nyc summer 2025: packing them in at pac
Since opening in September 2023, the Perelman Performing Arts Center, known as PAC NYC, has presented a wide range of cultural events downtown, next to the Oculus and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, from dance and music to opera and theater, in a giant REX-designed cube that features three flexible performance spaces, named for John Eugene Zuccotti, Mike Nichols, and Doris Duke.
“During the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, we strongly believed in the importance of including a performing arts center that would bring new life and energy to Lower Manhattan — and now it’s ready to play a starring role in New York City’s next chapter,” PAC NYC chair and former mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced.
Among the unique shows I’ve seen there are Jaha Ko’s Cuckoo, highlighted by a trio of talking rice cookers; David Henry Hwang and Huang Ruo’s opera An American Soldier, the true story of Asian American army private Danny Chen; Laurence Fishburne’s one-man Like They Do in the Movies; the 1491s’ irreverent and hilarious theatrical history lesson, Between Two Knees; and Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch’s electrifying Cats: “The Jellicle Ball.”
PAC NYC is located at 251 Fulton St. in Lower Manhattan (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Currently, the thrilling Passengers, by the 7 Fingers, is playing through June 29, and tickets are available for the much-anticipated Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo, written by and starring Jennifer Nettles, choreographed by Mandy Moore, and directed by Rebecca Taichman, running November 25 to December 21.
In addition, PAC NYC hosts a free music series in the lobby, featuring artists from across numerous genres on the Vartan and Clare Gregorian Stage. Below is the full schedule as of June 18; no advance RSVP is necessary. (Keep watching this space as more events are added.)
Thursday, June 19
Olivia K, 6:00
Friday, June 20
Nay Harris & Raiah Rofsky, 6:00
Saturday, June 21
April Fools, 7:00pm
Thursday, June 26
Cheeyang Ng, 6:00
Friday, June 27
Belle-Skinner, 6:00
Saturday, June 28
Mafalda Minnozzi, 7:00
Saturday, July 12
Family Day, with Baba Israel, Bombazo Dance Co, Broken Box Mime Theater, Brooklyn United Marching Band, Bubble America, China Institute in America, Hetep BarBoy and Squala Orphan, Hila the Earth, Kids Breaking League, North American Indigenous Center of New York, Processional Arts Workshop, Shinbone Alley Stilt Band, and Stompopolis, free with RSVP, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursday, July 17
Steve Nieve & Kessada, 6:00pm
Saturday, July 19
Marta Cascales Alimbau, 7:00
Saturday, July 26
Emma Jayne, 7:00
[You can follow Mark Rifkin and This Week in New York every day here.]