Run This Town

Bryant Park, I’ve discovered, is full of free fun. We are now in the midst of Fall Festival, running September 13-20, featuring free after-work performances including jazz, the Met Opera, BAM, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Parsons Dance and more! Each day features a lunchtime what’s what session with the performers of the evening, giving background on the organization or highlights of the upcoming season. The shows begin at 6 p.m. each evening. 

I’m not going to be hateful and sad that the performance I was looking forward to most, as a dancer, was cancelled on Monday (The New York City Ballet, of course), when there is plenty of other artistic goodness to be had through the end of the week, including another dance opportunity. 

As posted before on Run This Town, Bryant Park also plays host to free yoga in the park through a partnership with lululemon Athletica. 

A grand highlight of my summer, however, was the Broadway in Bryant Park series, hosted each Thursday in July and August at lunch time. For one hour, five amazing shows gave a quick performance to the packed park, as show-goer’s enjoyed a picnic and a little sunshine. I pulled up a green folding chair for Avenue Q, The Fantastiks, Freestyle Love Supreme, Million Dollar Quartet and my personal coup de grace, Fela!

What a fabulous way to promote the shows and give back a little treat to the people of New York City? I had never heard of any of the shows, aside from Fela! (because I’m personally obsessed with it) but died laughing at the puppets of Avenue Q, had my mind blown by the improvised freestyling of Freestyle Love Supreme and was amused and delighted by the others. 

I went back to the office with a smile on my face, and at 2 p.m. on Thursday, what more could you ask for? 

Keep an eye on the constant goings-on at Bryant Park here.