New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

06/07/2026

Happy Tony Awards day! In honor of today's Tony Awards ceremony, let's take a look back at the original productions of the musicals up for Best Revival: Rocky Horror, Cats: Jellicle Ball, and Ragtime.

The original Broadway production of "The Rocky Horror Show" opened in 1975 at the Belasco Theatre, inspiring the film later that year. "Cats" opened in 1982 at the Winter Garden Theater, and "Ragtime" opened in 1998 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, now Lyric Theatre.

Want to learn more? Come to the Library for the Performing Arts to look at scores, programs, clippings, photographs, and other archival material from these productions.

📷: Christine Langner in "Cats," photo by Martha Swope. "Ragtime" marquee, Ford Center for the Performing Arts, photo by Christopher J. Frith, 1997-2001. Item from our archive from "The Rocky Horror Show." Billy Rose Theatre Division.

06/06/2026

On 6/11, Dr. Andre Mountain comes to the Library for the Performing Arts for an educational program exploring pivotal moments in the American narrative intertwined with the evolution of jazz, encountering icons like Nina Simone, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong along the way.

Join us for a deep dive into the history of jazz with Dr. Andre Mountain.

06/06/2026

Happy Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 the Library for the Performing Arts has tons of history about performances in music, film, theater, and dance relating to LGBTQIA+ themes for all to research.

Here's the story of one: in 1934, Lillian Hellman's play "The Children's Hour" opened on Broadway. The play tells the story of two headmistresses whose student spreads a rumor that they are in love, sparking a sequence of events with tragic consequences.

At the time, mentioning homosexuality on stage was illegal in New York State, and the play was banned in Boston and in London. Still, the production was critically acclaimed, and the play went on to see several revivals and, in 1961, a film adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine.

📷 : Anne Revere and Katherine Emery in "The Children's Hour," photo by Vandamm, 1934. Billy Rose Theatre Division.

06/05/2026

William Inge's 1955 Tony-nominated drama "Bus Stop" was recently produced jointly by Classic Stage Company, Transport Group, and the National Asian-American Theatre Company, and featured an all-AAPI cast. The show was recorded by the Library for the Performing Arts last year, and it's now accessible at our Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.

Two productions of "Bus Stop" are now available in the our archive: the other, which was taped before a live audience in Claremont, California in 1982, stars Margot Kidder and Tim Matheson.

Learn more: https://on.nypl.org/4viX1ot

📷: Midori Francis and Delphi Borich. David Shih and Cindy Cheung. Delphi Borich, Michael Hsu Rosen, and Moses Villarama. Photos by Carol Rosegg.

06/04/2026

Actor Andrew McCarthy recently told The Drew Barrymore Show that he was on Broadway, starring in "The Boys of Winter" when he was called back to reshoot a happier final scene of "Pretty in Pink" after the original ending wasn't testing well with audiences.

In his Broadway role, McCarthy plays one of seven Marines seven marines spending Christmas week 1968 on a near-suicide mission in South Vietnam, so of course his head was shaved for the role. For the "Pretty in Pink" reshoot, McCarthy had to wear a wig to appear as he had in the rest of the film.

"If they knew we'd still be talking about that movie 40 years later, they would have paid for a better wig," McCarthy told Barrymore.

See more images of the 1985 play taken by Martha Swope in our archive ➡️

📷: Andrew McCarthy in the Broadway play "The Boys of Winter," photo by Martha Swope.

06/03/2026

Kids and families! Join us for a free screening of Matilda. On 6/6, we'll be screening the 1996 classic film, the story of an extraordinary child that uses her wits and her power to stand up to bullies and shows us that even the smallest person can make the biggest difference.

Don’t miss Matilda - the thrilling, heartwarming conclusion of our New Classics series at the Library for the Performing Arts.

06/03/2026

ARMY, did you hear the news? 💜 The Library for the Performing Arts is hosting a free celebration of the South Korean boy band, BTS, for their highly anticipated 2026 comeback tour and the release of their latest album, Arirang. On 6/13, join us for an afternoon dedicated to the music, memories, and creative legacy of BTS. Visitors can enjoy a curated listening party featuring fan favorites from past albums and new tracks from Arirang, take a hands-on workshop to design a BTS-inspired zine, and more! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bts-festa-celebration-tickets-1990430574429

06/01/2026

As Marilyn Monroe fans celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday today, let's look at some of the memorable actors who have played the legend of the silver screen—cabaret artist Jimmy James and actor Alyson Reed, who appeared in the Broadway musical "Marilyn: An American Fable."

📷: Jimmy James as Marilyn Monroe, photo by Martha Swope, 1988. Alyson Reed in "Marilyn: an American Fable," photo by Martha Swope, 1983. Billy Rose Theatre Division.

05/31/2026

Soprano Frances Alda, born on this day in 1879, was known for her singing voice, and she frequently collaborated with the tenor Enrico Caruso at the Metropolitan Opera. She was also one of the first adopters of radio broadcast when it arrived to disrupt the performing arts. She left the Met to perform on radio regularly.

A 1930 New York Times article quoted Alda, "I am merely embracing a new medium of expression that brings far greater reward to the heart and to the purse, and entertainment to a far greater audience."

When asked how often she intended to broadcast, Alda laughed, "As often as they're willing to pay me."

Check out more photos of Alda in archive: https://on.nypl.org/4f9LN0K

📷: Frances Alda as Yaroslavna in Prince Igor, photo by Mishkin Studio, 1916-1917.

05/30/2026

On 6/4, experience the legacy and evolution of Latin Hustle through an evening of storytelling, archival footage, conversation, and live dance excerpts. Back in 2024, Maria Torres led a dance residency with the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, collecting and preserving the movements and stories behind Latin Hustle. In this program, directed by Maria Torres, intergenerational artists, and other guests share material developed during the residency alongside reflections on the cultural roots, history, and continued evolution of the form. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-legacy-of-latin-hustle-tickets-1978901809583