In the heart of summer, Bryant Park in New York has always been a must-visit spot for Broadway enthusiasts. During lazy summer afternoons, visitors can enjoy free performances of popular Broadway musical numbers. This year, the first “Broadway in Bryant Park” event kicked off on July 10th, with special cooperation between the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and the organizers, iHeartMedia’s 106.7 LITE FM and iHeartRadio Broadway, to promote Taiwan tourism through diverse and lively forms.
“Broadway in Bryant Park” is an annual outdoor Broadway performance event held in July and August at Bryant Park in New York City. It is a famous and quintessentially New York outdoor activity that attracts tens of thousands of people each year.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the event will take place every Thursday in July at Bryant Park, featuring performances by renowned Broadway performance groups on an outdoor stage for the public to enjoy for free. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau has set up a booth in the exhibition area to promote Taiwan tourism, providing visitors with the latest travel information and tourism consultations. They also offer interactive games like Turn-and-Luck and Taiwan Night Market Pinball to help people get to know Taiwan in a fun way.
Moreover, through pre-show performances showcasing Taiwan’s unique cultural elements, more people are being introduced to Taiwan, aiming to attract travelers to visit Taiwan. The pre-show performance features the well-known performance group “Formosa Let’s Go,” kicking off with a theme of “Formosa Let’s Go,” using music and dance to showcase Taiwan’s warmth, resilience, and courage, allowing people to hear the heartbeat of Taiwan! The key members include Leo Yu-Ning Chang, Yu-Wei Heath-Hsiao, Chieh Hsiung, Fang Tseng, Albert Hsueh, Bin Bin Kuo, Shan Y Chuang, Nicole Yi-Wen Wang, YuChin Kiki Tseng, Che-Ling Hsu, music director/arranger Oscar Chang, and cellist Violet Tzu-Hsuan Wang, among other Taiwanese performing artists who performed together.
Leo Yu-Ning Chang, the head of Formosa Let’s Go, mentioned to NTD Television that the team specially designed a five-minute dance performance, connecting three representative Taiwanese songs to showcase the diversity and cultural uniqueness of Taiwanese music. The program begins with “Sky of Taipei,” followed by “Let’s Go,” and concludes with the rap-infused “Looking Forward to Spring Wind,” interpreting Taiwanese culture through rhythmic and vibrant means.
Chuang Ching-Chen, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s New York office, stated that through collaboration with iHeartMedia, in addition to promoting Taiwan at the “Broadway in Bryant Park” event, they are conducting precise advertising campaigns on the group’s global leading podcast distribution platform and online streaming platform, targeting North American travelers who appreciate culture, cuisine, and nature. They aim to introduce Taiwan’s abundant natural beauty, diverse cultural arts, culinary culture, and modern urban landscape to North American travelers, hoping to attract more North American tourists to visit Taiwan and experience the surprises of the beautiful island.
Travelers from the United States and Canada can enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan for 90 days and take advantage of various travel discounts, such as Taiwan High-Speed Rail’s buy-one-get-one-free offer and the Taiwan the Lucky Land lucky draw activity. Transit passengers in Taiwan can also experience a complimentary half-day tour during their layover, making travel to Taiwan very convenient. International travelers are warmly welcome to visit Taiwan and experience the beauty, cuisine, and culture of the island firsthand!