On the cusp of celebrating its 20th anniversary since its inaugural event in 2006, the Verdi Square Festival of the Arts had to call off its 2025 gathering due to limited funds and the MTA’s renovation of the 72nd Street subway station to replace its elevators. Festival producer Glen Wilkofsky, who has helped lead the event since its founding under George Litton, is working to bring back the event, which has been on shaky ground since Litton’s passing in 2022, along with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements.
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The show was cancelled from 2020 through 2022, but then returned for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
“I’ve been involved with the festival ever since he initially called me to provide sound equipment,” said Wilkofsky on a call with ILTUWS. The performing percussionist, who also runs a couple of music-oriented businesses, said he ended up becoming the festival’s de facto stage manager, head of security—whatever was needed—while Litton handled all the administration and bureaucracy. “He wasn’t even a musician,” noted Wilkofsky, a graduate of The Manhattan School of Music. “He was kind of like the International Man of Mystery, but a very successful guy, a wonderful salt-of-the-Earth person. Everybody loved him; we still miss him very much.”
Litton was also responsible for raising the funds for the festival, which recently increased from $20,000 to $30,000 to host the trio of shows, usually showcasing opera, musical theater, and jazz. “I realize now that, you know, our fundraising infrastructure was George making a couple of phone calls for next season, and that was it. He took care of next season’s needs and never thought beyond it,” said Wilkofsky, detailing the difficulty of finding funds since the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s really not a lot of money, but it’s proved very hard for me to raise.” Performers each receive $300.
Last Thursday, October 16, a fundraiser was hosted by a coalition of locals, including Centurion Real Estate Partners, Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Chase Bank, and the Manhattan School of Music. ILTUWS spoke to Ammanda Espinal, director of sales at Douglas Elliman at the 212 West 72nd Street property, which has windows overlooking Verdi Square and the iconic Apple Bank sign. Espinal said she was researching programming in Verdi Square when she quickly came across the Verdi Square Festival of the Arts and contacted Wilkofsky to see if they could collaborate to bring the event, typically held in September, back again. “It was just—very innocent email, just wanting to connect with him, learn more, and just be part of the community,” said Espinal.
Wilkofsky tells us that nothing is official yet, but he’s hoping these businesses will end up becoming sponsors for the festival (as of now they just covered the fundraiser).
The coalition provided Wilkofsky with the south penthouse at 212 West 72nd Street. Cocktails were served alongside hors d’oeuvres, and live musical performances by Manhattan School of Music as the groundwork to get the fest back on track was laid. “It went very well for us,” said Wilkofsky, noting there was a still a ways to go before they hit the budget for September 2026. “I have no complaints. We just need some money.”
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Espinal said she knows her team, as well as building residents, are interested in seeing the return of Verdi Square’s festival for its 20th anniversary and expressed confidence that the funds would be raised. She credited the work and effort of Wilkofsky, who in some ways took over the festival reins on the fly when Litton passed. “It’s a very heavy lift,” she said, noting how pleased she was that the coalition of local businesses got on board quickly as well.A GoFundMe page was set up by Wilkofsky for those looking to help revive the Verdi Square Arts Festival, the free, open-air events known for drawing big crowds, showcasing beautiful entertainment, and featuring talent ranging from young up-and-comers to seasoned veterans.
Wilkofsky told us he’s long loved seeing the reactions of random passersby when opera is being performed. “They turn right and see this music, and it’s opera, and you just see them—they just get enchanted, and they stay there for the entire time.” The musician went on to elaborate, “Maybe they had some sort of exposure to opera in their early lives, and maybe they didn’t, but I think we’ve made a lot of opera fans out of people who otherwise wouldn’t be opera fans.”
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