From Queens to world stages
This production maps the rise of
Paul Simon and
Art Garfunkel from neighborhood harmonizers to timeless folk voices. It is a staged tribute with a cast, narration, and archival visuals, not the original duo returning. Expect a sweep through early folk tunes into radio staples that still feel close. You will likely hear
The Sound of Silence,
Mrs. Robinson,
Bridge Over Troubled Water, and
The Boxer delivered with care for blend and story. The audience skews multigenerational, with careful listeners who sing softly on choruses and lean in for the quiet bits. Trivia heads will enjoy that producer Tom Wilson added electric parts to the acoustic
The Sound of Silence without the duo present, and that the huge drum crack on
The Boxer came from a mic in a long hallway at Columbia's 30th Street Studio. All notes about selections and stage cues here come from informed inference, not a confirmed run sheet.
Songs you can expect
Quiet pride in the aisles
The room feels calm and attentive, with knit sweaters, clean denim, and the occasional vintage jacket that looks straight off a
Bookends sleeve. You will hear soft humming on verses and a full, smiling "lie-la-lie" during
The Boxer, then a respectful hush for
Bridge Over Troubled Water. Merch leans classic: sepia posters, songbook-style tees, and LP-font totes that nod to crate-digger taste. Conversations often swap first encounters with these songs, from dorm speakers to long drives, and which cover versions still hit home. Claps land on the backbeat at encores, and folks hold cheers until the last harmony dissolves. It plays like a folk club stretched to theater size, keeping the manners that this music asks for.
Rituals that feel earned
Harmony as the headline
The singers lock into tight, breath-close harmonies, letting one voice float high while the other keeps the ground steady. Acoustic guitars do most of the lifting, with one player fingerpicking steady patterns while another adds a 12-string shimmer. Tempos are unhurried so the words land, and when energy rises it comes from light percussion and confident strums. A common move is to start
The Sound of Silence nearly bare and bloom into a soft electric layer that nods to the famous studio overdub. You may hear a guitar strung in Nashville-style high tuning, which adds sparkle without cranking volume. Keys sometimes sit a notch lower than the records to suit the singers, which warms the blend and keeps lines in reach. Lights stay warm and simple so the ears lead, not the eyes.
Small choices, big feel
Harmony-first neighbors
If you follow
Paul Simon on his rare live dates, this show scratches a similar itch for nimble lyrics and gentle guitar figures. Fans of
Art Garfunkel will appreciate the focus on clear tenor lines and a hush that lets ballads breathe.
James Taylor sits nearby in mood and audience, thanks to warm storytelling and rolling grooves that invite a calm singalong. For a modern echo,
The Milk Carton Kids tour with close, witty duets and crisp acoustic detail that reflect the same careful craft. People who lean into narrative folk, quiet dynamics, and tidy arrangements tend to cross over between these artists. If those names live on your playlists, this production sits right in that pocket.
Where taste overlaps
