New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Tourism, and The Broadway League will celebrate Broadway with a free concert in Times Square September 7 at 11 AM, rain or shine. The event, titled Founded By Broadway, will celebrate the past, present, and future of the beloved NYC theatrical institution, with the performance held at the Duffy Square end of Times Square near the iconic TKTS red steps, at 46th and 47th Streets between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The concert is part of NYC Tourism's Founded By NYC campaign, launched last year to celebrate the city's 400th anniversary.
The outdoor event will feature performances from a number of Broadway shows, including Aladdin, & Juliet, The Book of Mormon, Buena Vista Social Club, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Chicago, Death Becomes Her, The Great Gatsby, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hell's Kitchen, Just in Time, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Maybe Happy Ending, MJ, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, The Outsiders, Punch, SIX: The Musical, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and Wicked. Individual performers are to be announced.
“For well over 100 years, a small stretch of theatres in the heart of Manhattan has transported audiences across the entire world and through time," says Mayor Adams in a statement. "From stories set as close as Hell’s Kitchen to epic adventures in far-off lands, Broadway has inspired generations of New Yorkers and visitors alike with its creativity, energy, and ambition. The story of Broadway is the story of New York City, and with Founded By Broadway and this Times Square concert for all to partake in for free, we will help tell both of these stories this September. Thanks to Founded By NYC, we’re thrilled to be hosting events like this all year long as we commemorate more than four centuries of New York City history and show, once again, why we are ‘the greatest city in the world.’”
“There’s only one Broadway and there’s only one New York City. The heart of Times Square is the perfect place to celebrate Broadway’s legacy,” adds Broadway League President Jason Laks. “As we mark 400 years of this extraordinary city, the Founded By Broadway concert will bring together the energy, talent, and storytelling that define New York and inspire the world. We’re proud to be part of the Founded By NYC campaign and to showcase the artists, productions, and performances that continue to make Broadway a cultural cornerstone and economic engine for our city.”
“Broadway is synonymous with a visit to New York City, and what better way to celebrate 400 years than with a free, live concert in the center of it all, Times Square,” says NYC Tourism President and CEO Julie Coker. “As a marquee moment of our Founded By NYC campaign, this celebration will spotlight our renowned theatre scene and launch NYC Broadway Week, offering 2-for-1 admission to a variety of remarkable shows this season while supporting local businesses in the theater district.”
