Chill Out Downtown Thursday with River To River and Duncan Sheik
The ninth annual River To River Festival, New York City’s largest free summer arts program, will continue its string of noteworthy concerts this Thursday when Tony- and Grammy-winning indie rock composer and songwriter Duncan Sheik performs in Battery Park. The Alliance for Downtown New York serves as the Festival’s managing partner.
“The eyes of New York City’s arts scene are Lower Manhattan and the River To River Festival every summer,” said Downtown Alliance President Elizabeth H. Berger. “And this year, we’re continuing to bring the work of hundreds of performing artists like Duncan Sheik to hundreds of thousands of eager concert-goers in distinctive Lower Manhattan locations.”
The free Duncan Sheik concert will begin at 7 PM Thursday at the historic Castle Clinton in Battery Park. Sheik’s achievements include Tonys for Best Orchestration and Best Original Score, and a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album for Spring Awakening. Founded in 2002, the River To Festival was conceived as a unique way to bring people back to Lower Manhattan. American Express is the Festival’s founding title sponsor. In addition to the Downtown Alliance, programming is provided by arts>World Financial Center, The Battery Park City Authority, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and South Street Seaport Marketplace. The River To Festival—which runs through August 19 at a variety of public venues south of Chambers Street from river to river—has made a powerful artistic and economic impact on Lower Manhattan.
Other Downtown Alliance-sponsored performances include:
Broadway2Battery: Music at Castle Clinton
• Antibalas
July 22 at 7 PM
Antibalas—Spanish for "bulletproof"—is a high-energy, highly celebrated Afrobeat orchestra from Brooklyn. The band is featured in this year’s Broadway hit FELA!
Free tickets are required and will be distributed two per person outside Castle Clinton on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5 PM on the day of each show.
Broadway2Battery: Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre—Classic New York Features Paired with Independent Shorts
• Broadway Danny Rose
July 29 at 8 PM
Told in flashbacks by a group of comedians over lunch at the Carnegie Deli, Woody Allen's Oscar-nominated 1984 film, co-starring Mia Farrow, follows hapless talent agent "Broadway" Danny Rose (Allen) as he gets dragged into a love triangle involving the mob. Preceded by screenings of short films by Alex Kalman and Josh Safdie.
• Auntie Mame
August 5 at 8 PM
Based on the Broadway production and nominated for six Academy Awards, this beloved 1958 classic stars Rosalind Russell as Mame, an exuberant and unconventional socialite in the roaring 20s. Featuring a short film screening by filmmaker Cheryl Dunn.
• The Country Girl
August 12 at 8 PM
Adapted from the Clifford Odets play and starring Grace Kelly, William Holden and Bing Crosby in his greatest performance, this 1954 Oscar-winning drama tells the story of an alcoholic, has-been Broadway actor struggling with the one last chance he's been given to resurrect his career. Featuring short films by Alexandra Lerman.
• The Muppets Take Manhattan
August 19 at 8 PM
Frank Oz directs this 1984 ode to Broadway in which the Muppets travel to New York intent on finding a producer for their musical, Manhattan Melodies. Featuring a short film by Jay Hufford.
Free tickets are required and will be distributed two per person at the street-level Water Street entrance to the Elevated Acre on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 6 pm on the day of each screening. The Elevated Acre is located at 55 Water Street, between Broad and William
Streets.
Additionally, the Festival’s annual July 4th concert starring children’s entertainer Dan Zanes and Colombian band La Cumbiamba eNeYé was a smashing success as more than 2,500 braved scorching temperatures for the concert in Battery Park.