FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 28, 2018 • SUMMER FUN • THE QUEENS COURIER 61
summer fun
Photo via Facebook/The Ronald Reagans Big 80s Show
Enjoy great music in the great outdoors of Queens this summer!
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
From opera to disco, 1980s pop and
even a popular Broadway musical, you
can enjoy evenings of awesome entertainment
for absolutely free at parks across
Queens all summer long.
Throughout July and August, the New
York City Parks Department has a number
of free performances scheduled at
parks throughout the “World’s Borough.”
The lineup includes the 2018 Waterfront
Concert Series at Astoria Park, sponsored
by the Central Astoria Local Development
Corporation, scheduled for five consecutive
Thursdays beginning on July 12. The
series kicks off that date with “Dancin’
Machine” performing classic songs from
the disco era.
The Waterfront Concert Series also
includes a doowop concert featuring “The
Devotions” on July 19; the “Motor City
Revue” Motown concert on July 26; a rock
and roll concert featuring “Bargain,” a
The Who tribute band on Aug. 2; and jazz
and swing music featuring “Fleur Seule”
on Aug. 9.
Each performance takes place from 7 to
9 p.m. on the Great Lawn at Astoria Park,
located on Shore Boulevard between the
Hell Gate Bridge and the Astoria Pool.
Visit centralastoria.org or call 718-728-
7820 for more information.
Other concerts scheduled to take place
at Queens parks this summer include the
following:
• The Metropolitan Opera will return to
Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island
City this Friday, June 29, for its Summer
Recital Series. Three Met performers will
entertain the crowd with arias and duets
from many classical operas. The concert
runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Socrates
Sculpture Park, Vernon Boulevard and
Broadway.
• If you’re heading out for a day at
Rockaway Beach on Friday, July 6, stick
around to dance the night away with
the City Stompers at a square dance off
the boardwalk. The hoedown takes place
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Beach 94th Street
off Shore Front Parkway in Rockaway
Beach.
• Feel the drums beat at Alley Pond Park
on Tuesday, July 10, as the Japanese
drummers from Takoza take the stage.
The energetic group from Japan will
break out the big drums (Taiko) and
showcase a rich tradition of music that
will entertain the eyes and ears alike.
The show takes place from 10:30 to
11:30 a.m. at the park located off the
corner of 76th Avenue and Springfield
Boulevard.
• Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island
City will host another exciting evening
of music on Thursday, July 12, when it
showcases jazz saxophonist Eric Wyatt.
The performance is presented in partnership
with the Jazz Foundation of
America. The concert takes place from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• If you can’t make it to Broadway for a
night of theater, head over to the Seuffert
Bandshell in Forest Park on Thursday,
July 12, as Plaza Theatrical Productions
presents their production of “Sister Act.”
It’s based on the popular 1992 movie
starring Whoopi Goldberg as a singer
in witness protection disguised as a nun
in a convent. The curtain rises at 7:30
p.m. at the Seuffert Bandshell, located
off the corner of Woodhaven Boulevard
and Forest Park Drive. Sterling National
Bank and the Forest Park Trust sponsor
the performance.
• Get a “Ticket to Ride” over to
Cunningham Park on Thursday,
July 12, for a performance featuring
“BritishMania,” a Beatles tribute band.
They’ll perform some of the Fab Four’s
greatest hits, and afterward, you can
even take photos with the band members.
The show takes place from 7:30 to
9:30 p.m. at Cunningham Park, located
off the corner of 196th Street and Union
Turnpike. (In the event of rain, the concert
will take place on July 19).
• Rock out at the Seuffert Bandshell in
Forest Park on Sunday afternoon, July
15, as The Lunatix perform classic rock
songs. The show takes place from 2 to
3:30 p.m. and is presented by the Forest
Park Trust.
• If you love 1980s music, well, you’ll want
to head out the Seuffert Bandshell on
Thursday night, July 19, as The Ronald
Reagans perform classic songs from the
beloved decade. Rock out with Ronnie
from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at this concert sponsored
by Councilman Robert Holden.
• Come back to the Seuffert Bandshell on
Sunday afternoon, July 22, for a performance
by Plastic Soul, which will feature
rock favorites from the 1960s and 1970s.
The show runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• The following week, Sunday, July 29,
the Bill Gati Duo will visit the Seuffert
Bandshell and perform show tunes
from Broadway classics including Les
Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera
and Fiddler on the Roof. Enjoy the show
from 2 to 3:30 p.m. that day.
• Head over to the Queens Botanical
Garden on Sunday afternoon, Aug.
12, for a “Music in the Garden” performance
featuring Women’s Raga
Massive. Using classical Indian music,
they’ll perform a series of improvised
pieces and raga-inspired tributes to
female heroes. Admission to this concert
is free with Garden admission. The
show takes place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at
Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main
St., Flushing.
• Finally, Seuffert Bandshell will host a
Four Tops revue show featuring former
lead singer Theo Peoples on Thursday
night, Aug. 16, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Enjoy some of the legendary sounds of
the Motown group and other chart-toppers.
Each of the concerts are considered
weather-permitting; check with the Parks
Department website, nycgovparks.org,
prior to performances in the event of
inclement weather.
The Ronald Reagans, a 1980s revue band, will perform on July 19 in Forest Park, one of many free summer concerts being held at parks across Queens.
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