Coinciding with NYC Pride, Playbill and the Times Square Alliance teamed up June 23-24 for Pride in Times Square with a weekend-long event bringing together stage and screen stars, Broadway shows, LGBTQIA+ non-profits, and more between 45th and 47th Street—the heart of Broadway. See photos from Day One here, which included a star-studded Anthems of Broadway concert.
The second day of Playbill Pride 2023 started off in the morning on the Pride Piano Bar, the cast of Off-Broadway's Rock & Roll Man took the stage for a special pride concert. Cast members Constantine Maroulis, Joe Pantoliano, AJ Davis, Jamonte, Lawrence Dandridge, Eric Turner, Valisia Lekae, and Matthew Morgan sang classics by legends such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Buddy Holly, and more.
After was the concert Spotlight On: TNB2S+ Songwriters at 11:15 AM. Breaking the Binary Theatre and director JJ Maley took to the Pride in Times Square Main Stage to showcase the work of some of the brightest transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) composers writing in the theatre today, including Emerson Mae Smith and Murphy Taylor Smith, Jaime Jarrett, Nora Schell, Truth Future Bachman, Samy Nour Younes Figaredo, Heath Saunders, and host Marti Gould Cummings.
Then, Lianah Sta. Ana (cast member of Miss Saigon and Waitress) performed songs from Performing Filipina at the Pride Piano Bar. She was joined by Amaya Braganza(The King and I), Emily Anne Goes, Maya Sta. Ana, Ays Garcia, and accompanist Melody Valdez.
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
Next on the Main Stage was a special concert from The NYC Gay Men's Chorus directed by John Atorino, performing "Home" by Phillip Phillips and "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez.
After that, at the Pride Piano Bar, Billboard-charting composer, singer-songwriter, and playwright Billy Recce (Little Black Book), joined by Antwayn Hopper (A Strange Loop), Lauren Robinson, and MacKenzie Cannon performed some of Recce's bawdy songs, creating queer musical theatre chaos. Music director and vocal coach Drew Wutke brought his own songs and stories following their performances.
Antwayn Hopper
Kayleen Bertrand
The final performance on the Pride Piano Bar was by Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Zoe Sarnak, joined by Joy Woods (Little Shop of Horrors), Jason Gotay (Bring It On), Helen Shen (The Lonely Few), and Rick Hip Flores (Bad Cinderella).
Closing out Pride in Times Square on the Main Stage was the second annual Big Broadway Disco, which begins at 5 PM. The large-scale street party invited attendees to dance the night away to showtunes old and new—all newly arranged with some disco flare. On hand for the exciting party was DJ Mike Borowski, Frankie James Grande, Hernando Umana, Will Mann, Diana Huey, Eric Krop, Leanne Smith, Anita Welch, Jessie Alagna, Tori Manoli, Estelle Rivera, Eliana Slurzburg, Andrew Richard Norlen, Jaylon Mccraven, Rocco Duranti, Mendel Roman, Bassam Kubba, Holly Dae, Devin Williams, and Hudson, along with Here Lies Love's Jaygee Macapugay and Moulin Rouge!'s Sophie Carmen-Jones, Tasia Jungbauer, David Merino and Jacqueline B. Arnold. The Big Broadway Disco was 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 and Mason Huse, and additional production support from Madeline O'Hara and Alexander Friedland.
Nora Schell and guests at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Attendees were also able to connect with Pride in Times Square sponsors, which included American Express, ViiV Healthcare, and Audible. Interactive double-decker buses were on site with experiences to explore. Audible's area featured Amazon Music DJs spinning songs from the PROUD Playlist.
Throughout the weekend, local businesses offered discounts, deals, giveaways, and special menu items to help celebrate Pride Month. Visit TSQ.org/PrideDeals for more details. The Alliance also arranged displays of Pride flags and rainbows on screens and billboards throughout Times Square for a special #SignsofPride campaign.
Pride in Times Square was 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 NYC Unity Project.
