New York City’s Broadway music festival, Elsie Fest, returned for the first time in three years on Sept. 8 at Pier 17. Darren Criss started Elsie Fest in 2015 with Lea Michele, Ricky Rollins and Jordan Roth. 

The festival aims to take musical theater to new heights by allowing audiences to engage with the performances in a relaxed and lively manner. By transcending Broadway etiquette, fans are encouraged to sing-a-long, a concept that has been bolstered throughout the show with live sing-a-longs led by Marie’s Crisis Cafe in between the performers’ sets. 

Musician Lizzy McAlpine, Actress Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), Actor Jordan Fisher (“Hamilton”) and Actor John Gallagher Jr. (“Spring Awakening” ) debuted as Elsie Fest headliners this past weekend. Surprise guests included Andrew Barth Feldman (“No Hard Feelings”), “Glee” stars Chord Overstreet, Curt Mega, Telly Leung, and Max Adler, “Wicked”’s Derek Klena, *NSYNC’s JC Chasez and “Hadestown” singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell. 

Elsie Fest gave fans a sneak peek into multiple musicals premiering on- and off-Broadway this Fall. 

‘Playing With Fire’

Before an acoustic duet of “Bye Bye Bye” performed by Criss and Grammy nominee Chasez (*NSYNC), Elsie Fest goers were the first to hear about Chasez’s concept album for the musical “Playing With Fire.” “Playing With Fire” is a new musical that reimagines Frankenstein’s story through conversations between Dr. Frankenstein and his creation at the grave of Dr. Frankenstein’s wife 10 years after her murder. The album was conceptualized by Chasez and Golden Globe winner Jimmy Harry (Madonna’s Masterpiece). The album will be released by Center Stage Records on Oct. 25, right in time for Halloween. 

‘Death Becomes Her’

Audiences were privy to a performance by “Death Becomes Her,” a musical adaption of the 1992 movie of the same name that made its world premiere at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago this past May. Lyricist Julia Mattison and composer Noel Carey joined the Elsie Fest stage to debut new lyrics from “Let’s Run Away Together,” where main character Helen details her plot against Madeline, the wife of Helen’s love interest. This comically murderous love triangle arrives on  Broadway this fall. Previews begin Oct. 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, starring Megan Hilty (“Wicked”), Jennifer Simard (“Company”) and Christopher Sieber (“Matilda the Musical”).

‘Safety Not Guaranteed’

Another film-turned-musical adaptation, “Safety Not Guaranteed,” starring Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Taylor Trensch, took to the Elsie Fest stage. “Safety Not Guaranteed,” another time-traveling Broadway musical, is an indie-rock musical centered around second chances. Obi-Melekwe and Trensch previewed the song “Go Time” ahead of their off-Broadway run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from Sept.17 to Oct. 20. 

‘Maybe Happy Ending’

“Maybe Happy Ending,” an original musical opening on Broadway this fall about the importance of the little things in life, gave fans a special preview performance. Elsie Fest creative and Broadway alum Darren Criss took the stage with cast member Helen J. Shen to sing the show’s title track. The duo play two obsolete robots nearing the end of their utility. Dez Duron, making his Broadway debut in “Maybe Happy Ending,” performed the ballad “A Sentimental Person,” a vocal performance likened to the musical stylings of Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker. Previews of “Maybe Happy Ending” will begin Oct. 16 at the Belasco Theater. 

‘DRAG: The Musical’

Finally, fans entered the world of “DRAG: The Musical,” the story of two competing drag clubs who fall on hard times and are forced to join forces. Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, Season 5 runner-up on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” embodied her new role during her solo performance of “Queen Kitty” and duet with Nick Adams “It’s A Drag.” Previews begin Sept. 30 at New World Stages. 

If you love Broadway and concerts, Elsie Fest is a must-see event. Outside of the theater, people are free to sing and dance along with the performers. Broadway newbies and alums showcase their talent for excited audiences.