I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t checking for Elsie Fest last year. Point. Blank. Period. However, the more I think about it, the idea is just what this generation of theatre fans need.
Well, maybe with a little more chocolate. I’ll come back to that.
The cool kids like to go to Made In America, Roots Festival, SXSW, etc; but what about the kids that live for a Beyonce, SZA, D’Angelo, or Kendrick Lamar AND a Leslie Odom Jr., Patina Miller, Amber Iman, or Norm Lewis?
I doubt the stage at Elsie Fest will ever get that dark, still the gift that Darren Criss (Hedwig And The Angry Inch, “Glee”), talent manager Ricky Rollins and Broadway producer and Jujamcyn Theaters president, Jordan Roth, gave us theatergoers is much appreciated.
Billed as the “Coachella of Broadway,” Elsie Fest is back for its second year and has a line up with some of our Broadway Black favorites!
Cynthia Erivo, Tituss Burgess, and Megan Hilty lead the one-day outdoor music festival.
The concert is rounded out by 3 time Tony Award-winner & composer Jason Robert Brown, Dear Evan Hansen creators Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Lena Hall (Hedwig), and Corey Cott (Newsies). If history repeats itself, there will also be a nice selection of added fun by way of special guests.
Music directors, if you’re listening. I’ve got a few requests:
- Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt (as her special guest), and Jason Robert Brown: “ Goodbye Until Tomorrow/ I Could Never Rescue You” — The Last Five Years
- Megan Hilty, Leslie Odom Jr. (as her special guest): “History Is Made At Night”—Smash
- Tituss Burgess : “Be A Lion” — The Wiz
- Leslie Odom Jr.’s entire self-titled album
- Lemonade mashup with the Queens of Broadway…
Too much!? Okay, okay, okay. Maybe Broadway Black should have our own outdoor music festival?
Until then, we’ll gladly support Elsie Fest.
Elsie Fest is on September 5 at the Ford Amphitheater at the Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, NY. Beginning at 1 PM, concertgoers will enjoy a day full of concerts, merchandise, food and drinks. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
