Playbill and the Times Square Alliance are PROUD to partner on and announce today an exhilarating Pride In Times Square list of free events on NYC Pride Weekend, June 23 – 24, 2023.  With top-stage and screen celebrities, Broadway/Off-Broadway productions, local Times Square business promotions, Pride Piano Bar sessions, live DJ sets, a TNB2S+ Pride celebration, a Drag Pride celebration, the return of last year’s The Big Broadway Disco, and more, Pride in Times Square promises to be an exciting celebration and a great addition to New York City’s celebration of Pride right at the Crossroads of the World.

New additions to the event line up include the Anthems of Pride concert presented by America Express hosted by Tituss Burgess, special guest Drag Queens from “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” appearing with ViiV Healthcare’s “Celebrate You!” event, Amazon Music DJ’s spinning at the Audible Theater Double Decker Bus, additional performances from the new off-Broadway musical Rock & Roll Man, pianist Drew Wutke and more.  Event details can be found below.

Then, on Sunday June 25, 2023, the Playbill Pride Float returns to the NYC Pride March, supporting their partner Heritage of Pride (Pride NYC).  Including customized double decker buses from some of the events’ sponsors, the Pride March participation helps to round out an amazing weekend of diversity, equity, education, and celebration.

Pride In Times Square is sponsored by American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible, 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.

Pride in Times Square’s main stage will celebrate dynamic voices in the community, and support the continued fight for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all. Special guests, concerts, surprise performances and more will take the stage on Friday June 23^rd and Saturday June 24^th.  A full list of events is below. 

For the second year in a row, Playbill and Times Square will celebrate Pride like never before. Times Square will “ignite the night” with THE BIG BROADWAY DISCO – a large-scale street party that invites revelers to dance through Times Square to classic and contemporary Broadway songs and performances – all with a disco flare and performed in the heart of New York City: Times Square. With the Playbill Pride Float acting as a focal point for the night, guests will experience a Pride celebration like no other, while entertained by DJ’s, performers, dancers, fabulous costumes, and more on Saturday June 24^th beginning at 5:00pm. #BwayDisco See below for added performers and more.

Pride 2023 will host, in the heart of Times Square, the Pride Piano Bar Stage! Audiences will be able to take photos with the one-of-a-kind designed piano and stay for piano sing-along performances and piano concerts throughout both days, led by top-Broadway musicians and performers. A list of events is below. 

Pedestrians and audiences in Times Square will have the opportunity to connect with Pride in Times Square sponsors American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible Theater with exciting and interactive Double Decker Buses, acting as anchor points for audiences to experience on Friday June 23^rd and Saturday June 24^th.  Select buses will then become part of the NYC Pride March on Sunday June 25^th down 5^th Avenue.  Guests can also interact with small businesses in front of American Express’ bus at the Merchant pop-up.

Audible will celebrate Pride with the LGBTQIA+ community, their employees and colleagues across Theater. As a supporter of queer storytelling, Audible Theater works with artists to bring their stories to live audiences at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre and to millions of listeners globally.  Visit Audible Theater at Pride in Times Square to hear Amazon Music DJs spinning favorite songs from the “PROUD playlist” as a feel-good lead up to the NYC Pride Parade! Then join us on Friday, June 23 at 7pm for “Alison Bechdel’s Dykes to Watch Out For – One Night Stand,” at Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane). Starring Alison Bechdel, Roberta Colindrez, and more, this live performance will include a “Best Of” compilation from the Audible Original series, Alison Bechdel’s Dykes to Watch Out For, along with performances from Tony Award-winner Lauren Patten and Tony Award nominee Jenn Colella.

The Times Square Alliance will celebrate the best of the neighborhood’s Pride discounts, deals, giveaways, and special menu items from local businesses all month long. Special offers will appear at TSQ.org/PrideDeals from Times Square restaurants, shops, shows, and attractions that celebrate and support the most colorful month of the year. Plus, experience #SignsOfPride in Times Square with displays of Pride flags and rainbows on screens and billboards throughout the Crossroads of the World.

SLATED PRIDE IN TIMES SQUARE MAIN STAGE PERFORMANCES

FRIDAY JUNE 23RD

2:00-2:30PM – Pride Kick Off Celebration

Pride in Times Square kicks off with guest speakers from Playbill, Times Square Alliance, presenting sponsors American Express, ViiV Healthcare and Audible Theater, Broadway hosts James T Lane and L Morgan Lee, Broadway artists Andrew Keenan Bolger and Eric Ulloa, special performances from Brandon Contreras, Madison Rose, and special guests from The NYC Unity Project, The NYC Commission on Human Rights, GLAAD, Hotel Edison, Open Jar Studios and more. The event will ignite excitement on the main stage and include a celebratory countdown to the official event start!

2:30-3:00pm – The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Pride Celebration

Special guest performer Pepper MaShay, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), business voice of the LGBTQ+ community and certifying body for LGBTQ+-owned businesses nationwide, and Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace, will join Pride in Times Square to present NGLCC/Grubhub Community Impact Grant Program funds to NYC-based LGBTQ+ and allied bars and restaurants.

3:30-4:15PM – ViiV Healthcare presents: “Celebrate You!”

ViiV Healthcare celebrates the choices that make us all unique. It’s time to embrace-not-erase. Hosted by Yuhua Hamasaki, audiences in Times Square will experience an amazing line up of proudly queer talent including stars from “Ru Paul’s Drag Race”: Pandora Boxx, Jackie Cox, stand-up comic/actor Jes Tom, activist Marti Cummings, and a special sing-along moment with The American Theatre Wing, as they celebrate and support our queens everywhere.

