The Billie Holiday Theatre Announces the Full Lineup for its Annual SummerFest

This Summer, The Billie Holiday Theatre - one of the nation’s preeminent arts and culture organizations presents the annual SummerFest 2025, its specially curated series of outdoor events and programs designed for the community and welcoming New Yorkers and visitors alike to the heart of Brooklyn in Bed-Stuy. Beginning in mid-June and, with most of the events running through August, all SummerFest programming will be held on the campus of Restoration Plaza (1368 Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn).

Now a staple of The Billie’s offerings, SummerFest 2025 will feature a wide variety of offerings with highlights to include: Skylight Open, The Billie’s signature live music showcase platform presenting NYC-based talent (beginning June 19); Summer Music Series spotlighting rising artists across all genres and from around the globe (beginning July 25); its film screening series Black Joy Film Fest featuring classic movies and audience favorites; and a brand new exhibition, Eyelids of Wonder (beginning June 5). All SummerFest events and activities will be produced and curated by The Billie’s Creative Director Hollis King.

“We are so excited to announce this year’s SummerFest schedule! There is no place like New York City in the Summer and we built this series as a reflection of this its immense cultural vibrancy and diversity. We welcome our community, New Yorkers from all over and visitors to Bed Stuy for a true summertime in the city experience at The Billie,” said The Billie’s Executive Director Shadawn Smith. “I believe that we are establishing a tradition in our community that will help us to provide accessible and safe opportunities for community-building and a deeper connection to the arts!”

In addition to its programmatic schedule this summer, The Billie’s education arm will also host The Billie’s Black Arts Initiative (BBAI). The summer intensive is an immersive acting program exploring the history of the contemporary Black theater tradition forged during the Black Arts Movement. The program trains theater artists through the lens of the Black Theater Canon in becoming vibrant and contributing members to the local, national and global arts' communities in the 21st century.

Please see highlights of SummerFest at The Billie below:

SUMMERFEST PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

SKYLIGHT OPEN

Date(s): Every 3rd Thursday beginning June 19 and running through August 21– 7:00pm

Free and Open to the Public | The West Plaza at Restoration Plaza

The Billie’s Skylight Open provides a platform and opportunity for local vocalists, musicians and spoken word artists to showcase their talents with an evening of music, art and fun. This season will feature special performances from Skylight alumni as well as a new crop of emerging artists including Brooklyn Poet/author Symbolik Knight Aka The Metaphor King, winner of Brooklyn Unplugged - a one-night showcase held earlier this Spring in partnership with The Brooklyn Mavens. Launched in 2018, Skylight Open is The Billie’s monthly Summer music and spoken word series featuring cutting-edge Brooklyn-based talent.

BLACK JOY FILM FEST

Date(s): Begins July 10 and runs on Thursdays through August 28th – 7:00pm

Free and Open to the Public | On the West Plaza

The Billie brings back an audience favorite with its Black Joy Film Fest. The screenings will be held outside on the West Plaza of Restoration throughout the summer months, showcasing a variety of acclaimed films including: The Fire Inside (7/24), The Piano Lesson (7/31), Nickel Boys (8/7), Six Triple Eight (8/14) and Wicked (8/28). The Fest kicks off on July 10th with a special screening of the acclaimed film Mufasa.

Black Joy Summer Film Screenings is part of The Billie’s annual Summerfest and was created as a way to provide free, family-friendly entertainment that engage audiences in the beauty, complexity and resilience found in our communities across the globe.

The Billie Holiday Presents The Summer Music Series

Date(s): Kicks off July 25 to run every Friday through August 23 – 7:00pm

Free and Open to the Public | West Plaza at Restoration

The Billie’s newest series will feature some of music’s most exciting artists today. All performances for the Summer Music Series are free and open to the public and will take place on the West Plaza at Restoration. The lineup includes:

• July 25 - Stanley Banks, Ashton Martin. Phil Young, D’Faye Anderson
• August 1- Rome Neal, Sabrina Clery, Alonzo Wright
• August 8 - Monica Ortiz Rossi, Joy Brown, Claudia Acuna
• August 15 - Lafayette Harris, Thomas Piper, Mariama Rafetna, Reggie Woods

- August 22 - Clyla Boykin, Shareef Clayton, Eric Lemon

For more information on SummerFest at The Billie 2024, please visit TheBillieholiday.org