Thomas Bartlett has assembled a band you cannot assemble twice: Laurie Anderson, Davone Tines, Jennifer Charles and Douglas Wieselman at the core, with Rufus Wainwright, Bill Frisell, Taylor Mac and Marc Ribot rotating through the run. The material is Ginsberg at his centenary, sung and played rather than recited, on a stage cantilevered over the Hudson. If you want a night that could only happen here, this is it at $25.
What to expect
The Amph is Little Island's 700-seat outdoor amphitheatre facing the water, so the show plays against the Hudson and the New Jersey skyline. Each evening pairs the core ensemble with different guest artists, meaning the setlist and personnel genuinely change night to night. Expect a mix of sung settings, spoken passages and instrumental interludes rather than a straight poetry reading.
Good to know
- Little Island is at 13th Street and the Hudson; the A/C/E or L to 14th Street then a walk west
- The $15 standing rail tickets are the value play if you do not mind standing
- Guest performers rotate nightly, so check which night has the artist you want
- The Amph is open to the sky — bring a layer for after dark
- Entry to Little Island itself is free but the Amph show is ticketed separately
- Good for adults and older teens rather than young children
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Common questions
Is this a poetry reading?
Not exactly. Ginsberg's work is reinterpreted through music by a live band with singers, alongside spoken passages.
Are the performers the same every night?
No. A core ensemble anchors every evening, but guest artists rotate across the run, so each night differs.
Do I need a separate ticket to enter Little Island?
Access to the park itself is free; the Amph performance requires its own ticket.
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