The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) has recently announced shows for their inaugural season, with “Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World” kicking off the season in Sept. 2023. PAC is located in the World Trade Center and was the final public piece of the reconstruction.
The facility was named after Ronald O. Perelman, a businessman, philanthropist, and benefactor, the building was designed by the architecture firm REX, with many interior spaces being designed by Rockwell Group. Leading the opening of PAC is the Chair of the PAC Board of Directors Mike Bloomberg, Executive Director Khady Kamara, and Artistic Director Bill Rauch.
The opening of Perelman Performing Arts Center is going to add light and hope to the World Trade Center site in a manner that respects its role as a place for reflection. PAC NYC’s impact will extend far beyond downtown, as we know the impact of the power of the arts – bringing energy and excitement to bolster neighborhoods, spur investment and build a stronger city.
Mike Bloomberg, Chair of PAC Board of Directors
Inaugural Season Showings
Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World
The opening five-night series with over 30 internationally acclaimed artists, Refuge is a pay-what-you-wish event focused on the theme of refuge. A wide range of music will be played, from Afro-Latin rhythms to futuristic electronic beats, from traditional Klezmer melodies to soulful Rock and Funk.
The first show on Sept. 19 is “NYC Tapestry: Home as Refuge” featuring Laurie Anderson, Raven Chacon, Natalie Diaz, thingNY, Emel, Forró in the Dark, Wang Guowei, Angélique Kidjo, Michael Mwenso, and Mwenso & the Shakes. It is currently sold out on the PAC website.
Sept. 20 is “Devotion: Faith as Refuge” and will feature Arun Ramamurthy & Trina Basu, Samarth Nagarkar, The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Trinity Youth Chorus, ÌFÉ, Innov Gnawa, The Klezmatics, Damien Sneed, Chorale Le Chateau, and Tanya Tagaq.
Sept. 21 is “Playing it Forward: School as Refuge,” featuring David Broza, Common, Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Mahani Teave.
Sept. 22 is “Relatively Speaking: Family as Refuge” and will feature Fanoos Ensemble, The HawtPlates, Martha Redbone, The Villalobos Brothers, as well as Amal Murkus & Firas Zreik.
The final show, “Childhood Songs: Memory as Refuge” is on Sept. 23 and will feature Alphabet Rockers, Shoshana Bean, Daniel Gortler, Trinity Youth Chorus, Abigail Washburn, and Michelle Zauner.
Musical Theater and Opera
“Watch Night” from Nov. 3-18 2023 is an all-new premiere for the production that explores justice and forgiveness. It was co-conceived, directed, and choreographed by Tony Award-winning Bill T. Jones, with Marc Bamuthi Joseph also co-conceiving the production and responsible for the libretto.
“Number Our Days” will be held from April 12-14, 2024, and is a multi-media oratorio based on Jamie Livingston’s “Photo of the Day” series. This series was made by Jamie Livingston, who documented his life by taking a Polaroid every day until he died at age 41.
From May 12-19, 2024, “An American Soldier,” a new opera based on the true story of U.S. Private Danny Chen, will be held. This will be the production’s New York premiere.
“Cats” will be held sometime between June and July of 2024, reimagining Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical. The original musical itself was based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
Theater and Comedy
“The Following Evening,” held from Feb. 1 to 18, 2024, will be an intimate portrait of two theater-making couples: Ellen Maddow and Paul Zimet of Talking Band and Abigail Browde and Michael Silverstone of 600 Highwaymen. This may be the final performance for the two couples.
“Between Two Knees” is a comedy by Indigenous sketch comedy group The 1491s, taking place Feb. 3 through 24, 2024. Spanning 90 years in the life of a fictional Native American family, “Between Two Knees” is an “outrageously funny ride through American history.” “Good Medicine” is an all-Native stand-up evening event on Feb. 9, 2024. It features Indigenous comedians from all across the country and will be curated and hosted by Jackie Keliiaa.
“Like They Do in The Movies,” which will be at PAC from March 10 to 31, 2024, is the world premiere of the “tour-de-force” written and performed by Tony and Emmy-winning Laurence Fishburne. Fishburne is known for his work as Ike Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It?,” Sterling Johnson in August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running,” and as Morpheus in the blockbuster film series The Matrix.
Dance
“Is It Thursday Yet?” held from Dec. 8-23, 2023, is a commissioned display of Jenn Freeman’s neurodivergent journey through a mix of dance, live music, and home video footage.
“March” by Big Dance Theater will be held Dec. 10 to 16, 2023. It is an evening of contemporary dance split into three parts, featuring Tendayi Kuumba, Annie-B Parson, and Donna Uchizono.
“Motion/Matter: Street Dance Festival,” held from Jan. 5 to 14, 2024, is a celebration of street dance movements, both those that have originated in NYC and those from around the world.
Music
Sept. 28, 2023 – Mahani Teave
Oct. 5, 2023 – An Evening with Brian Stokes Mitchell
Oct. 14 & 15, 2023 – 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition
Dec. 20, 2023 – Anthony Roth Costanzo & Friends
Dec. 21, 2023 – Toshi Reagon
Dec. 22, 2023 – Time For Three
Dec. 23, 2023 – Orfeh and Andy Karl
Speaker Series
Sept. 26, 2023 – Kerry Washington
Oct. 16, 2023 – Jada Pinkett Smith
Nov. 13, 2023 – Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush
Perelman Performing Arts Center memberships are now available for $10 for the inaugural season. Members receive early access to tickets and other perks. Tickets for inaugural season events are starting at $39. More information on memberships, tickets, and shows can be found on PAC’s website.
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