At Great Performances, our story began as a waitress service for women in the arts. Today, we are proud to be the exclusive caterer for New York’s most iconic cultural institutions. These venues don’t just host events—they create meaningful, culturally significant experiences that enrich our city. Each month, we share some of the programs we’re most excited about. Here’s what’s happening in October 2025.

Apollo Theater

• Apollo Comedy Club – October 9, 2025
  A night of laughs with some of the city’s best up-and-coming stand-up comedians in Harlem’s legendary theater.
• Amateur Night at the Apollo – October 10, 2025
  Cheer on emerging talent and experience the high-energy tradition that launched countless careers.
• Amateur Night at the Apollo – October 11, 2025
  Another chance to see rising stars take the stage in one of New York’s most iconic live competitions.
• Melanin Madness
  A celebration of culture and creativity, highlighting artists of color with powerful performances.
• Bricks
  A moving production that combines music and narrative to tell stories rooted in Harlem and beyond.

Asia Society

• 2025 Asia Game Changer Awards and Dinner
  Celebrate global leaders making transformative contributions to communities worldwide at Asia Society’s signature annual event.
• Setan Jawa: Silent Film with Live Music
  Experience Garin Nugroho’s haunting Indonesian silent film brought to life with a live gamelan orchestra and Western instruments.
• On Healing Land, Birds Perch: Healing from the Trauma of the Vietnam War
  A powerful film screening and discussion reflecting on the resilience and healing of communities shaped by the Vietnam War.
• Diwali Lights at Asia Society 2025
  Celebrate the Festival of Lights with music, dance, and activities for the whole family, honoring South Asian traditions.

BAM

• BAMboo! (Halloween Family Festival)
  A family-friendly Halloween block party filled with costumes, candy, arts & crafts, and music for all ages.
• What Is War
  A multimedia performance by Eiko Otake and Wen Hui exploring memory, trauma, and the aftermath of war through movement, video, and voice.
• Martha@BAM — The 1963 Interview
  A rare staged re-creation of Martha Graham’s 1963 interview at BAM, featuring performances that highlight her groundbreaking influence on modern dance.
• The Met: Live in HD
  Enjoy world-class opera performances broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera stage to BAM’s big screen.
• Best of BAMkids Film Festival
  Kid-friendly short films from around the globe return in this festival highlight designed for young audiences and families.

Brooklyn Museum

• First Saturdays
  A Brooklyn tradition: enjoy free art, performances, and community programs at the museum’s lively after-hours event.
• Fall Fête: Monet and Venice and Seydou Keïta – October 9, 2025
  Celebrate the openings of two major exhibitions with an evening of art, music, dance, and special after-hours gallery access.
• Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra: Adams, Roussel, Sachse, Strauss – October 26, 2025
  The Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra performs a program featuring works by John Adams, Albert Roussel, Ernst Sachse, and Richard Strauss.
• Brooklyn Pop-Up Market: October 5, October 12, October 19, October 26
  Browse artisan vendors, food, and unique gifts at this vibrant community marketplace.
• Upcoming Exhibitions: Everyday Rebellions (dates TBD), Seydou Keïta (opens October 10, 2025), Monet in Venice (October 11, 2025–February 1, 2026)
  Explore groundbreaking exhibitions spanning photography, resistance movements, and Impressionist masterpieces.

Dizzy’s Club

• New Orleans Jazz Orchestra – October 16, 2025
  Celebrate the spirit of New Orleans with the Grammy Award-winning Jazz Orchestra bringing soulful, high-energy performances to Dizzy’s Club.
• Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame: Celebrating Joe Henderson – October 21, 2025
  A tribute to legendary saxophonist Joe Henderson, featuring outstanding jazz artists honoring his enduring legacy.
• Event Title TBD – October 25, 2025
  Details forthcoming; another world-class jazz performance at Dizzy’s Club.
• Event Title TBD – October 28, 2025
  An evening of top-tier live jazz in the intimate setting of Dizzy’s Club.

Jazz at Lincoln Center

• Abdullah Ibrahim: Life of a Legend – October 3–4, 2025
  A celebration of pianist Abdullah Ibrahim’s extraordinary career, featuring Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Cecil McBee, and Ekaya.
• Family Concert: Who is Celia Cruz? – October 5, 2025
  A fun, educational concert introducing families to the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, through storytelling and music.
• Celia Cruz: A Centennial Celebration – October 17–18, 2025
  A vibrant tribute to Celia Cruz’s legacy, honoring her powerful voice and contributions to Afro-Cuban music.
• Nduduzo Makhathini and the Music of Bheki Mseleku with the JLCO & Wynton Marsalis – October 24–25, 2025
  Pianist Nduduzo Makhathini joins Wynton Marsalis and the JLCO to honor South African jazz master Bheki Mseleku.

Platform by JBF

• Cocktail Class: Art of the Brine with Raines Law Room & Dear Irving
  A hands-on cocktail-making experience highlighting brines, pickles, and bold flavor pairings.
• Collab Dinner: Diwali Party
  Celebrate Diwali with an evening of festive food, drinks, and community in a one-of-a-kind dinner collaboration.
• Midwestern Harvest Dinner with James Beard Award Winner Karyn Tomlinson
  Enjoy a seasonal feast prepared by James Beard Award winner Karyn Tomlinson, inspired by Midwestern harvest traditions.

New York Historical

• Exhibition: The Gay Harlem Renaissance
  Explore the overlooked contributions of LGBTQ+ artists and writers to Harlem’s cultural flowering of the 1920s and ‘30s.
• Exhibition: You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976
  Step into the disco era and relive the music, fashion, and nightlife that defined a generation.
• Blacklisted Movie Night: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) – October 3, 2025
  Revisit a film noir classic and explore its ties to the Hollywood blacklist era.
• Gallery Tour: Dining in Transit – October 16, 2025
  A curator-led tour examining New York’s transit dining culture and its evolution through time.

Poster House

• Current Exhibitions: The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy, Blazing a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters
  Explore the power of design in shaping political, cultural, and environmental narratives.
• Halloween Mask Printing with Mike King
  Create your own custom Halloween mask with renowned designer Mike King in this hands-on workshop.
• Third Sunday: Always Free
  Enjoy free admission and special activities as part of Poster House’s monthly community day.
• Posters & Cocktails: Italian Fascism
  A unique evening blending history, mixology, and design with cocktails inspired by the current exhibition.
• Designed to Control: Authoritarian Branding of the 20th Century
  A thought-provoking program examining the role of posters in shaping authoritarian regimes’ public image.

Wave Hill

• Fiesta on the Hudson
  Celebrate Latino heritage and culture with live music, dance, and family-friendly activities overlooking the Hudson River.
• Indigenous Peoples Weekend
  Join special programs honoring the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous communities.
• Clay Pot Meals and the Native American Palate
  Discover Native American culinary traditions in a cooking demonstration highlighting heritage and flavor.
• Wave Hill-O-Ween
  A Halloween celebration for families featuring costumes, crafts, and seasonal fun in the gardens.