Central Park SummerStage is a program of the City Parks Foundation and presents performances of outstanding artistic quality. Every year the artists chosen reflect a range of genres and cultures and perform in an outdoor setting accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. In this way SummerStage strives to develop a deepening appreciation for contemporary, traditional, and emerging artists as well as the communities in which these artists originate.

Recognizing the importance and vitality of dance, SummerStage has in recent seasons significantly expanded the role of its dance series within the overall program. It has done this by awarding commissions to important emerging and established choreographers and companies, and by increasing the number of works and companies presented.

The spoken word series at SummerStage provides a highly respected open forum for a variety of esteemed novelists, playwrights, performers, poets, memoirists, and lyricists. In addition to readings, the series also presents one-person theatrical productions. As SummerStage events are extremely well publicized, the spoken word series garners a larger and more diverse audience than is usually found at book and poetry readings, or even at many theaters.

SummerStage’s American and World music program has earned an international reputation for its consistent excellence and a diversity of styles and influences found at no other performing arts festival or venue. Over the years, SummerStage has hosted music legends as well as emerging artists whose SummerStage performance provided significant exposure. The festival’s evening “cabaret series” spotlights artists (such as singer/songwriters and jazz vocalists) in a more intimate setting than large-scale afternoon concerts.

In 1994, SummerStage became a program of the City Parks Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and maintaining parks throughout New York City. A public/private partnership, SummerStage is presented in cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
Recent performers at SummerStage have included The Finn Brothers, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ben Folds, David Murray, Toni Morrisson, Rufus Wainwright, Randy Brecker and Peter Washington.

SummerStage

This year, SummerStage will bring New Yorkers nearly 80 free and benefit shows to Central Park and 12 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs, including at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Crotona Park in the Bronx, Stapleton Waterfront Park in Staten Island, and its “flagship” venue at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.

“SummerStage is back for another exceptional year of free programming,” Heather Lubov, City Parks Foundation’s executive director, said in a statement. “It’s an honor to bring to parks artists that are reflective of each neighborhood’s rich cultural fabric, whether these performers are familiar or completely new discoveries. Feeling the joy and wonder of live music with other New Yorkers is an experience that is unmatched and should not be underestimated. At a time when we are increasingly isolated, SummerStage uses our city’s parks—vital resources in every neighborhood—to connect audiences with each other in a very emotional and magical way and, ultimately, to create community.”

SummerStage line-up for 2024!

For more info about schedule and tickets, check out cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage.