Move over, summer blockbusters of 2025 — the real showstopper is coming to the Tribeca Festival. New York’s favorite Piano Man, Billy Joel, is about to get the documentary treatment he deserves, and darling, it’s going to be absolutely fabulous.
The announcement dropped like a perfectly-timed crescendo during NAB Show’s Business of Entertainment event: HBO’s two-part documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” will kick off Tribeca’s 24th season. (And honestly, could there be anything more quintessentially New York than that?)
The legendary Beacon Theatre — still gorgeous after all these years — will host the June 4th premiere, backed by OKX and City National Bank. There’s something deliciously fitting about premiering Joel’s story in a venue that’s seen its fair share of musical history. The weathered walls of the Beacon practically hum with decades of performances, making it the perfect backdrop for this particular piano man’s tale.
Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca’s powerhouse Co-Founder and CEO, couldn’t contain her enthusiasm. “For nearly 25 years, the Tribeca Festival has celebrated the artists who give New York its heart and soul,” she gushed. Well, honey, if anyone’s got New York’s soul running through their veins, it’s Billy Joel.
Emmy-winning directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin have crafted something that promises to be more than your typical music doc — though let’s face it, nothing about Billy Joel has ever been typical. They’ve secured unprecedented access to Joel’s private world, including those precious home movies and photographs that usually stay locked away in personal vaults. Think less “Behind the Music” and more intimate portrait of an artist who’s shaped American culture for decades.
The timing, though? A bit bittersweet. Just last month, Joel had to postpone several shows due to medical issues requiring surgery. “While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,” he stated — a reminder that even our cultural titans aren’t immune to life’s curveballs.
This passion project, produced by an all-star team including Pentimento Productions, Hazy Mills Productions, and Hollywood darlings Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone Productions, will hit HBO and Max shortly after its Tribeca debut. Perfect timing for summer streaming binges, wouldn’t you say?
The 2025 Tribeca Festival (running June 4-15) promises its usual cultural smorgasbord — films, music, TV, immersive experiences, and more. But opening with Billy Joel’s story? That’s not just smart programming — that’s New York paying homage to one of its own. In a city that’s seen everything, Billy Joel remains one of the few constants, like yellow cabs and attitude-laden pizza vendors.
Sometimes the stars just align perfectly, don’t they? A New York icon, a New York festival, and a New York venue — it’s enough to put anyone in a “New York State of Mind.” And really, would we want it any other way?
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