From Friday September 8 – Sunday September 10, 2023, Curtain Up Broadway Festival brings Broadway to the streets, in the heart of New York City: Times Square. Stretching between 45th and 47th Streets, the festival will include interactive events and performances that are all live, free, and open to the public.
(Performances are rain or shine, with times and participants subject to change. In the case of severe weather such as thunderstorms, programming may be paused or delayed.)
Access Details
Curtain Up is an accessible event for people with disabilities. The mainstage will have the following access: American Sign Language interpreter, captions, FM assistive listening devices, wheelchair seating, and chairs with armrests.
At the Belt It Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential stage the following access will be provided: accessible seating, chairs with armrests, and accessible tables.
For further information or to request any additional accommodations at any of these events, please contact rfojas@tsq.org or call 212-452-5210 at least three business days prior to Friday, September 8.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2023
Event: Divas of Broadway Sing-Along
Time: 2:00 – 2:30 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Join 2021 Richard Rodgers Award Winner Brandon James Gwinn (pianist at the world-renowned Marie’s Crisis and producer of Trixie Mattel’s albums) as he plays some of the greatest hits from the divas of Broadway for an audience sing along in the heart of Times Square.
Event: Official Curtain Up Kick-Off Celebration
Time: 2:30 – 3:00 PM
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
The Curtain Up Broadway Festival kicks off with guest speakers from Playbill, Times Square Alliance, The Broadway League, & title sponsor Prudential Financial, with Broadway guest hosts Arielle Jacobs (Here Lies Love) and Melody Butiu (Here Lies Love), performances from Colin Donnell (The Shark is Broken), Patti Murin (Frozen), Eric Krop (Godspell), and Jelani Remy (Back to the Future: The Musical), band members Jonathan Ivie (music director), Steve Millhouse, Andrew Zinsmeister and Jon Weber, as well as special guests from The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), The Film Fund, Hotel Edison, Open Jar Studios, The Entertainment Community Fund, and more. The event will ignite excitement on the mainstage and include a celebratory countdown to the official event start!
Event: The Broadway Block Party presented by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME)
Time: 3:00 – 3:30 PM [cancelled due to severe weather]
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
Hosted by Bryan Campione, join DJ Mike Borowski as he spins Broadway hits in the middle of Times Square!
Event: A Sondheim Sing-Along
Time: 3:45 – 4:15 PM [cancelled due to severe weather]
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Join 2021 Richard Rodgers Award Winner Brandon James Gwinn (pianist at the world-renowned Marie’s Crisis and producer of Trixie Mattel’s albums) as he plays some of the greatest hits from the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, for an audience sing along in the heart of Times Square.
Event: Wicked Sing-Along
Time: 4:30 – 5:00 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
We couldn’t be happier to have pianist Paul Loesel and Broadway cast members Jake Pederson and Micaela Martinez lead a WICKED sing along. Audiences can sing along to the show's thrillifying songs right in the heart of Times Square- just ahead of WICKED’s 20th anniversary on Broadway this fall!
Concert: “All That Jazz” – A Celebration of Chita Rivera with the Entertainment Community Fund
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM [cancelled due to severe weather]
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
The Entertainment Community Fund, in association with Nouveau Productions, will bring together Broadway stars and special guests celebrating nine decades of the incomparable Chita Rivera! Featuring members of the American Pops Orchestra, the concert will showcase performances and stories from some of the brightest stars on Broadway including Laura Benanti (My Fair Lady), George Dvorsky (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Andy Karl (Into The Woods), Alexis Michelle (TV: “Ru Paul’s Drag Race”), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Shuffle Along), Jessie Mueller (The Minutes), Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago), Orfeh (Pretty Woman: The Musical), and John Riddle (The Phantom of the Opera), with dance numbers staged by Lloyd Culbreath (Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life).
Concert: Curtain Up After Dark presents Broadway Sings: Acoustic!
