Broadway celebrates Pride at Playbill and Times Square Alliance's second annual Pride in Times Square, continuing June 24. The free—and fabulous—weekend-long celebration of all things Broadway and Pride is taking over the heart of NYC's theatre district for NYC Pride Weekend, rain or shine. Events are scheduled in Times Square, with the weekend culminating as the Playbill Pride Float returns to the NYC Pride March June 25, supporting the organization Heritage of Pride.
Kicking off Saturday programming on the Pride in Times Square Main Stage is Spotlight On: TNB2S+ Songwriters at 11:15 AM. Join Breaking the Binary Theatre and director JJ Maley as they showcase the work of some of the brightest transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) composers writing in the theatre today, including Emerson Mae Smith and Murphy Taylor Smith, Jaime Jarrett, Nora Schell, Truth Future Bachman, Samy Nour Younes Figaredo, Heath Saunders, and host Marti Gould Cummings.
Next up is a special concert from The NYC Gay Men's Chorus. Directed by John Atorino, the ensemble will perform beginning at 12:30 PM.
Closing out Pride in Times Square from the Main Stage will be the second annual Big Broadway Disco, which begins at 5 PM. The large-scale street party invites attendees to dance the night away to showtunes old and new—all newly arranged with some disco flare. On hand for the exciting party will be DJ Mike Borowski, Frankie James Grande, Hernando Umana, Will Mann, Diana Huey, Eric Krop, Leanne Smith, Anita Welch, Jessie Alagna, Tori Manoli, Estelle Rivera, Eliana Slurzburg, Andrew Richard Norlen, Jaylon Mccraven, Rocco Duranti, Mendel Roman, Bassam Kubba, Holly Dae, Devin Williams, and Hudson, along with Here Lies Love's Jaygee Macapugay and Moulin Rouge!'s Sophie Carmen-Jones, Tasia Jungbauer, David Merino and Jacqueline B. Arnold. The Big Broadway Disco is directed by Bryan Campione with choreography by Angel May Reed, specialty act direction by Adam Rei Siegel, wardrobe by DW Designs, production stage management by Sydney Steele and Mason Huse, and additional production support from Madeline O'Hara and Alexander Friedland.
Pride Piano Bar events kick off at 10:45 AM as the cast of Off-Broadway's Rock & Roll Man take the stage for a special pride concert. Cast members Constantine Maroulis, Joe Pantoliano, AJ Davis, Jamonte, Lawrence Dandridge, Eric Turner, Valisia Lekae, and Matthew Morgan will sing classics by legends such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Buddy Holly, and more.
Next up at 12 noon will be Miss Saigon and Waitress star Lianah Sta. Ana, performing songs from Performing Filipina. She'll be joined by Amaya Braganza (The King and I), Emily Anne Goes, Maya Sta. Ana, Ays Garcia, and accompanist Melody Valdez.
Following at 1:30 PM will be Billboard-charting composer, singer-songwriter, and playwright Billy Recce (Little Black Book), joined by Antwayn Hopper (A Strange Loop), Lauren Robinson, and MacKenzie Cannon. The trio will sing some of Recce's bawdy songs and create queer musical theatre chaos. Music director and vocal coach Drew Wutke will bring his own songs and stories beginning at 2:15 PM.
Closing out the Pride Piano Bar will be Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Zoe Sarnak at 4:30 PM, joined by Joy Woods (Little Shop of Horrors), Jason Gotay (Bring It On), Helen Shen (The Lonely Few), and Rick Hip Flores (Bad Cinderella).
Attendees will also be able to connect with Pride in Times Square sponsors, which include American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible. Interactive double-decker buses will be on site with experiences to explore. Audible's area will feature Amazon Music DJs spinning songs from the PROUD Playlist.
Throughout the weekend, local businesses will be offering discounts, deals, giveaways, and special menu items to help celebrate Pride Month. Visit TSQ.org/PrideDeals to find details for all promotions. The Alliance has also arranged displays of Pride flags and rainbows on screens and billboards throughout Times Square for a special #SignsofPride campaign.
Pride in Times Square is sponsored by American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible Theater, with additional support from Hotel Edison, The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Open Jar Studios, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity, and NYC Unity Project.
For a full schedule and more information, visit Playbill.com/Pride.