By: Serach Nissim
Bryant Park wants to be the place to be this summer.
Manhattan’s Town Square park has released its schedule of events for Summer of 2022, and it includes a busy lineup of free shows—including New York City Opera, classical music and dance. As reported by Crain’s NY, since the pandemic hit, shuttering many indoor venues, Bryant Park stepped up to provide arts organizations with access to its outdoor performance spaces. While the city park has put on shows for decades, 2021 was the most bustling the park ever had—and 2022 is slated to top it.
The pandemic led many new institutions to perform at Bryant Park, and those events are eager to come back this year. “That introduced us to institutions who didn’t think of a park as a place to do their work,” said Dan Fishman, director of public events at the Bryant Park Corporation. “We were the place to be last summer.” Luckily, just before the pandemic, the park made some additions- including creating a covered stage, hanging lights and a new sound system. The upgrades, made thanks to support from its longtime sponsor Bank of America, allowed Bryant Park to step up when the city needed it most. “We went from being a presenter and producer to being a platform for New York City’s arts institutions to do their work”, said Fishman.
For 2022, the jam packed lineup for events begins right before Memorial Day weekend. It includes: the New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall, American Symphony Orchestra, Rafiq Ghatia, Ian Chang, contemporary dance, tap dance, Ballet Hispánico and even Steinway is hauling over pianos.
The programs target audiences who are not always able to purchase such tickets to opera or dance performances, said Dan Biederman, executive director of the Bryant Park Corporation. The schedule also suits classical music or dance enthusiasts who feel the lack of performances available during the months of July and August, he added. “The city isn’t empty!” Biederman said. “I always thought there was a void in the summer for music and dance.”
Last summer, the park required audiences to show proof of vaccination proof and wear masks. This year, if all stays well, those Covid-19 precautions have been lifted. The evening shows begin at 7 p.m., and are free of charge. Some of the performances will also be livestreamed. As usual, there are also a plethora of daytime events and performances scheduled. A full schedule can be found at their website at https://bryantpark.org/programs.