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM [cancelled due to severe weather]
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Presented by Prudential, Curtain Up After Dark welcomes Broadway Sings: Acoustic to the stage! Produced by Corey Mach (Merrily We Roll Along), join Olivia Donalson (SIX), Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), Bradley Gibson (Hercules, Papermill Playhouse), Ainsley Melham (Aladdin), Samantha Pauly (SIX), Ximone Rose (Into The Woods), Eleri Ward (Only Gold), music director Joshua Stephen Kartes, the Broadway Sings Band (Kartes, Bryan Bisordi, David Cinquegrana, Colin Dean, Amy Griffiths, Miho Nobuzane, and Sasha Ono), and line producer Abby DePhillips as they present an acoustically driven concert under the golden setting sun. With hit Broadway songs and incredible arrangements, the concert will be one to remember forever!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2023
Event: Ailey’s Revelations dance workshop
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
Everyone can dance with Ailey! Join the processional through Duffy Square as Ailey’s West African drummers and dancers lead New Yorkers of all ages to the Curtain Up mainstage, where you’ll learn modified excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s masterwork, Revelations. Performers include Amos Machanic, Renée Robinson, Fatima Logan-Alston, Cheryl Rowley-Gaskins, and Aaron Thomas, with David Alston on drums. Participants are asked to wear comfy clothing.
Event: Chicago The Musical Sing-Along
Time: 11:15 – 11:45 AM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Whoopee! We’re playin' songs fast and loose from Chicago The Musical, currently celebrating 26 years on Broadway! Audiences can sing along to their favorite songs and ALL THAT JAZZ in the heart of Times Square led by Chicago cast member Angel Reda!
Event: Belt It Out On Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
Time: 1:00 – 2:15 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Join Prudential all weekend at Belt It Out On Broadway, a series of Dueling Piano show-downs held right in Times Square. From specially themed programs featuring Broadway stars to spirited sing-alongs where audience members choose the tunes, rollicking good fun will be yours for the asking. This session will star pianists Elijah Caldwell and Rachel Kaufman!
Concert: Prudential Stages on Broadway Concert
NEW TIME: 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
Hosted by Brittney Johnson — an acclaimed Broadway star who made history playing the title role of Glinda in the smash-hit musical Wicked — the Prudential Stages on Broadway Concert gives (4) four aspiring and emerging artists (Brianna Kaleen, Chris Richie, Alli Sutton, and Zalah Vallien), the opportunity to capitalize on their ‘Now What?’ moment and sing on stage with Johnson in front of theatre professionals like contest judges Tara Rubin and Allen René Louis. The winning aspiring artist will also walk away with a monetary prize of up to $10,000 plus an opportunity for financial advice from a Prudential Advisor. The concert has musical direction by James Sampliner (Prince of Broadway), with orchestra members Roberto Shina, Steve Count, Richard Mercurio, John Putnam, Michael Bono, Aaron Heick, Alex Morrison Hamlin, Matt Owens, Dan Morris Levine, Judy Yin-Chi Lee, John Dinklage, Mary Jo Strip, Kiku Enomoto, and Eleanor Anne Norton.
Event: The Broadway Block Party presented by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME)
NEW TIME: 3:00 PM [cancelled due to severe weather]
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
Hosted by Bryan Campione, join DJ Mike Borowski as he spins Broadway hits in the middle of Times Square!
Event: Belt It Out On Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM [cancelled due to severe weather]
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Join Prudential all weekend at Belt It Out On Broadway, a series of Dueling Piano show-downs held right in Times Square. From specially themed programs featuring Broadway stars to spirited sing-alongs where audience members choose the tunes, rollicking good fun will be yours for the asking. This session will star pianists Rachel Kaufman and Drew Wutke!
