About the
Players Ring theatre
The heart of live theater in Portsmouth, NH.
Known across Northern New England for original reinterpretations of classics and a deep commitment to new work, the Players Ring theatre—affectionately known as The Ring—is a nonprofit performing arts hub located in the historic seacoast city of Portsmouth, NH.
Housed in a City-owned historic property, we provide an intimate 75-seat venue for live theater in New Hampshire, welcoming over 9,000 patrons annually to our black box space in the heart of Prescott Park.
For over three decades, The Ring has nurtured local artists and brought powerful, original performances to the stage—contributing to the creative economy of the region and enriching the cultural vitality of the Seacoast.
Whether you’re an artist, a longtime theatre lover, a visiting tourist, or a small business looking to give back, we invite you to discover the Ring: where live performance meets joy and community impact.
Our Mission
Through high-quality, artist-centered theatre, we engage audiences in transformative experiences that set in motion a ripple effect of joy, empathy, and shared prosperity—locally and beyond.
We are committed to originality, passion, kindness, professionalism, and artistic excellence—values we strive to embody on and off stage.
Our History
Founded in 1992 by Gary and Barbara Newton, The Ring quickly became a vibrant home for original plays in Portsmouth, NH, nurturing actors, writers, directors, and technicians in a supportive and adventurous environment.
We remain true to that vision today—supporting local voices while expanding our programming to meet the evolving needs of our community and our aspirations to grow as an organization.
Words from our guests
The Building
The Players Ring operates in a historic 1833 brick structure in Portsmouth’s Puddle Dock neighborhood—once home to the Portsmouth Marine Railway Company and part of the vibrant Prescott Park area.
This City-owned building, listed on the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places since 2006, was transformed into a flexible black box theater—a fitting architectural metaphor for the innovation we cultivate within its walls.
Just steps from the Piscataqua River and adjacent to the Strawbery Banke Museum, the space reflects both the deep history and the evolving spirit of the Seacoast arts scene.
We respectfully acknowledge that our theatre stands on N’dakinna, the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook, and Wabanaki Peoples, and we honor the generations who have stewarded this land.
Staff
Front of House Volunteers
Allison St. John, Amy Adams, Andy Richmond, Ashley Musk, Beth Filip, Carmelo Cruz-Diaz, Chrissy McCarthy, Constance Witman, Diane Beaulieu, Donald Pride, Donna Onacki, Donna Vittands, Emily Andrews, Gina Bowker, Gregg Morin, Jacqueline Mueller,James Grew, Jason Kinney, Jen Bagan, Jonathan Farrand, Judy Quinby, Ken Quesenberry, Kim Oates, Laurie Quesenberry, Lesley Gallagher, Lori Knipper, Mary Anne Thibeault, Mary Ellen Hoerman, Nemanja Filipovic, Paul Cragnoline, Phyllis Heald, Ralph Wark, Richard Stevens, Stacy MacLean, Susan Dewhirst, Trista Morin, Walter Hoerman, Wen Houle
Board of Directors
- Lisa Gainty, Secretary
- Shonni Holmes, Artistic Committee Chair
- Steve McNally, Member, Building Committee Chair
- Barbara Newton, Co-Founder
- Dean Plager, Member
- Debra Smith, Member, Development Committee Chair
- John Shibley, Board & Executive Liaison
- Sue Sughrue, Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair
- Linda Tamulonis, President
If you feel called to a kind of stewardship that is grounded in time, talent, treasure, and – of course! – a vibrant Love for Live Theatre— please use this simple form to express your interest in Board Service.