Playbill, The Broadway League, and the Times Square Alliance, announce lineup of Broadway shows to be included in the Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway finale concert which will conclude the third-annual Curtain Up Broadway Festival, a three-day outdoor experience in Times Square presented by title sponsor Prudential Financial, with additional support from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Music Performance Trust Fund, The Film Fund, Open Jar Studios, and Hotel Edison.

Eric McCormack

The Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway finale concert will be a grand, outdoor event taking place rain or shine on Sunday, September 10 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM in Duffy Square.  Hosted by Eric McCormack, this FREE outdoor concert spotlights marquee talent and showcases current Broadway musicals and plays and will be aired live on WABC TV.

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; How to Dance in Ohio; Jaja’s African Hair Braiding; Kimberly Akimbo; The Lion King; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; The Shark Is Broken; Shucked; SIX: The Musical; Some Like It Hot; Spamalot; Wicked; and more to be announced. Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway features musical direction by Andrew Resnick with live music provided by The Music Performance Trust Fund and The Film Fund and is written by Eric Ulloa. The WABC finale broadcast is directed by Michael J. Moritz Jr.

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. #CurtainUpBway

The Festival will kick off on Friday September 8 at 2:30PM with guest speakers from Playbill, The Broadway League, Times Square Alliance, & Prudential Financial, with Broadway guest hosts Arielle Jacobs and Melody Butiu from Here Lies Love, live performances from Patti Murin (Frozen), Colin Donnell (The Shark is Broken), Jelani Remy (Back To The Future: The Musical) and Eric Krop (Godspell, TV: I Can See Your Voice), as well as special guests from The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), 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!

The Prudential Stages on Broadway Brought to You by Playbill contest hosted by Brittney Johnson, an acclaimed Broadway star who made history playing the title role of “Glinda” in the smash-hit musical Wicked, will take place on September 9^th and gives aspiring and emerging artists across the country the opportunity to capitalize on their “Now What?” moment. The winning artists will have the opportunity to network with theatre professionals – like host Brittney Johnson and contest judges Tara Rubin and Allen René Louis – and could walk away with a monetary prize of up to $10,000 plus an opportunity for financial advice from a Prudential Advisor.

¡Viva! Broadway returns in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month with a special concert presentation of Aquí y Allá (Here and There) on Saturday, September 9^th from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM in Duffy Square. Conceived and directed by Luis Salgado, the concert is a celebration of history from the inspiration of early songwriters to the authentic voices and stories of Broadway today and features musical direction by Jaime Lozano and is written by Eric Ulloa.

Eric Ulloa

Additional events include: Broadway Sing-Alongs throughout the festival on the ‘Belt It Out on Broadway’ stage, Curtain Up After Dark events featuring Broadway Sings and Rockers On Broadway, Ailey’s Revelations dance workshop, multiple Dueling Piano events at the ‘Belt It Out on Broadway’ stage, Broadway Block Parties presented by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).

For a full list of events, please see the event schedule below.  Visit Playbill.com/CurtainUp for Curtain Up Broadway Festival details (as they are announced).

“What better way to kick off a new Broadway season than to celebrate the Curtain Up Broadway Festival in Times Square. This incredible three-day festival will host special concerts, sing-alongs, and workshops, just to name a few of the many exciting events planned,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League. “Last season, Broadway had a total attendance of 12.3 million indicating just how much live theatre means to so many and its pivotal role in NYC’s economic development. We’ll wrap up the weekend with the Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway finale concert on Sunday, September 10^th and thank WABC for returning to live broadcast the star-studded show.”

“We at Playbill are extremely excited to help bring the Curtain Up Broadway Festival to Times Square once again with our friends and partners at Prudential, the Times Square Alliance, and The Broadway League,” said Alex Birsh, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President of Playbill.“It brings us so much excitement to welcome all patrons of Times Square to celebrate Broadway in such a fabulous way. Join us in the fun as we celebrate Broadway’s new season during our three days in Times Square, culminating in our finale concert on Sunday.”

