If you’re a song-and-dance lover, but can’t afford tickets to the big shows of the summer, you can still enjoy musical numbers for free from Broadway’s biggest stars.
The seventeenth annual Broadway in Bryant Park brings live performances of showtunes that you can watch on your lunch break. Now you have no excuse not to ditch that sad desk salad, at least one day of the week. (Plus, you can find tasty options via the parks’ food kiosks, like Wafels & Dinges and Le Pain Quotidien.)
iHeartMedia’s free concert series will take place on six consecutive Thursdays, beginning Thursday, July 6, through August 10. (Attn. musical theatre nerds: You can spend…Thursdays in the Park with George!)
Pack a lunch and grab a spot on the lawn, while cast members from productions like “Waitress,” “Beautiful: The Carole King musical,” and “Kinky Boots” serenade you with showstoppers. (OK, so not “Hamilton,” but still pretty great.) All performances are on the Bryant Park Stage (that’s at 6th Ave. between 40 and 40 St.) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Each day is hosted by a different 106.7 LITE FM radio personality, and includes performances of songs from at least three different musicals. Select days include a pre-show act, such as the Aruba Carnival Dancers on July 13, or comedian Brooke Shapiro on August 10.
Beyond singing along to your favorite musical numbers, the concerts are also a good way to get a sneak preview of shows you might be less familiar with. Don’t forget to check out Bryant Park’s free summer movie lineup as well.
Here’s the full Broadway in Bryant Park lineup for 2017:
Thursday, July 6
STOMP
Groundhog Day
WICKED
The Phantom of the Opera
Thursday, July 1
Kinky Boots
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
School of Rock
Soulpepper
Pre-show: Aruba Carnival Dancers
Thursday, July 20
Waitress
Chicago
Cats
Spamilton
Thursday, July 27
A Bronx Tale
Anastasia
Avenue Q
The Imbible
Thursday, August 3
Miss Saigon
The Great Comet
Broadway Dreams
Thursday, August 10
Come From Away
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Bandstand
Curvy Widow
Find more info here.
