It’s time once again for Elsie Fest!! That’s right, New York City’s premier—and singular—musical theatre festival, which cleverly gets its name from the famous Cabaret lyric, will present its fourth annual incarnation under the breezy, balmy canopy of Central Park SummerStage, this coming Sunday, October 7th. 

Image from elsiefest.com.

Conceived by recent Emmy winner Darren Criss, talent manager Ricky Rollins, and producer extraordinaire Jordan Roth, the theatre-centric outdoor bash, billed as a sort of “Coachella for musical theatre folk,” fuses the best of Broadway with the best of contemporary pop to create an experience that truly celebrates what the theatrical community is all about.

But the element that really gets the fans out in droves? The fancy shmancy roster of stars. From Laura Osnes to Lea Salonga and Gaten Matarazzo to Pasek and Paul, Elsie Fest has been known to nab an impressive array of A-listers from across the entertainment spectrum every year.

Rufus Wainwright, Sutton Foster, and Alex Newell are among the headliners at 2018's Elsie Fest.

And 2018 is no exception. In addition to an eclectic lineup of stage faves including Joshua Henry, Alex Newell, Jodi Benson, Matthew Morrison, and two-time Tony Award-winning headliner Sutton Foster, this year’s concert will also offer sneak peek performances from movie musical Anna and the Apocalypse, upcoming musical comedy The Prom, and the highly anticipated Broadway transfer of Be More Chill. As is tradition, Criss will also be on hand to perform in between—and accompany—certain sets. And, of course, there’s always the possibility of a few surprise guests dropping in along the way.  

Piano bar Marie’s Crisis will once again provide libations throughout the evening, as well as the inevitable spontaneous mid-show sing-along.