Nora Schell and guests at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Emerson Mae Smith
Kayleen Bertrand
Emerson Mae Smith
Kayleen Bertrand
Emerson Mae Smith
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Emerson Mae Smith
Kayleen Bertrand
George Struss
Kayleen Bertrand
Marti Cummings
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests enjoying the American Express activation at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Marti Cummings
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Heath Saunders
Kayleen Bertrand
Heath Saunders
Kayleen Bertrand
Heath Saunders
Kayleen Bertrand
Heath Saunders
Kayleen Bertrand
JJ Maley, Emerson Mae Smith, Jaime Jarrrett, Heath Saunders, Truth Future Bachman, Nora Schell, Marti Cummings, and George Struss
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Audible at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Lianah Sta. Ana
Kayleen Bertrand
Maya Sta. Ana, Amaya Braganza, Lianah Sta. Ana, Ays Garcia, and Emily Anne Goes
Kayleen Bertrand
Maya Sta. Ana, Amaya Braganza, Lianah Sta. Ana, Ays Garcia, and Emily Anne Goes
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Playbill's Pride March Float
Kayleen Bertrand
Playbill's Pride march float
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests enjoying the American Express activation at Playbill's Pride in Times Square
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill Pride 2023
Kayleen Bertrand
New York City Gay Men's Choir
Kayleen Bertrand
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
New York City Gay Men's Choir
Kayleen Bertrand
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
Brandon Arnold, Brian Bowersock, Charley Sullivan, David Levitz, David Warner, Gennaro Fredella, Helio Sepulveda, Jordan Barbakoff, Justina Figueroa, Kent Dennis, Lee Rayment, Mathew Kelley, Mykael Hill, Patrick Leader, Rune Lauridsen, Scott Abrams, Tom Miner, Adam Barrett, Alan Anderson, Alex Sisk, Andy Ho, Brian Schott, Bruce Ward, Charlie Rickle, Darren Trotter, Greg Rider, Jim Vivyan, John Patrick Sullivan, Josh Ben-Ami, Michael Danz, Nathan Kendrick, Patrick Bodd, Philip Jeffery, Russell Johns, Schuyler Robinson, Stephen Brown, Wayne Yeh, Troy Blackwell, Adam Sanford, Argenis Mendoza, Arthur Brost, Christopher Tucker, Conor Flood, David Lorenzo Lopez, Domingo Diaz Jr., Ian Stephenson, Nathan Fosbinder, Steven Chaiken, Steven Neinstedt, Tim Howard, Wonpyo Yun, Christopher Totten, Dan Baillie, Daniel Stravino, Dave Bolton, Dîanté Aiken, Frank Stancati, Gary Farris, Henry Lubowe, Jon Ferrari, Marc Wakim, Martin Borromeo, Max Bahneman, Patrick Butler, Philip Bialer, Sam Gradess, Takefumi Semba, Tevis Robinson, Thom Cantey, Trevor Chauvin-DeCaro, William Zeolla, Lester Vritak, and Robby Thompson
Kayleen Bertrand
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
Guest at Playbill Pride 2023
Kayleen Bertrand
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
NYC Gay Men's Chorus
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill Pride 2023
Kayleen Bertrand
Guests at Playbill Pride 2023
Kayleen Bertrand
Billy Recce and Lauren Robinson
Kayleen Bertrand
Billy Recce
Kayleen Bertrand
Billy Recce and Lauren Robinson
Kayleen Bertrand
Billy Recce and MacKenzie Cannon
Kayleen Bertrand
Billy Recce and Antwayn Hopper
Kayleen Bertrand
Antwayn Hopper
Kayleen Bertrand
Antwayn Hopper
Kayleen Bertrand
Drew Wutke
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray and Drew Wutke
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray and Drew Wutke
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray and Drew Wutke
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray
Molly Higgins
Drew Wutke
Molly Higgins
Guests at Playbill Pride's Piano Bar
Molly Higgins
Alyssa Wray
Molly Higgins
Guests at Playbill Pride's Piano Bar
Molly Higgins
Helen Shen and Jason Gotay
Molly Higgins
Helen Shen, Jason Gotay, and Zoe Sarnak
Molly Higgins
Helen Shen and Joy Woods
Molly Higgins
Helen Shen, Jason Gotay, Zoe Sarnak, and Joy Woods