SummerStage
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.
2021 Schedule
THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS
* FREE
Wynton Marsalis’s name looms large in the world of jazz, and for good reason—the GRAMMY® -winning trumpeter, composer, and bandleader has helped shepherd the cultural institution of jazz into a...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, JUNE 20
CHRIS BOTTI
* $75 - $125
All patrons, over the age of two, will show a negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Health authorized polymerase chain...
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Doors open 1:30 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
CHRIS BOTTI
* $75 - $125
All patrons, over the age of two, will show a negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Health authorized polymerase chain...
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, JUNE 27
GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC
* $75 - $125
All patrons, over the age of two, will show a negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Health authorized polymerase chain...
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm (Doors open 1:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC
* $75 - $125
All patrons, over the age of two, will show a negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Health authorized polymerase chain...
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, JULY 11
GALACTIC FEATURING ANJELIKA "JELLY" JOSEPH AND SPECIAL GUEST MONONEON
* $45 - $85
All patrons, over the age of two, will show a negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Health authorized polymerase chain...
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm (Doors open 1:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
GALACTIC FEATURING ANJELIKA "JELLY" JOSEPH AND SPECIAL GUEST MONONEON
* $45 - $85
All patrons, over the age of two, will show a negative diagnostic test result for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Department of Health authorized polymerase chain...
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SATURDAY, JULY 24
SUN RA ARKESTRA / SISTAZZ OF THE NITTY GRITTY
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. The Arkestra is no stranger to SummerStage; they headlined the festival’s first-ever concert back in 1986 at the Central Park Bandshell, when they...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, JULY 25
DANCE IS! FEATURING ARTISTS FROM RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT, COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET, PARSONS DANCE, A.I.M., ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER WITH SPECIAL GUEST MADISON MCFERRIN, AND SOLES OF DUENDE WITH GUEST ARTIST, ASHA GRIFFITH
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. A dance showcase featuring some of the art form’s most exciting talents will feature performances by artists from Rennie Harris Puremovement, a company...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SATURDAY, JULY 31
THE ORIGINALS
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. Hip-hop has become a world-wide phenomenon, embedded in the sounds of pop music of every continent. But before it went global, it was...
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1
TITO NIEVES
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. Known as the “Pavarotti of Salsa,” Tito Nieves, with his booming, crystalline voice is capable of carrying an entire ensemble. The Puerto Rican-born,...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, AUGUST 8
MET OPERA SUMMER RECITAL
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. One of New York’s most iconic cultural institutions, the Metropolitan Opera will return to Central Park for its 12th year on August 8....
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14
MARC REBILLET, DJ PREMIER AND BRADY WATT
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. This supergroup brings together three innovative producers from around the country to perform live at SummerStage. Marc Rebillet gave new meaning to the...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15
ARMAND HAMMER & THE ALCHEMIST FEATURING MOOR MOTHER, KAYANA, FIELDED
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. The New York City rap scene has never been more exciting, bursting with a diverse array of talent building on the form while...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SATURDAY, AUGUST 21
ANTIBALAS
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. Antibalas (“bulletproof” in Spanish) is an ensemble of quintessentially New York musicians making original Afrobeat and Afrocaribbean-inspired jazz and funk music. Founded in...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
LAKE STREET DIVE / ALLISON RUSSELL
* $49.50 - $55
Please Note: This event will be presented in accordance with applicable public health requirements as of the date of the event; which could include changes to capacity, attendance prerequisites, procedures, and...
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, AUGUST 29
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
DOM SALVADOR SEXTET / SCREENING: DOM SALVADOR & ABOLITION
* FREE
SCHEDULE 5:30 PM – Screening of “Dom Salvador & Abolition” 7 PM – Performance by The Dom Salvador Samba Jazz Sextet This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. -- This...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
ERICA CAMPBELL
* FREE
This performance will be livestreamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org. Erica Campbell (as one-half of the dynamic gospel duo Mary Mary) has recorded seven albums, won four GRAMMYS®, sold millions of records, starred...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
(SOLD OUT) MACHINE GUN KELLY "TICKETS TO MY DOWNFALL" TOUR WITH JXDN AND KENNYHOOPLA
* $49.95 - $50
Please Note: This event will be presented in accordance with applicable public health requirements as of the date of the event; which could include changes to capacity, attendance prerequisites, procedures,...
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
DAWES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN & ERIN RAE
* $46.50
Please Note: This event will be presented in accordance with applicable public health requirements as of the date of the event; which could include changes to capacity, attendance prerequisites, procedures,...
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND
* FREE
An icon of downtown New York City art and culture, Patti Smith’s legacy is tightly woven into the fabric of its history. One of the first acts to break out...
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
SummerStage, Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
INDIGO GIRLS & ANI DIFRANCO
* $59.50 - $79.50
Please Note: This event will be presented in accordance with applicable public health requirements as of the date of the event; which could include changes to capacity, attendance prerequisites, procedures,...
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 6:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6
BARENAKED LADIES - LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR WITH GIN BLOSSOMS AND TOAD THE WET SPROCKET
* $59.50 - $85
Over the course of their remarkable career, Barenaked Ladies have sold over 15 million albums, written multiple top 20 hits (including radio staples “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” “If I Had...
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Doors open 5:00 pm)
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan 10021
