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Broadway Round-Up: Outdoor Concert, Record-breaking Season, and New Shows

stars in the alley
James Monroe Iglehart, Commissioner López, and Darren Criss all took part in Stars in the Alley. Photo courtesy of MOME

June 1, 2015 - In the run-up to the Tony Awards, some of the brightest stars on Broadway were on hand for Stars in the Alley, a special outdoor concert which took place in Shubert Alley in the heart of the theatre district on May 27. Presented by the Broadway League and United Airlines, the concert featured performances from dozens of Broadway shows including Fun Home, Gigi, It Shoulda Been You, On the Town, Something Rotten!, and many more.

Commissioner Cynthia López welcomed the crowds at the top of the show. “There are many reasons to celebrate our Broadway community, including the fact that Broadway is a vital economic driver for our City,” said Commissioner López, noting that according to the Broadway League, the industry contributes billions to the City’s economy and supports 87,000 jobs. “The energy generated on Broadway is exhilarating, and the creative talent gathered here speaks to that unique vibe that can only be found in New York City.”

The Tony Awards will be presented on Sunday, June 7, airing on CBS at 8pm and hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming. The ceremony will include performances from Broadway’s newest shows. During the 2014-2015 season, 37 productions opened, included 15 musicals, 20 plays, and two specials. Total attendances reached 13,104,078 million, and Broadway shows yielded $1.3 billion in grosses, the best attended and highest grossing season in Broadway recorded history.

The 2015-2016 season is already underway as two new productions begin performances. At Studio 54, Jim Parsons embodies the larger than life character of God in the new comedy Act of God while at the Nederlander Theatre the new musical Amazing Grace explores the story behind the creation of the famous song. Performances are set to start on June 25.