5:15-7:00PM – “Anthems of Pride” presented by American Express

A long-standing supporter of Broadway, American Express will present the first Anthems of Pride concert on the Playbill Main Stage. Theaters across the globe have been recognized as safe spaces for generations and Anthems of Pride will celebrate the deep-rooted relationship between the LGBTQIA+ community and Broadway.  Host Tituss Burgess (Broadway: The Little Mermaid, Apple TV: “Schmicago”, Netflix: “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) joins cast members from over 20 long-running classics and new smash-hit productions including & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, The Cottage, Funny Girl, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, Life of Pi, The Lion King, Little Shop of Horrors, New York, New York, Parade, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Play That Goes Wrong, Shucked, SIX, Some Like It Hot, Titanique, and Wicked who will perform in this inaugural celebration of musical anthems from the Pride community. 

SATURDAY JUNE 24TH 

11:15AM-12:00PM – Spotlight On: TNB2S+ Songwriters

Join Breaking the Binary Theatre and director JJ Maley (they/he/ze) as they showcase the work of some of the brightest transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) composers writing in the theater today including Emerson Mae Smith (she/her) & Murphy Taylor Smith (she/her), Jamie Jarrett (they/he), Nora Schell (they/them), Truth Future Bachman (they/them) and more! Samy Nour Younes Figaredo (he/him/they/them) is an additional performer and Marti Gould Cummings (they/them) hosts. 

12:30PM-1:30PM – Pride in Times Square Presents: The NYC Gay Men’s Chorus

The NYC Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates Pride with a concert of songs performed in the heart of New York City: Times Square!

5:00-7:30PM – Second Annual Big Broadway Disco

Playbill and Times Square will “ignite the night” with the second-annual BIG BROADWAY DISCO – a large-scale street party that invites revelers to dance the night away to classic and contemporary Broadway songs and performances – all with a disco flare and performed in the heart of New York City: Times Square. Guests will experience a Pride celebration like no other, while entertained by DJ Mike Borowski, with special guest appearances including Frankie James Grande, performances by Hernando Umana, Will Mann, Christine Dwyer, Diana Huey, Eric Krop, Anita Welch, Jessie Alagna and Jaygee Macapugayfrom Here Lies Love, dance performances from Tori Manoli, Estelle Rivera, Eliana Slurzburg, Andrew Richard Norlen, Jaylon Mccraven, and Rocco Duranti, specialty acts from Mendel Roman, Bassam Kubba, Holly Dae Devin Wilams, and Hudson, fabulous costumes, and more on Saturday June 24^th beginning at 5:00pm. #BwayDisco.

(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, and production stage management by Sydney Steele & Mason Huse)

SLATED PRIDE PIANO BAR PERFORMANCES 

FRIDAY JUNE 23RD

12:15-1:00pm & 1:15pm-2:00pm – The Playbill Pride Mix

2021 Richard Rodgers Award-winning pianist Brandon James Gwinn shares in song and celebration on the Pride Piano Bar Stage!

3:00-3:30pm – Eric Krop in Times Square

Eric Krop (Broadway: Godspell, TV: FOX’s I Can See Your Voice) shares original songs and stories, celebrating Pride in Times Square.

4:15-4:45pm – The NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity Presents the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Pride Kick Off

Members of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity, the Unity Project, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and more kick-off the inaugural year of Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Pride! SYEP is launching this initiative to connect young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ with supportive, welcoming summer jobs and career experiences. The kick-off for this exciting new program will include songs, stories, and guest speakers!

SATURDAY JUNE 24TH 

10:45-11:15am – Rock & Roll Man Pride Concert

The new hit off-Broadway musical Rock & Roll Man cast will celebrate pride and sing classics by legends such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Buddy Holly and more. Performers include: Joe Pantoliano, AJ Davis, Jamonte, Lawrence Dandridge, Eric Turner, Valisia Lekae and Matthew Morgan. 

12:00-12:30pm – Lianah Sta. Ana – Songs from “Performing Filipina”

Lianah Sta. Ana (Broadway: Miss Saigon, Nat. Tour: Waitress) will share songs and stories from her musical, Performing Filipina, with Amaya Braganza (The King and I), Emily Anne Goes, accompanist Melody Valdez (Nat Tour: Associate Music Director, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical) and more, celebrating Pride in Times Square.

1:30-2:00pm – Billy Recce in Times Square

Billboard Charting and award-winning composer, singer/songwriter, and playwright Billy Recce (Little Black Book, A Musical About Star Wars) and his merry band of misfits, Antwayn Hopper (A Strange Loop), Lauren Robinson and MacKenzie Cannon will share his bawdy brand of songs and queer musical theatre chaos in celebration of Pride in Times Square.

2:15-3:00pm – Drew Wutke In Times Square

Acclaimed singer, musical director, accompanist and vocal coach Drew Wutke (Boston & D.C. conductor/pianist, Bebe Winans’ Born For This) will share songs and stories, celebrating Pride in Times Square.

4:30-5:00pm –Zoe Sarnak and Friends

Jonathan Larson Award-winner Zoe Sarnak (The Lonely Few), Joy Woods (Little Shop of Horrors, SIX), Jason Gotay (Broadway: Bring It On, Audible: “Where You’ll Find Me”), Helen Shen (The Lonely Few), and Rick Hip Flores (Associate Conductor, Bad Cinderella) will share Zoe’s original songs and stories, celebrating Pride in Times Square.