin Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Jay McFarland Chair 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Cori McGrath Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jessica McKeon Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Amy McLaughlin Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Cathy Nickerson Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Vicki O'Dowd Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Tara Rutman Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Eben Tormey Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Brendan Vesey Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Ed Morrell Board 1.00 X 0 0 0 Tina Sawtelle Executive Director 50.00 X 186368 0 5239 Mary Beth Johnson Director of Development 40.00 X 136534 0 3682 Joe Gleason CFO/COO 45.00 X 41769 0 138 364671 0 9059 2 0 1 0 Chinburg Builders Inc 3 Penstock Way Newmarket NH 03857 Construction/Renovations 923063 BlueFin 8200 Roberts Drive Suite 400 Atlanta GA 30350 Merchant Services 163305 Opus 3 Artists LLC 250 West 34th Street Suite 313 New York NY 10119 Artist Shows/Productions 135000 Kearsarge House Associates 138 Kearsarge Rd North Conway NH 03860 Rent 126953 Wasserman Music LLC 140 Broadway 26th Floor New York NY 10005 Artist Shows/Productions 117150 5 15000 4370029 4385029 Event Sales 711300 6579108 6579108 Playbill Sponsorship Revenue 711300 140893 140893 6720001 88684 88684 365751 149236 216515 216515 216515 95000 89179 5821 5821 1038729 818695 220034 220034 Other Revenue 711300 12962 12962 12962 11649046 7169512 0 94505 208894 104446 52224 52224 2190359 990158 909076 291125 47696 47696 131167 57166 71093 2908 206788 111924 68903 25961 4534 4534 34229 34229 1904 1904 21861 21861 484619 337705 139165 7749 54513 6489 40117 7907 230649 59575 111499 59575 48273 48273 334383 297141 37242 76022 26839 48363 820 3380 3380 479372 479372 97602 66170 31432 Production Costs 4260583 4260583 Credit card/Bank fees 246155 246155 Other fundraising costs 146905 146905 Other expenses 88373 6640 81733 94777 61797 32980 9493038 7163813 1701071 628154 2883110 1954332 333004 259153 139964 1365973 122409 168893 462185 525230 13310207 4605246 7972105 8704961 0 1117930 1064954 963067 12977731 15059539 159340 361039 1891139 1720855 85852 58850 883378 760792 3019709 2901536 X 8855674 9825144 1102348 2332859 9958022 12158003 12977731 15059539 2156008 43973 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2124956 3538122 4485024 2669085 4385029 17202216 2124956 3538122 4485024 2669085 4385029 17202216 17202216 170773 57381 256211 382864 454435 1321664 -3062 2290 2008 6273 -15609 -8100 18515780 15907767 0.92910 0.92830 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X 1 1 0 111356 11084 4072 707 117661 110759 5694 4380 717 111356 124650 -8391 4781 719 110759 96605 33118 4390 683 124650 101347 -175 3888 679 96605 1 0 44660 44660 11235029 3941129 7293900 1125001 20535 1104466 905517 643582 261935 8704961 REFUNDABLE DEPOSITS 40477 AGENCY ENDOWMENT FUNDS - MARKET VAL 117661 NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITY LOAN FUND 46939 Right of Use Assets, Operating 757990 963067 Box Office Refunds 2802 Right of Use Liabilities, Operating 757990 760792 X 12993892 43973 245667 1055206 1344846 11649046 0 11649046 10793911 245667 1057110 1302777 9491134 1904 1904 9493038 Part II, Line 3: There are no conservation easements acquired after 08/17/06. Part X, Line 2: Accounting Standard Codification No. 740 (ASC 740), Accounting for Income Taxes, established the minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of tax return positions in financial statements. The Organization has analyzed its tax position taken on its income tax returns and has concluded that no provision for income taxes is necessary in the Organization's financial statements. The Organization is subject for three years to income tax examinations by the United States Federal or State tax authorities. Part XI, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Concessions Cost of Goods Sold and Rental Expenses 967,931. Fundraising Expenses 89,179. Investment Expenses -1,904. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Expenses Included in Form 990 Page 9, Part VIII 1,057,110. Part XII, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: Investment expenses 1,904. Special Projects Fundraiser 95000 95000 89179 95000 95000 89179 89179 5821 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Tina Sawtelle Executive Director 155656 0 30712 0 0 0 0 0 5239 0 191607 0 0 0 Part I, Line 3 The executive committee of the full board reviews the executive director's compensation arrangement on an annual basis, taking into consideration compensation for similarly qualified persons in comparable positions and adjusts the executive director's compensation accordingly. Part I, Line 7 Bonus amount is determined by assessing a multitude of both financial and quality performance metrics. Eric Chinburg President and CEO of Chinburg Properties Former Board Member of the Music Hall 923063 The Music Hall entered into a construction contract with Chinburg Properties for capital improvements during FY2022, which carried into FY2024. 0 Vicki O'Dowd VP of Avery Insurance Board Member of the Music Hall 4007 Avery Insurance received a commission from The Music Hall's insurance premium payment during FY2024. 0 Bob Lord Owner of Bob Lord Music Former Board Member of the Music Hall 4078 The Music Hall paid Bob Lord for services rendered as a musician. 