Playbill is thrilled and honored to be producing PLAYBILL PRIDE 2023–a series of events dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community.
In 2014, Playbill established Playbill.com/Pride, dedicated to Pride coverage and events. Each June, our iconic yellow masthead is replaced with a rainbow design in recognition of, and honoring, Pride month. With diversity, equality, equity, visibility, and inclusion as the principals guiding our programming, this year Playbill Pride will include multiple articles, events, and a one-of-a-kind celebration in Times Square Pride Weekend; all benefiting non-profits that work for and with the LGBTQIA+ community. See below for our exciting Pride event line up.
June 23 and 24, 2023
Playbill and Times Square Alliance are PROUD to partner on the second-annual Pride in Times Square–a festival of concerts, performances, sing-alongs, and interactive installations celebrating NYC Pride Weekend! With the support of Pride NYC and our sponsors American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible, top-stage and screen celebrities, LGBTQIA+ non-profit organizations, Broadway/Off-Broadway productions, and more, Pride in Times Square promises to be even more exciting and thrilling this year! #PrideinTimesSq
June 24, 2023
Join Playbill as New York and Times Square “ignite the night” with THE 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. 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, singers, performers, fabulous costumes, and more on Saturday June 24th beginning at 5pm. #BwayDisco
FRIDAY JUNE 23RD
12:15-1:00pm & 1:15-2:00pm – The Playbill Pride Mix with Brandon James Gwinn
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
Join 2021 Richard Rodgers Award-winning pianist Brandon James Gwinn,
as he shares in song and celebration on the Pride Piano Bar Stage!
2:00-2:30pm - Pride Kick Off Celebration
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
Pride in Times Square kicks off with guest speakers from Playbill, Times Square Alliance, presenting sponsors American Express, ViiV Healthcare and Audible, 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
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
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.
3:00-3:30pm – Eric Krop in Times Square
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
Join Eric Krop (Broadway: Godspell, TV: FOX’s “I Can See Your
Voice”) as he shares original songs and stories, celebrating
Pride in Times Square.
3:30-4:15pm – ViiV Healthcare presents: “Celebrate You!”
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
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 from The American Theatre Wing, led
by Tony Award-winning J Harrison Ghee and an all-star chorus
including Tony Award winner Bonnie Milligan, Alana Raquel Bowers, Annaleigh Ashford, Anthony Lee
Medina, Brandon Contreras, Cristina Pitter, Desmond Is Amazing, Devin
Lewis, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Lauren Elder, Lee
LeBreton, Matt Raffy, Melba Moore, Michael Ivan Carrier, Nic Rouleau,
Tiffany Renée Thompson and Val Ramirez as they celebrate and support our queens everywhere.
4:15-4:45pm – The NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity Presents the Summer
Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Pride Kick Off
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
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!
5:15-7:00pm – “Anthems of Pride” presented by American Express
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
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
Melanie La Barrie
(& Juliet), Will Swenson, Mark Jacoby (A
Beautiful Noise), PJ Adzima (The Book
of Mormon),
Kimberly Marable, Arian Keddell, Mary Claire King, Marty Lawson,
Jeff Gorti, Michael Scirrotto
(Chicago), Lilli Cooper, Dana Steingold, Laura Bell Bundy (The
Cottage), stage/screen star Lea Michele (Funny Girl), Reeve
Carney, Eva Noblezada and company members (Hadestown), Thayne Jasperson, Trey
Curtis, Ta-Tynisa Wilson, Johanna Moises, Laura Mendes, Kennedy Kandi (Hamilton), Colleen Fitzpatrick, Alex Vinh,
Miguel Gil, Olivia Elease Hardy, Fernell Hogan, Nina White (Kimberly
Akimbo), Uma Paranjpe (Life of Pi), Gilbert Domally (The
Lion King), Tiffany Rene, Joy Woods (Little Shop of
Horrors), Vanessa Sears (New York, New York), Howard McGillin, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Beth Kirkpatrick, Jackson Teeley, Darius-Anthony Robinson, Mika Kauffman, Micki Hardenberg, William Michals, Erin Rose Doyle, Danielle Lee Greaves, Caroline Fairweather, Tanner Callicutt, Nicole Anadyme, and Hassan (special guests and cast members from Parade), Ellie Morris, Nancy Zamit (Peter Pan
Goes Wrong), Kolby Kindle, Clyde Voce (The Play That Goes
Wrong), 2023 Tony Award winner Alex Newell (Shucked), Hailee
Kaleem Wright, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Bella Coppola, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Zoe
Jensen, Taylor Iman Jones (SIX), 2023 Tony Award winner
J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot), Anthony Murphy (Titanique), and
Mary Kate Morrissey (Wicked) who will perform in this
inaugural celebration of musical anthems from the Pride community.
