You are reading

Comedian Amy Schumer Surprises Local Residents With Performance at Astoria Park

Amy Schumer performing at Astoria Park (NY PopsUp/ Nina Westervelt)

April 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin

Comedian Amy Schumer entertained lucky park-goers with a surprise performance at Astoria Park Tuesday.

Schumer — known for her comedy special “Inside Amy Schumer” and the movie “Trainwreck” — shared jokes during a ten-minute set near the waterfront.

Local residents were thrilled to stumble upon the comedian — who has sold out large arenas in the past — performing at Astoria Park.

Sam Marksheid, who lives near Astoria Park, said he was pleasantly surprised to see her while taking a stroll.

“I was about halfway down the park when I saw a small crowd gathering for a performance,” Marksheid said. “When I got closer, I was excited to see Amy Schumer MCing the event!”

He stopped to watch her stand-up as well as The Missing Element, a beatboxing dance group that performed after her. He shot a video that he shared with the Queens Post.

“Unexpectedly stumbling upon the pop-up was the highlight of my day and I can’t wait to see more of these shows around NYC this summer,” Marksheid said.

Schumer and The Missing Element performed at the park as part of a free state-run program known as “NY PopsUp.”

The program, announced in early February, features hundreds of pop-up performances throughout the state, including the five boroughs. It launched on Feb. 20 and will run through Labor Day.

Most events that are a part of NY PopsUp are unannounced and are held in commonplace areas like parks, street corners, museums, transit stations and even fire escapes.

The events are “designed so that New Yorkers happen upon them in their everyday lives,” according to the program website.

The state has confirmed many well-known performers, like Schumer, as participants. Among the familiar names are Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Chris Rock, Patti Smith, Q-Tip, Billy Porter, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kenan Thompson and Idina Menzel – to name a few.

NY PopsUp was started to lift New Yorkers’ spirits during the pandemic, while also testing how to bring live performances back safely after COVID-19 largely stopped them altogether. It also supports struggling artists who have been unable to perform for nearly a year.

The best way to keep up-to-date — and potentially catch a surprise performance — is to follow @nypopsup on Instagram and Twitter.

email the author: [email protected]
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Op-ed: In Queens, smoke-free buildings are possible!

Mar. 29, 2024 By Ayisha Green: NYC Smoke-Free

For decades, we have known the consequences of tobacco smoke on the human body. We went from understanding smoking as a risk to personal health, to understanding that the smoke exhaled or released into the air by a burning cigarette is damaging the health of our loved ones and broader communities. The tobacco industry does not take responsibility for the health burden created by their products, nor do they take responsibility for the waste created by the existence of commercial tobacco.

CM Moya announces support for massive Metropolitan Park proposal near Citi Field

Council Member Francisco Moya announced his support for Metropolitan Park, a proposal put forward by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International that calls for the construction of a casino and entertainment complex on the parking lot just west of Citi Field.

In a lengthy statement released on Thursday afternoon, Moya said that when he was first approached about the project, his main consideration was ensuring that it would meet the needs of his constituents and provide a major boost to the local economy.