The Music Hall's 'Writers in the Loft' Series to Welcome ESPN's Matthew Berry, 8/19

The Music Hall's Writers in the Loft series welcomes Matthew Berry, acclaimed ESPN columnist and Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst, on Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Berry will discuss FANTASY LIFE: The Outrageous, Uplifting and Heartbreaking World of Fantasy Sports From the Guy Who's Lived It, his bestselling tribute to the world of fantasy sports. With humor and unrivaled insight, Berry chronicles wild and often ridiculous tales from the millions of people who participate in fantasy leagues each year, all while recounting how his own road to the top of the fantasy sports arena was forged in struggle and determination.

The 7pm event includes an author presentation and moderated Q+A, plus book signing and meet-and-greet. It will be held at the Music Hall Loft at 131 Congress Street, in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Fantasy football, fantasy baseball, fantasy basketball, even fantasy sumo wrestling: the world of fantasy sports has become huge, and is still growing. Today, more than 35 million people in the United States and Canada spend hours upon hours each week managing their fantasy sports teams. And as the Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst for ESPN, Matthew Berry is on the front lines of what has grown from a niche subculture into a national pastime.

Between tales of love and hate, birth and death, tattoos and furry animal costumes, the White House Situation Room and a 126-pound golden pelican, Matthew chronicles his journey from fourteen-year-old fantasy player to media celebrity, the face of fantasy sports for the largest sports media company in the world.

"Anyone who plays fantasy sports, watches ESPN, or has seen the show The League is familiar with Matthew Berry. He is a central figure and great ambassador for the fantasy sports world," said Peter Squires, Corporate & Foundation Relations Manager for The Music Hall, who will moderate the evening. "FANTASY LIFE tells the funny and heartwarming stories from Berry's decades of analyzing, writing about, and playing a game that's become central to the sports fan experience." Whether celebrating the most outrageous draft day locations, championship trophies, or ingenious attempts at cheating, Berry's expertly crafted stories of camaraderie and competitive fun remind readers why so many play and love these games.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Described as "one of the stars of the web" and a "fantasy savant" by The New York Times, Matthew Berry is ESPN's Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst. Known as the "Talented Mr. Roto," he's one of the most popular columnists on ESPN.com and appears regularly on ESPN television and radio shows. He won an Emmy for his television show, "Fantasy Football Now," and is a member of both the Fantasy Sports Trade Association's Hall of Fame and the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame. Named to the Twitter Top 100 by Sports Illustrated, Matthew has also been profiled in numerous magazines and newspapers, had his likeness included in the Madden NFL '11 video game, and appeared on "Dancing with the Stars," FX's "The League," and even "One Life to Live."

The ticket package for Writers in the Loft: Matthew Berry on Tuesday, August 19, at 7pm is $30. In addition to a reserved seat, the package includes a copy of FANTASY LIFE (paperback, $16), a bar beverage, and book signing meet-and-greet. Packages can be purchased through The Music Hall Box Office, located at 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, over the phone at 603.436.2400, or online at www.themusichall.org.

About Writers in the Loft: Akin to The Music Hall's anchor author series, Writers on a New England Stage, Writers in the Loft features well-known authors but in a smaller, more intimate space. The series brings audiences today's top authors, the best of fiction and nonfiction. The evening package includes a reserved seat and bar beverage, author presentation and Q+A, a copy of the book, and a meet-and-greet book signing with the featured writer.

About The Music Hall: The Music Hall is a performing arts center featuring curated entertainment from around the world in two theaters in its downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire campus - one, a landmark 1878 Victorian theater, designated an American Treasure for the Arts by the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures Program, the other the intimate Music Hall Loft around the corner, recently named "best performing arts venue" by Yankee Magazine and the recipient of the NH AIA award for design excellence. With acclaimed signature series like Writers on a New England Stage - a partnership between The Music Hall and New Hampshire Public Radio - and the Intimately Yours music series, we bring top authors and artists to both stages. Also, HD broadcasts from The Metropolitan Opera and the National Theatre of London as well as extraordinary cinema fill both screens almost every night of the year. This dynamic arts center urges patrons to Explore + Learn via master classes, post film panel discussions, and matinees for children. An anchor cultural organization in this historic working seaport, The Music Hall is one of downtown Portsmouth's biggest employers and largest contributors to the regional economy: The Music Hall and its patrons contribute $7 million annually to the local economy through show and visitor related spending. Innovative in its outlook, the organization is community oriented and committed to making the Seacoast flourish. The Music Hall is a 501(c)3 nonprofit managed by a professional staff with the assistance of a volunteer board. Though global in the scope of its artists and programs, The Music Hall operates independently with the support of 3,000 members, 300 corporate partners and 58 community partners. Welcoming more than 100,000 patrons (including 20,000 children) each year from the tri-state area and beyond, The Music Hall is the region's center for the performing arts, literature and education...easy to get to, impossible to forget. An American Treasure celebrating 135 years.