As a symbolic gesture to the public, the venue is marking the changeover with a free concert on Thursday that will include acts from Broadway shows ("Chicago, " "Avenue Q, " "Phantom"), plus the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, the Town Hall Broadway's Rising Stars Chorus, and others.

WSJ: Brighter Lights for Town Hall

It's as if we've all spent years on the town with a bon vivant uncle buying us steaks and cigars and driving around in a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and suddenly the bon vivant uncle pulls over to the side of the road, starts freaking about gas prices, and hands you fare for the bus.

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