Broadway in the Boros sees massive turnout
Audience enjoyed tunes from ‘Beetlejuice,’ ‘SIX,’ ‘Wicked’
By Jessica Meditz
A sea of people gathered to attend Broadway in the Boros in Astoria.
It was all about “Popular” at last Friday’s Broadway in the Boros performance in Astoria.
Held in the lot of Kaufman Astoria Studios, a massive crowd of Broadway enthusiasts gathered to enjoy the talents of performers who star in the shows “Beetlejuice,” “SIX” and “Wicked.”
Last year, the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) presented Off-Broadway in the Boros, a smaller scale performance due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Broadway in the Boros returned at full force.
“I’m thrilled to be able to welcome Broadway in the Boros back to Queens,” said Phil Ballman, Director of Cultural Affairs and Tourism for Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
“It’s the artists, performers and all the hardworking people behind the scenes for shows like this that make New York the cultural capital of the world,” he continued. “Arts and culture isn’t just for our soul, our spirit and for building community, it’s also such an important source of jobs and brings so many visitors into the city.”
Before the musical performances began, Julie James, the show’s emcee, introduced Hal Rosenbluth and Tracy Capune of Kaufman Astoria Studios to the crowd.
The duo engaged the audience with the history of Kaufman and the arts and film scene in Astoria, as well as with trivia questions that a few lucky audience members answered to win tickets to a Broadway show.
The show started off with a performance from Nevada Riley, who plays Lydia in “Beetlejuice.”
Performing “Dead Mom,” an upbeat musical number despite what the morbid song title suggests, got the crowd dancing quickly.
She was then joined by Elliott Mattox to sing the duet, “Say My Name,” a silly routine where Beetlejuice attempts to get Lydia to say his name three times.
The crowd was particularly riled up for the cast of “SIX,” a new show centered on the heartbreak of the six wives of Henry VIII.
An all-girl group music and dance performance, “SIX,” featuring Bre Jackson, Andrea Macasaet, Keri René Fuller, Brittney Mack, Samantha Pauly and Brennyn Lark earned them a loud round of applause and a standing ovation.
The cast of “SIX” dazzled the audience.
The cast of “Wicked” closed out the performance, which was arguably the most anticipated performance of the day – given its long-running status on Broadway and the soon-to-be motion picture.
Alyssa Fox (Elphaba) and Allie Trimm (Glinda) performed the iconic duet, “For Good.”
The audience was so focused and in a trance that you could almost hear a pin drop.
Fox and Trimm shared an embrace after their performance of “For Good.”
Although all the performers donned their respective show’s shirt and weren’t in full costume you could still feel the magic of the stage in that moment.
“After two long years, I am thrilled to see our city continue its reopening with the return of Broadway in the Boros,” said Mayor Eric Adams.
“This remarkable series works to ensure that everyone in our city, regardless of their zip code, gets the chance to experience the magic of Broadway right in their backyards. Broadway is a lifeblood of our city, and this series is an incredible way for all New Yorkers to come out and relish in the magic that makes New York City’s heartbeat.”
Two additional performances for Broadway in the Boros remain, including one at 1 Fordham Plaza in the Bronx on Oct. 7, and another at Minthorne Street between Victory Boulevard and Bay Street in Staten Island on Oct. 14.
All performances take place from 1 to 2 p.m. and are completely free and open to the public.
