2011 Bryant Park Fall Festival

Bryant Park Fall Festival presented by Bank of America returns for its fourth season in the park this September 16 through September 23. Last year we brought you performances from some of New York City's best classical music, opera, jazz and dance institutions. And this year we've expanded the offerings even further to include soul, modern Chinese music, poetry, and a talk with renowned theater and opera director Peter Sellars. Kick-off your fall cultural season with a little taste of everything New York City has to offer.

Five Boroughs Music Festival, 2010 Bryant Park Fall Festival
Photo by Ana Schechter

DANCE  Last year's two dance performances attracted some of the biggest crowds seen at the Festival. This year dance fans will enjoy four nights of dance. Ballet Hispanico, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Elisa Monte Dance, and RIOULT will all grace the stage for breathtaking visual displays of athleticism and beauty.

Parsons Dance, 2010 Bryant Park Fall Festival
Photo by Ana Schechter

MUSIC  The remaining evening performances are dedicated to music of all kinds. Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber brings the funk and soul at Friday's kickoff show with Greg Tate, Vernon Reid and Melvin Van Peebles. Saturday's show will follow with music presented by the China Institute in America, a performance of classical Chinese music modernized with jazz, hip hop and electronica. Opera and Jazz round out the musical selection at the Festival. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program returns for their fourth performance of arias and duets at Fall Festival, and drummer Winard Harper will take the stage on Wednesday to lead a septet from Jazzmobile playing Jazz and African rhythms.

BAM, 2010 Bryant Park Fall Festival
Photo by Ana Schechter

AFTERNOONS  It doesn't stop there. For something a little different, we've got three afternoon events sampling poetry, production and music. City Winery, one of the Festival's food and beverage providers along with 'wichcraft, offers up a performance combining wine, poetry and music with readings by the Bowery Poetry Club on Friday. Then on Monday, expect the unexpected as operamission performs their take on Mozart's opera Le Nozze di Figaro with a new comic cliffhanger. And finally on Wednesday, The Rubin Museum of Art presents famed director Peter Sellars, who will discuss the dramatization of the Vimalakirti Sutra, one of the earliest narrative sutras relaying the teachings of Buddha.


KIDS  And we didn't forget the kids either! In partnership with Kids Club Thirteen, families will enjoy pre-performance workshops on Tuesday September 20, Thursday September 22, and Friday September 23, in addition to two special afternoon children's performances over the weekend. The City Park Foundation's PuppetMobile comes to the park on Saturday to tell the story of Bessie the Cow, and Sunday Vital Theatre Company celebrates all things pink with favorites from Pinkalicious, The Musical.



Be sure to check out the complete Fall Festival schedule on our website, and stay tuned to the blog for contests, VIP seats, backstage access and more. 


Bryant Park Fall Festival
Friday, September 16 – Friday, September 23
Afternoons & Evenings