New York City’s largest free outdoor performing arts festival is back and better than
ever, with hundreds of performers in store and a newly renovated flagship venue in
Central Park for the 2019 Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage.
The complete lineup announced on April 23 will bring 200 renowned artists and
rising stars from all musical genres, dance, film and other creative arts to 18 public
parks across the city. Since enlisting Capital One as a presenting sponsor in 2015,
the SummerStage series has brought more than 500 artists to 800,000 audience members for
free. This is the first year in which Capital One is the title sponsor of the event thanks to a multiyear
deal as part of the festival’s revitalization project.
“This is a very big year for SummerStage. Not only are we reopening our storied Central
Park venue, modernizing it for its next 30 years, but we are also partnering with our new title
sponsor and looking to the future by launching the season with young musicians representing
the next generation,” said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation.
“Of course, throughout the summer, we will present a line-up that is reflective of our city’s
population, focusing not only on gender equality, but also on the huge diversity of cultures and
backgrounds that make New York so special and exciting.”
The Central Park venue underwent a major transformation during the past year thanks to
$5.5 million in upgrades including a new stage and sound system, enhanced lighting, new and
raised seating areas, and improved dressing rooms and production spaces. Select areas of the
venue will also be outfitted with furniture and decor in collaboration with West Elm.
Other parks that will host shows during the festival include Jackie Robinson Park in
Manhattan, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn,
Corporal Thompson Park in Staten Island, Soundview Park in the Bronx, and many more.
Summerstage has a long history of presenting artists who are on the verge of breaking out,
and it focuses on giving native New Yorkers a platform in their home city. As a women-run
festival with a mission of diversity and inclusion, SummerStage also proudly features a 50:50
gender balance in performers. Check out some of the feature performers here, and be sure to
visit cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage to see the complete lineup running from June 1 to
Sept. 24.
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