Once guests arrive at the park, they will have their temperatures checked and be shown to their seats, which will be provided with space for social distancing. The park has no plans to get vaccinations or negative virus tests, but is considering them as options, according to Dan Fishman, director of public events for the park.
Other organizations participating in Bryant Park’s series this summer include Elisa Monte Dance, Harlem Stage, National Sawdust, New York Chinese Cultural Center, Limón Dance Company, and Greenwich House Music School. New York City Opera singers will perform a Pride concert on June 18th.
Many groups and institutions have been downsized or completely cocooned since last year.
“We were in hibernation,” said Tom Wirtshafter, the city hall president, who ran more than 60 virtual programs during the pandemic but, like most venues, had to leave most of the staff.
City Hall, which opened in 1921, will wrap up Bryant Park’s season on September 20 with a 100th anniversary event attended by Chris Thile, the mandolin player whose eclectic tastes range from bluegrass to creek.
Tiffany Rea-Fisher, the artistic director of Elisa Monte Dance, who also curates dance performances in the park, said her company only played twice in the past year. It will perform with the Paul Taylor Dance Company on August 20, and Rea-Fisher said it was not easy to find other dance groups to prepare.
“Finding companies that were ready in terms of perseverance was a challenge,” she said. “You don’t want to bring dancers back after a year and let them do a performance – it’s all about injuries.”
