A Look At SummerStage In Central Park's Makeover
April 25, 2019, 3:18 p.m.
The venue has better amenities for audiences and performers alike.
A rendering of what the new Central Park SummerStage will look like.
On June 1st, SummerStage in Central Park will kick off another season of music and cultural programming—this time with a slick new stage, improvements, and other amenities.
What started as an initial need to replace the stage canopy evolved into a $5.5 million upgrade that features an entirely new performance area and sound system, according to The NY Times. The new additions include better lighting, LED screens, bleacher seats for the general public and a balcony for V.I.P.s. The renovation also includes more restrooms, and spruced-up dressing rooms (with showers!) are available for performers.
The City Parks Foundation unveiled their initial lineup for the 2019 season earlier this week. The program's opening night sees Emily King, and Durand Jones and the Indications taking the stage. Standouts including Big Freedia, Japanese Breakfast, and Parquet Courts will perform in forthcoming weeks, and the legendary George Clinton will be playing one of his farewell tour dates at the venue.
As always, SummerStage is putting on shows around the five boroughs, not just in Central Park. Young M.A. is performing at Brooklyn's Betsy Head Park, and Ana Tijoux will be at Corporal Thompson Park in Staten Island, among other luminaries. The organization told the Times that their programming has a 50-50 gender split for the first time after signing with KeyChange, an initiative that seeks to rectify gender imbalances in cultural programming.
You can check out a video detailing the SummerStage in Central Park renovation, renderings and all, here.