0 Paul Durham Attorney at Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA Board Member of the Music Hall 2615 The Music Hall paid Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA for legal services performed during FY2024. 0 Megan Davis University of New Hampshire Board Member of the Music Hall 5000 The Music Hall paid the University of New Hampshire for catering for an event during FY2024. 0 Schedule L, Part IV, Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons: Chinburg Properties was selected after soliciting estimates, qualifications and schedule availability from other local contractors during FY2022. The selection process included a review of estimates and qualifications by The Music Hall's Facilities' committee which made the recommendation to the full board to select Chinburg Properties based on the contractor's familiarity in working with historic structures, relationship with The Music Hall's HVAC vendor, and competitive pricing. The Music Hall complied with the NH statutes and reporting of the pecuniary benefit transaction to the NH Charitable Trust Unit. Form 990, Part III, Line 1 Continuation TMH's mission is to invigorate audiences, nurture healthy communities, and drive economic vitality in the region, stewarding our Historic Theater and delivering high-quality entertainment, lifelong learning, and shared experiences in our venues. Overview of Activities: The 2023-2024 Season was a successful year as The Music Hall continued its tradition of offering a diverse range of high-quality performances, educational programs, and cultural events. TMH continues to work toward the goals outlined in our three-year Strategic Plan (January 2023-December 2025), making significant progress in enhancing what we are able to offer patrons and ensuring our long-term sustainability. The pillars of our strategic plan are outlined below, with a review of this year's progress to goal: 1. Deliver a First-Class Patron Experience To ensure the best possible experience for our patrons, The Music Hall invested in expanding our downtown Portsmouth campus this year, leasing space in a neighboring building to provide greater awareness of our Box Office and to enhance member benefits. This space allowed The Music Hall to create a street-facing Ticketing Hub on the street side of the first floor space and a Members Club on the side abutting the Historic Theater. A doorway carved into the walls between the two buildings offers direct and wheelchair accessible passage to the Members Club, a speakeasy style lounge devoted to Music Hall Members. The expanded footprint allows for improved food and beverage experience as well as additional facilities, providing greater enjoyment for all patrons. Since the official ribbon cutting for the space on May 17, these physical enhancements have inspired Music Hall patrons to invest in membership at all levels, from the introductory Friend level of $60 to the Stakeholder level of $5,000. 2. Build New Audiences In addition to our commitment to annual initiatives designed to keep ticket prices accessible, several key programs were instrumental in The Music Hall's effort to welcome new audiences. In 2023-24 The Music Hall celebrated the 25th anniversary of our School Days Series of professional matinees for young people, presenting six productions and introducing more than 5,000 elementary school students to the joys of live theater. This marked the highest level of attendance for the program since prior to the pandemic. In October 2023 The Music Hall successfully co-produced the 21st annual New Hampshire Film Festival, screening over 100 films in just four days. In January 2024 The Music Hall officially assumed management of the volunteer-founded and led organization. The Festival's mission to inspire audiences with thought-provoking cinematic stories from visionary talents in independent filmmaking, and to provide a platform for emerging artists, dovetails with The Music Hall's mission. Taking on this community asset, with its devoted audience and deep connections to the film industry has already aided in furthering our strategic goals, bringing new patrons to The Music Hall and enhancing our ability to nurture future generations of filmmakers and film attendees. December 2023 marked The Music Hall's ninth year of collaboration with the Ogunquit Playhouse (Ogunquit, ME) with a production of The Sound of Music. Nearly 17,000 patrons attended, setting a new record for this partnership. On July 3, 2024 The Music Hall hosted Jason Mraz for our second annual Emerging Artist Benefit Concert, a fundraiser that helps underwrite our ability to bring early career artists to Music Hall stages. In demonstration of our commitment to nurturing artists, The Music Hall launched the Emerging Artist Grant Program, awarding cash prizes to five musicians to help catapult their performance career to the next level. In addition to the financial support, The Music Hall team will assist grant recipients in making valuable connections with industry professionals. Based on the success of the Emerging Artist Grant Program, The Music Hall has invested in opportunities to support filmmakers as well, instituting a financial component to awards for NH Film Festival participants starting in October 2024. 