2019 Program Series

Portsmouth Athenaeum Program Series 2019

Scripting the Seacoast with Words, Beauty, Learning and Laughter

 

Creativity abounds on the Seacoast. The Portsmouth Athenaeum’s 2019 Program Series brings writers of many genres—mysteries, songs, food and more. The series also features a photographer who is poetic, a storyteller who will make you laugh, and playwrights who entertain and enlighten.

Each program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Research Library of the Portsmouth Athenaeum at 9 Market Square in Portsmouth, NH.

Reservations for each program are required as seating is limited; please call (603) 431-2538, Ext. 2. Attendance at programs is free for Athenaeum Proprietors, Subscribers and Friends. Guests and members of the public are welcome to attend the entire series by becoming a Friend of the Athenaeum for as little as $25 per year, payable at the door. Admission to an individual program is $10.

On March 20, Brendan Dubois, an award-winning mystery/suspense writer, will present his work. Mr. DuBois is a former newspaper reporter and a lifelong resident of New Hampshire. His publications include eleven books in the intriguing Lewis Cole mystery series, loosely set on the New Hampshire seacoast. Mr. DuBois is also a one-time “Jeopardy!” game show champion.

The following month, on April 17, Rebecca Rule entertains. She is well known for her live presentations of humorous New England stories. Her books include “Live Free and Eat Pie: A Storyteller’s Guide to New Hampshire.” She also conducted an interview show “The Authors Series,” for ten years and currently hosts “Our Hometown,” which airs on NH Public Television.

May 15th brings Rachel Forrest, a prolific writer, who, as a journalist, wrote two weekly columns about food and drink for the Portsmouth Herald for over a decade. She has also written over 2000 feature stories including interviews with authors and musicians, and pieces about science, music, interior design, architecture, tattooing, theater, and classic cars.

After a summer break, the program series resumes on September 18. Photographer and poetic writer, Alexandra de Steiguer, will share her photographs and prose. For over 20 years, she has moved out to the Isles of Shoals during the long winter months to work as the caretaker on Star Island where she revels in its beauty. Ms. de Steiguer’s book “Small Island, Big Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See,” captures her intense love of the natural world.

Talented playwrights, actors and puppeteers, Marguerite Matthews & Gregory Gathers, present on October 16. They have created over fifty original works that have been presented both at their venue, Pontine Theatre, and in hundreds of communities throughout New England. Much of their work delves into the fascinating history of New England, for instance, “Tales of New England Life: The Stories of Alice Brown.”

Finally, on November 20, John Perrault, balladeer, poet, lawyer and teacher, leads the program. As a talented musician and former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, Mr. Perrault has written many songs about historical people and events and is the author of the author of “Jefferson’s Dream,” “Here Comes the Old Man Now” and “The Ballad of Louis Wagner.”