Event: ¡Viva! Broadway Aquí y Allá (Here and There)
Time: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Location: At Mainstage on Duffy Square
¡Viva! Broadway celebrates the dynamic influence that Latin and Hispanic artists have had on the art form of Broadway. Conceived and directed by Luis Salgado, musical direction by Jaime Lozano, and written by Eric Ulloa, the concert is a celebration of history from the inspiration of early songwriters to the authentic voices and stories of Broadway today. Participants include Andréa Burns (The Rose Tattoo), Tami Dahbura (Kinky Boots, 1st Nat.), Matías De La Flor (Camelot), Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella), Javier Ignacio (Company), Angel Sigala (New York, New York), Martín Solá (How To Dance In Ohio), Tony Award®-Winner Emilio Sosa (Sweeney Todd) and Maria Bilabo (On Your Feet!, Westchester Broadway Theatre), along with Mayelah Barrera (“La Familia”), Florencia Cuenca (A Never Ending Line), Henry Gainza (Mr. Saturday Night), Mario Tadeo (Teatro Latea), Pablo Torres (¡Americano!), and ensemble members Angelica Beliard (SUMMER, The Donna Summer Musical), Adriel Flete (Hamilton, Angelica Tour), Megan Elyse Fulmer (¡Americano!), Christian Galvis (Film: “No Hard Feelings”), Henry Gendron (MJ The Musical), Anna Guerra (Transcendences Theater Company The Gala), Yani Marin (Dancin’), Jenny Mollet (The Color Purple), and Ralphie Rivera (On Your Feet!, 2nd National Tour). Band members include Lozano, Alejandro Berti, Jonathan Gomez, Daniel Gutierrez (Assoc. MD), Alex Hamlin, Yahir Montes, Hugo Moreno, Victor Pablo, Ruben Rodriguez, and Alberto Toro. ¡Viva! Broadway Aquí y Allá has additional staff support from Matt Steffens (Associate Choreographer), Claudia Mulet (Associate Director), Rodrido Munôz (Costume Coordination), Rodrigo Herrera (Production Stage Manager) and Majo Ferrucho (Assistant Stage Manager).
Concert: Curtain Up After Dark presents Rockers on Broadway
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Presented by Prudential, Curtain Up After Dark welcomes the return of Rockers On Broadway: Live in Times Square, benefiting The PATH Fund. Join Broadway’s Donnie Kehr (Jersey Boys), and his band as they rock the stage with Broadway and contemporary rock-n-roll hits, alongside special guests including Gerard Canonico (Almost Famous), Maya Days (Aida), Keirsten Nicole Hodgens (SIX: The Musical), Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys), Jennifer Perry (Kinky Boots), Nick Prez (The Circle of Eyes), Max Sangerman (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), Jeremy Schonfeld (Iron & Coal), Bligh Voth (The Band’s Visit), Aléna Watters (Bad Cinderella), and PATH Fund Student Performers Claudia Fabella, Isabelle Gottfried, Avery Rehl, GG Roberts-Nguyen, Matteo Russo, Sylvia Smith, Jurnee Swan and Audrey Simone Winters. The Rockers On Broadway band includes Kehr, Prez, Gary Bristol, Hidayat Honari, Jay Leslie, John Putnam, and Dan Weiner. The concert is executive produced by Cori Gardner, with additional support from Michael T. Clarkson (Stage Manager) and Mitchell “Bubbles” Keller (Production Manager).
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2023
Concert: Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM; rain or shine [paused at 11:30am, restarted at 12pm]]
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
An exciting, outdoor event that marks the culmination of Curtain Up Broadway Festival, the Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway concert will feature live musical performances and special guest star appearances highlighting the current Broadway season. Hosted by Eric McCormack (The Cottage), the concert will be broadcast live on WABC. Participating shows include: & Juliet; A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical; Aladdin; Back to the Future: The Musical; The Book of Mormon; Chicago; The Cottage; Hadestown; Harmony; Here Lies Love; How to Dance in Ohio; Jaja’s African Hair Braiding; Kimberly Akimbo; The Lion King; Melissa Etheridge: My Window; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; The Shark Is Broken; Shucked; SIX: The Musical; Some Like It Hot; Spamalot; Wicked; and more to be announced. C
The Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway WABC finale broadcast will be directed by Michael J. Moritz Jr. and written by Eric Ulloa with musical direction by Andrew Resnick and live music provided by The Music Performance Trust Fund and The Film Fund. Devon Miller of Foresight Theatrical serves as General Manager.
Event: Belt It Out On Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets)
Join Prudential all weekend at Belt It Out On Broadway, a series of Dueling Piano show-downs held right in Times Square. From specially themed programs featuring Broadway stars to spirited sing-alongs where audience members choose the tunes, rollicking good fun will be yours for the asking. This session will star pianists Sarah Glassman and Drew Wutke!