(Anthems of Pride has host scripting written by Eric Ulloa.)
SATURDAY JUNE 24TH
10:45-11:15am – Rock & Roll Man Pride Concert
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
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 Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis,
Joe Pantoliano, AJ Davis, Jamonte, Lawrence Dandridge, Eric Turner,
Valisia Lekae
and Matthew Morgan.
11:15am-12:00pm – Spotlight On: TNB2S+ Songwriters
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
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), Jaime Jarrett(they/he), Nora Schell (they/them),
Truth Future Bachman (they/them), Samy Nour Younes Figaredo
(he/him/they/them), Heath Saunders (they/them), and event host
Marti Gould Cummings
(they/them).
12:00-12:30pm – Lianah Sta. Ana - Songs from Performing Filipina
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
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, Maya
Sta. Ana, Ays Garcia, and accompanist Melody Valdez (Nat
Tour: Associate Music Director, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical),
celebrating Pride in Times Square.
12:30PM-1:30pm – Pride in Times Square Presents: The NYC Gay Men’s
Chorus
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
Join the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus as they
celebrate Pride with a concert of songs, performed in the heart of New York
City: Times Square!
1:30-2:00pm – Billy Recce in Times Square
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
Join Billboard Charting and award-winning composer, singer/songwriter, and playwright Billy Recce and his merry band of misfits, Antwayn Hopper, 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
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
Join acclaimed singer, musical director, accompanist and vocal coach Drew Wutke (Boston & D.C. conductor/pianist, Bebe Winans’ Born For This) as he shares songs and stories, celebrating Pride in Times Square.
4:30-5:00pm – Zoe Sarnak and Friends
Located on Pride Piano Bar Stage
Join 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 will share Zoe’s original songs and stories, celebrating Pride in Times Square.
5:00-7:30pm – Second Annual Big Broadway Disco
Located on Pride in Times Square Main Stage
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 a guest appearance from Frankie James Grande, performances
by
Hernando Umana, Will Mann, Diana Huey, Eric Krop, Leanne Smith,
Anita Welch, Jessie Alagna, special performances from Here Lies Love (Jaygee Macapugay),
Moulin Rouge (Sophie Carmen-Jones, Tasia Jungbauer,
David MerinoandJacqueline B. Arnold), 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 Williams, and Hudson,
fabulous costumes, and more. #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, production stage management by Sydney Steele & Mason Huse and additional production support from Madeline O’Hara and Alexander Friedland.)
DAILY
INTERACTIVE PRIDE INSTALLATIONS
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 explore on Friday June 23rd and Saturday June 24th. Select buses will then
become part of the NYC Pride March on Sunday June 25th down 5th Avenue.
AUDIBLE THEATER AT PRIDE IN TIMES SQUARE
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.
TIMES SQUARE ALLIANCE BUSINESS & SOCIAL PROMOTIONS
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.
Pride In Times Square is sponsored by American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible Theater, with additional support from Hotel Edison, The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Open Jar Studios, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity and the NYC Unity Project .
Technical Event Production for Pride in Times Square is by iDeko, with General Management by ShowTown Theatricals, onsite support from Street Meet Promotions and American Sign Language accessibility services provided by Inclusive Communication Services, Inc. + Shelby Edwards.