Highlights this week include a new train-themed circus show hailing from Montreal, a world premiere production from National Black Theater and a foodie festival celebrating Jewish cuisine on Governor’s Island.
Also, there’s free yoga in Times Square and the Ladies of Hip Hop Dance throw down in Hudson River Park.
Circus
“Passengers”
Perelman Arts Center (PAC NYC) — 251 Fulton St., Manhattan (Tribeca)
Through June 29. Various times.
A new circus is in town — at the same Tribeca venue that hosted the critically-acclaimed reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.”
“Passengers” by The 7 Fingers — the Montreal-based arts collective — is a welcomed addition to PAC’s growing list of out-of-the-box entertainment.
Written, choreographed, and directed by company co-founder Shana Carroll, the 2018 show finally pulls into NYC with train travel as its central theme. A cast of 10 perform deft-defying tricks like contortion, pole climbing, juggling, hoops, hand-to-hand balancing and aerial straps. And while not as extravagant as Cirque du Soleil (also from Canada), the show still leaves audiences in awe.
A former Cirque Du Soleil acrobat herself, Carroll was nominated last year for her choreography for the exquisite Broadway adaptation of “Water for Elephants.”
Tickets start at $41.
Comedy
“Two Funny Mamas”
NJPAC — 1 Center St, Newark (Downtown)
Fri, June 20, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
One show isn’t enough for Sherri Shepherd and Kym Whitley to bring their hilarious podcast to life. The Emmy Award-winning talk show queen and her longtime bestie will deliver all the funny to the Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Stage at the Victoria Theater.
Both veteran comedians will offer their unfiltered perspectives with stories about life, love, single motherhood, sex and pop culture, among other topics.
For their part of this year’s Prudential North to Shore Festival, Shepherd and Whitley promises an experience “that will have audience members laughing, crying and feeling totally understood.”
Tickets start at $138.
Theater
“Chiaroscuro: A Light and Dark Skin Comedy”
The Flea Theater — 20 Thomas St, Manhattan (Tribeca)
Through June 22. Various times.
The world premiere of late playwright Aishah Rahman‘s final full-length play is enthralling audiences with an evocative story revolving around romance-seeking adults aboard a singles cruise to “nowhere.”
The dark comedy — starring Abenaa Quïïn, Ebony Marshall-Oliver, Gayle Samuels, Lance Coadie Williams, Paige Gilbert, TL Thompson and Tony nominee Sidney DuPont — is named after an Italian artistic technique that uses a stark contrast between dark and light.
Known as one of the foremothers of the Black Arts Movement, Rahman artfully puts the Black community’s issues with colorism under the spotlight in “Chiaroscuro,” co-produced by National Black Theatre.
“This production is a charge to not only commune with Aishah’s work, but to find the work of all the artists who are challenging our comfort zones; revealing to us what we need to get free,” director Abigail Jean-Baptiste commented. “It’s a charge to be the revolutionary artist or citizen yourself and look beyond the psychological realism that restrains us.”
Tickets are $53, discounts available.
Music
“Summer Jam 2025”
Prudential Center — 25 Lafayette St., Newark (Downtown)
Fri. June 20, 7 p.m.
New York City hip hop radio station Hot 97 continues its 30-plus year tradition of delivering what it calls “the largest live hip-hop music and culture celebration in America.” Produced by the Black Promoters Collective, this year’s line-up is jam packed with chart-topping acts such as A Boogie, Gunna, GloRilla, Muni Long, Kash Doll, Bobby Konders & Jabba ft. Masicka and Jim Jones & Friends.
Rapper Ja Rule will preside over a special tribute to Irv Gotti, the Murda Inc. Records mogul who died in February.
Tickets start at $102.
Food
“The Great Nosh Picnic”
Governor’s Island — The Play Lawns
Sun. June 22, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Jewish Food Society’s inaugural food and culture festival will commence this weekend featuring art, live music, cooking demos and unique dish collaborations from restaurants such as Thai Diner, Katz’s Deli, Morgenstern’s Russ & Daughters and Junior’s Restaurant among others.
Other highlights include an open-air wine bar curated by the Michelin-starred restaurant The Four Horsemen, and moderated discussions by “Top Chef” judge and international food writer Gail Simmons, cookbook author Bonnie Stern YouTuber Arielle Nir and Mexican celebrity chef Pati Jinich.
Tickets are $39.89.
Outdoors
“Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga”
Times Square — Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd & 48th Streets, Manhattan (Midtown)
Fri., June 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Timed perfectly for the summer solstice, thousands of yogis will gather to bring peace and calm to one of the busiest intersections in the world. Seven classes will be held throughout the day from sunup to sundown.
Event co-founder Douglass Stewart is inviting people far and wide to come “grow, flow and glow” for this event that started over 20 years ago.
“Each year we watch as New Yorkers and visitors challenge themselves to find peace and calm in the middle of Times Square and then send them off to enjoy everything that the neighborhood has to offer,” Times Square Alliance president Tom Harris said of the annual event.
Free. Registration required.
Free
“Hudson River Park x Ladies of Hip Hop Dance Juneteenth Celebration?
Hudson River Park — Pier 45 at Christopher St., Manhattan (Greenwich Village)
Fri. June 20, 6:30 p.m.
The 2025 celebration of Juneteenth stretches into the weekend with an evening of performance featuring Ladies of Hip Hop Dance Collective, an all female intergenerational dance group founded by Bessie Award winner Michele Byrd-McPhee in 2004. The event will honor the legacy and evolution of Black American dance, featuring older styles like Lindy hop, jazz and tap as well as hip-hop, house and beyond.
“Juneteenth is an important moment to reflect on the contributions of Black people to America, even in the face of extraordinary obstacles and persistent discrimination,” Hudson River Park Trust president and CEO Noreen Doyle said. “This year, Hudson River Park is uplifting New York City’s very own Ladies of Hip Hop, who will be offering a powerful and inspiring retrospective.”
Free.
If you have an upcoming weekend event you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming roundup, please email: nycevents@nydailynews.com with the full details. Consideration does not guarantee inclusion.