3. Build Financial Sustainability Three key events this year helped The Music Hall work towards solidifying greater financial sustainability for the future: In August 2023, to ensure sufficient organizational resources to fulfill the strategic plan, The Music Hall hired Joe Gleason as Chief Financial & Operations Officer (CFOO). A highly seasoned theater executive, Joe's background in live entertainment covers the gamut of financial, operations, facilities, production, programming and information technology. In September 2023 The Music Hall was incredibly honored to receive a $1,000,000 bequest from Josephine A. Lamprey, a beloved member of the Music Hall community. At Jo's instruction, this gift transformed The Music Hall's ~$100,000 endowment into a valuable tool for sustainability. January 2024 marked the official launch of Treasure the Legacy, The Music Hall's $15 million capital fundraising campaign. RSC Associates (RSC), a leading national provider of fundraising strategies, conducted the feasibility study that informed the campaign and continues to provide consultation. 4. Modernize and Optimize our Historic Facilities With an 1878 Historic Theater as the centerpiece of Music Hall operations, we are committed to maintaining historical aesthetics and elements while also modernizing and enhancing spaces to appeal to existing audiences and attract new ones. In addition to outfitting the Ticketing Hub and the Members Club, in FY24 The Music Hall spent time evaluating our rigging system and scheduling programming in preparation for a three-week closure of the theater in July 2024. At the intersection of preservation and modernization, the goal of this project is to fortify and enhance our existing historic rigging system in a safe, modern way. A major initiative to improve the comfort, accessibility, and overall audience experience in the Historic Theater, focused largely on the replacement of our 100+ year old seats, is on the horizon. Future Outlook: Looking ahead, as we conclude our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, The Music Hall is poised to pursue our vision to enrich, entertain, and inspire all through world-renowned and community-based programming in our beloved gathering spaces. We will continue to seek partnerships, engage the community, and explore innovative ways to enhance the cultural vitality of Portsmouth and the surrounding region. We remain committed to preserving the historic legacy of The Music Hall and making the performing arts an accessible and enriching experience for all. In conclusion, The Music Hall is proud of the accomplishments and progress made during the reporting period. We are grateful for the continued support of our donors, volunteers, and the entire Portsmouth community. Together, we will continue to celebrate the performing arts and ensure that The Music Hall remains a cornerstone of cultural life in our region. Form 990, Part III, line 2 - In October 2023 The Music Hall successfully co-produced the 21st annual New Hampshire Film Festival, screening over 100 films in just four days. In January 2024 The Music Hall officially assumed management of the volunteer-founded and led organization. The Festival's mission to inspire audiences with thought-provoking cinematic stories from visionary talents in independent filmmaking, and to provide a platform for emerging artists, dovetails with The Music Hall's mission. Taking on this community asset, with its devoted audience and deep connections to the film industry has already aided in furthering our strategic goals, bringing new patrons to The Music Hall and enhancing our ability to nurture future generations of filmmakers and film attendees. - To ensure the best possible experience for our patrons, The Music Hall invested in expanding our downtown Portsmouth campus this year, leasing space in a neighboring building to provide greater awareness of our Box Office and to enhance member benefits. This space allowed The Music Hall to create a street-facing Ticketing Hub on the street side of the first floor space and a Members Club on the side abutting the Historic Theater. A doorway carved into the walls between the two buildings offers direct and wheelchair accessible passage to the Members Club, a speakeasy style lounge devoted to Music Hall Members. The expanded footprint allows for improved food and beverage experience as well as additional facilities, providing greater enjoyment for all patrons. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Director of Finance and members of the finance committee work with the auditors, who prepare the form, to finalize the document and supporting schedules. A copy of the final 990 is submitted to the board of directors for review before its filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c The organization has a conflict of interest provision in its bylaws and annually asks for the board of directors to disclose any potential conflicts in writing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a The executive committee of the full board reviews the Executive Director's compensation arrangement on an annual basis, taking into consideration compensation for similarly qualified persons in comparable positions and adjusts the Executive Director's compensation accordingly. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The organization makes its governing documents and financial statements available to the public upon request. Form 990 The finance committee and the board are responsible for overseeing the audit of the financial statements and selection of an independent accountant. This process has not changed from the prior year.