(WESTFIELD, NJ) -- Don’t wait until fall to celebrate Broadway’s return! Get a jumpstart in Westfield on Saturday, June 26th when NJ Festival Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro David Wroe, is bringing Broadway back with a rousing outdoor performance of favorites from the Great American Songbook.
Back to Broadway promises a rousing review of songs from great Broadway shows. Featuring guest soloists from Broadway and beyond, and set in the splendor of the rear gardens of one of Westfield’s finest residences, this is THE live outdoor summer celebration for the entire family.
“This is the music we love and have missed,” commented NJFO Music Director David Wroe. “After a year of quarantine we’re all learning the art of being together once again. NJFO’s Back to Broadway will help you ease back into life with the rhythms of Broadway’s best!”
The concert features two Broadway stars performing some of the best-loved showstoppers - the unforgettable “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, the comedic duo of “Marry the Man Today” from Guys and Dolls, the romance of “So in Love” from Kiss Me, Kate and many, many more.
Guest soprano Paige Faure has starred as Cinderella on Broadway and has featured in multiple Broadway shows including How To Succeed..., Miss Saigon, and Bullets Over Broadway as well as national tours of Cinderella, A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Little Women, Aida and more.
Joining Paige is Julie Benko, an award-winning actress, singer, and writer. Julie has performed on stages on and off-Broadway and across the country, and is a graduate of NYU-Tisch's Graduate Acting Program. In addition to lending her voice to the 85th Academy Awards and the 70th Tony Awards ceremonies, Julie took home the Gold Medal and the Johnny Mercer Award in the national American Traditions Vocal Competition.
“NJFO prides itself on presenting world-class guest artists, including current Broadway stars, and this event is no exception,” continued Wroe. “We at NJFO are all thrilled and honored to be partnering with such outstanding performers!
Bring your own lawn chairs and refreshments and enjoy an unforgettable evening of festive live entertainment in the splendid rear garden setting of NJFO Board President Keith S. Hertell. Patrons are welcome to arrive as early as 5:30pm to set up and enjoy the evening sun.
VIP seating is available for those who wish to take advantage of a limited access to a reserved section of NJFO chair seating close to the stage. VIP ticket holders will also receive early access to Part 2 of NJFO’s “New Beginnings” video concert several weeks in advance of release to the general public.
All patrons are requested to read the Public Health Recommendations provided by the CDC and wear a mask if unvaccinated.
Back to Broadway takes place on Saturday, June 26 at 7:30pm in the rear gardens at 241 E. Dudley Avenue in Westfield. Tickets ($35 for general lawn admission, $65 for VIP reserved seating) may be purchased online at www.njfestivalorchestra.org, by phone 908 232 49400, or in person at the NJFO office, 224 East Broad St in Westfield. Box-office hours for phone and in person sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm.
Join us for McCarter at the Museum - renowned performing artists in one-night only events at the Princeton University Art Museum.
Jason Robert Brown is a four-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, The Bridges of Madison County, Honeymoon In Vegas and The Connector, has performed as a soloist or with his band in venues around the world, including sold-out shows at the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. His albums as a singer-songwriter include Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes and How We React and How We Recover on Ghostlight, and Coming From Inside the House and Live In Concert with Stephen Sondheim on Concord.
With Special Guest Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe. Tony Award-nominated actress Betsy Wolfe is currently starring as Audrey in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, following her recent Broadway run as Madeline Ashton in the hit musical Death Becomes Her. She previously originated the title role in Joy, the new musical inspired by inventor Joy Mangano, and earned a 2023 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her celebrated performance as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Other Broadway credits include starring as Jenna in Waitress, Cordelia in the acclaimed revival of Falsettos, Bullets Over Broadway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, and 110 in the Shade, as well as her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years. Wolfe made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Fledermaus and has appeared as a guest artist with more than 65 symphony, pops, and philharmonic orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her screen credits include First One In, Estella Scrooge, CBS’s Instinct, and the film adaptation of The Last Five Years. Wolfe is also the co-founder of BroadwayEvolved, the acclaimed musical theatre training program she launched in 2018 to train and mentor the next generation of theatre artists.
A limited number of early access tickets for McCarter Director’s Circle members and members of the Museum’s Partner Circle are available, on sale Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM. General public on sale begins Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
Please be aware there is no public drop-off or parking at the Museum. For visitors with mobility needs, please contact the Museum at least three business days in advance of your visit to request special access to the Museum via Elm Drive. Call 609-258-3788 and select option 1 to speak to a visitor services staff member, or email Louise Barrett at [email protected].
