Broadway is moving into Bryant Park for the summer as three separate events will highlight some of The Great White Way's brightest and best. With "Broadway Under the Stars," "Broadway in Bryant Park" and some classic moviemusicals in "HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival," Broadway's Theatre District will extend about one block east between 42nd and 43rd Streets.
Kicking off, not only the Bryant Park's, but the entire city's free concert season on June 10 at 8 PM will be "Broadway Under the Stars." The "curtain-raiser" event will be sponsored by AOL Time Warner and produced by the League of American Theatres and Producers with NYC&CO will feature Broadway talent and celebrities at Bryant Park. Director Scott Ellis (The Man Who Had All the Luck) will helm the concert which will feature "iconic New York stars doing performances, Broadway stars singing songs" under the "romance in New York" theme, according to League spokesperson Patty Haubner.
The event will also feature video montages of romantic moments filmed in NY and from NY movies underscored with Broadway music by a 35-piece orchestra. Haubner explained "If you love New York, if you love Broadway, if you love movies, if you love one or all, you'll enjoy the concert."
Performing Thursday middays June 27-Aug. 15 will be — the series that has become a tradition — "Broadway in Bryant Park." Presented this year by local radio station 106.7 LITE FM, the event which features excerpts from some of the current and upcoming Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals. This year's participants — performing at the park from 12:30PM - 2PM — include:(all subject to change)
- Lion King and Harlem Song - June 27
- Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Oklahoma! - July 11
- Beauty and the Beast, The Prince and The Pauper and Thoroughly Modern Millie - July 18
- Hairspray and Mamma Mia! - July 25
- Rent, The Donkey Show and Love, Janis - Aug 1
- Aida and Dance Of The Vampires - Aug 8
- Chicago, Cabaret and The Full Monty - Aug 15
For information on all events at Bryant Park, or The Great Green Way, visit www.bryantpark.org.
— by Ernio Hernandez