Free Broadway shows in May: Rockefeller Center offers lunchtime musical performances

Broadway fans can take their lunch break to enjoy some of the biggest musicals in New York City. Starting May 14, Playbill and Rockefeller Center are launching “Road to Broadway,” a free live performance series straight to The Rink.

Every Thursday through June 4, Midtown will transform into an open-air Broadway stage from 12 PM to 1 PM, giving locals, tourists, and office workers a chance to enjoy their New York pizza or chicken over rice while catching live performances without buying a theater ticket.

© Corbis via Getty Images

The lineup is stacked with major fan favorites, including Wicked, Chicago, Hadestown, Six, MJ: The Musical,  Moulin Rouge, The Book of Mormon, The Outsiders, and many more.

The free series kicks off May 14 with performances from Wicked, Hadestown, and Chicago. The following weeks continue with rotating casts and productions bringing some of Broadway’s biggest songs and choreography directly into the heart of Manhattan. Entrance located on 49th Street, lower Rink Level between 5th and 6th Avenues.

© China News Service via Getty Ima

Here’s the full schedule:

• May 14 | 12–1 PM: Wicked, Hadestown, Chicago
• May 21 | 12–1 PM: Six, Just in Time, & Juliet, Death Becomes Her
• May 28 | 12–1 PM: Operation Mincemeat, The Great Gatsby, Maybe Happy Ending
• June 4 | 12–1 PM: MJ: The Musical, The Outsiders, The Book of Mormon, Moulin Rouge!

© Bruce Glikas/Getty Images

The event is expected to turn Rockefeller Center into one of the city’s most exciting daytime entertainment spots this spring. If you happen to be in the area, instead of waiting for the curtain call at night, you can experience live Broadway vocals, dance numbers, and cast performances midday.

This initiative is also a major moment for Broadway visibility beyond traditional theaters. Also, a great opportunity to continue to make live theater feel more accessible, especially for younger audiences, tourists, and casual fans who may not regularly attend full productions.

© Getty Images

New York City is heading into peak spring tourism season, and Rockefeller Center is already one of the busiest destinations in Manhattan, so adding free Broadway performances to the mix gives visitors another reason to spend the afternoon around the plaza.

For fans hoping to attend, arriving early is probably the smart move. With popular productions attached to the series and zero ticket cost, large crowds are expected throughout the four-week run.