“At Prudential, we recognize that Broadway and local theatres help drive inclusion and expand access to the arts for millions of people in New York City and across the globe,” said Susan Somersille Johnson, Prudential’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We are proud to be partnering once again with Playbill, The Broadway League & the Times Square Alliance to help stimulate the local economy and positively impact the industry while giving aspiring and emerging artists the opportunity to capitalize on their “Now What?” moments.”

“Broadway is the beating heart of Times Square and New York City, and we are thrilled to join our great partners at The Broadway League, Playbill, and Prudential to kick off the new season with Curtain Up Broadway Festival,” said Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance.  “We continue to see regularly over 400,000 people pass through Times Square each day, and our hope is that throughout the three-day festival we will see Broadway fans from near and far enjoying this free programming in the heart of Times Square.”

“We are so proud to support live theatre in NYC by once again partnering with Playbill, The Broadway League, and the Times Square Alliance to present the Curtain Up! Broadway Festival,” said Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Pat Swinney Kaufman. “This year our involvement will include a special presentation of the Broadway Block Party, which will provide festival goers multiple opportunities to dance and sing throughout the weekend in NYC’s iconic center of cultural activity, Times Square.”

“Thanks to The Film Fund’s Trustee, Bob Jaffe for joining with the recording industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund in supporting the musicians who make Curtain Up! and all Broadway musicals such a treasured New York experience.”  Dan Beck Trustee, Music Performance Trust Fund.

CURTAIN UP BROADWAY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

The three-day celebration will include the following events below. For a full, detailed listing of events taking place, please visit Playbill.com/CurtainUp.

(Performances are rain or shine, with times and participants subject to change.)

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
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th 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
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
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
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th 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
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th 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 20^thanniversary on Broadway this fall!

Concert: “All That Jazz” – A Celebration of Chita Rivera with the Entertainment Community Fund
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM

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 (Broadway: My Fair Lady, Film, “No Hard Feelings), 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). Plus, stay for a special appearance by Chita herself – this concert is one not to miss!

Concert: Curtain Up After Dark presents Broadway Sings: Acoustic!
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th 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 and the Broadway Sings Band (Kartes, Bryan Bisordi, David Cinquegrana, Colin Dean, Amy Griffiths, Miho Nobuzane, and Sasha Ono) 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
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th 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 a member of the Chicago cast and band.

Event: The Broadway Block Party presented by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME)
Time: 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Location: Mainstage on Duffy Square
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: 1:00 – 2:15 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th Streets)
Join Prudential all weekend at Belt It Out on Broadway, a series of Dueling Piano showdowns 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
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 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).

Event: Belt It Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential (Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th Streets)
Join Prudential all weekend at Belt It Out on Broadway, a series of Dueling Piano showdowns 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: 5:00 – 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, 1^st 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 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!, 2^nd 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
(Location in Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th 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 Schoenfeld (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
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 with participating shows including & Juliet; A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical; Aladdin; Back To The Future: The Musical; The Book of Mormon; Chicago; The Cottage; Hadestown; Harmony; How to Dance in Ohio; Jaja’s African Hair Braiding; Kimberly Akimbo; The Lion King; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; The Shark Is Broken; Shucked; SIX: The Musical; Some Like It Hot; Spamalot; Wicked; and more to be announced. Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway features musical direction by Andrew Resnick with live music provided by The Music Performance Trust Fund and The Film Fund and is written by Eric Ulloa. The WABC finale broadcast is directed by Michael J. Moritz Jr. Devon Miller of Foresight Theatrical serves as General Manager.

Event: Belt It Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Belt it Out on Broadway Dueling Pianos Presented by Prudential
(Times Square bet, 45^th and 46^th Streets)
Join Prudential all weekend at Belt It Out on Broadway, a series of Dueling Piano showdowns 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!