Illustration by Ceylan A. Sahin Eker.
The biggest performance spaces at Lincoln Center won’t be holding indoor performances until at least the Fall, but the performing arts center will be holding shows and events in a different way starting in April.
Lincoln Center’s initiative is called “Restart Stages” and it will include outdoor concerts, ceremonies and even blood drives on its 16-acre campus.
Restart Stages venues will include:
- A cabaret-style stage on Hearst Plaza
- Dedicated family and kids’ areas with arts activities for young people
- Venues for rehearsals, opening up the artistic process to visitors
- Space for public school graduations, recognizing the extraordinary achievements of students under difficult circumstances
- An outdoor reading room, created in partnership with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
It all starts on April 7 with a special concert for healthcare workers.
Lincoln Center started experimenting with outdoor performances last year.
The program’s website is here, and should soon include a schedule.
Fantastic…applause for the creativity of all involved…and thanks from your public
WONDERFUL IDEAS! WILLWAIT FOR SCHEDULE AND SURE
I WILL PARTICIPATE. GREAT!!
LC should have been doing something like this for years, rather than being force to by the pandemic. And it should continue permanently. As it is now (or before) this new initiative) the plaza is mostly, except for performance times, dead space, devoid of interest or activity. See the Met Museum plaza for contrast. Not only is the empty plaza bad urban space in itself, but it loses the opportunity to attract new people and audiences to Lincoln Center venues and to the cultural activities they represent.
Sandra, Lincoln Center DID do things like this for many years: Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Midsummer Night Swing, the Met’s opera screenings on the plaza, and performances around the pool and on the lawn. Where were you?
Agree completely! However…. I suppose the adage Better Late than Never is quite appropriate in this case!
Plaza should have tables and chairs. Maybe big screen with speakers playing past performances. Totally wasted and uninviting space.
Such great news for the culturally starved and Zoom-overloaded! I’ll be there for sure at the UWS’s crown jewel!
The new words of 2021!
“culturally starved and Zoom-overloaded”
I feel your pain indeed.
GREAT!!!!!! And thank you so very much! K
Many years ago there were outdoor events on the plaza , SESEME STREET, Chinese New Years, all kinds of Music for dancing etc . Yes it’s a fantastic idea . Best idea
It is time to reopen LC fully inside. Florida and 16 other states are fully open with no masks anywhere. They have low positivity rates so let’s get NYC open again. Open all eateries 100% and no more masks. Please. My kids are all servers and they need to get back to work. Open LC 100% and Broadway and let’s get back to normal ASAP
Florida is hard to get nationwide standard wage. Employer assumes no income tax so it won’t be the same as NYC. I hope many theaters pop-up, attendees pay generous tips to servers.
Florida residents need their local WSR. Why are they still looking at NYC WSR?
Hmm. Methinks you may not be a doctor of medicine.
Where we are in Florida servers are masked in restaurants.
And you really think people will rush to pack themselves into theaters and restaurants? I’ll pass, thank you.