TDF Stages

With in-person theatre out of commission for the foreseeable future, many companies and performers from Broadway and beyond are showcasing their work online. Below are performances you can watch today, Monday, June 8, from the comfort of your couch for free (or at very low cost).

Spotlight on Philadelphia Theatre Company on Stars in the House
At 2 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley launch their new spotlight on regional theatres series on Stars in the House. First up is Philadelphia Theatre Company, which was founded in 1974 and focuses on new American plays and musicals. Producing artistic director Paige Price will be joined by some of the artists she's worked with, included two-time Tony nominee Kathleen Turner. Watch for free on YouTube.

Wendy Wasserstein Project Celebration
At 4 p.m. ET, if you're in need of a pick-me-up, marvel at the next generation of theatregoers and world changers at TDF's annual Wendy Wasserstein Project Celebration. One of our signature education programs, it was started by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein in 1998 when she partnered with TDF to see if theatre was relevant to young people. We took eight high school students to see six shows that season, and had pizza and talked after every performance. Today that experiment has blossomed into 24 mentorships, with top theatre professionals (James Lapine, Kathleen Marshall, Scott Ellis and Kathleen Chalfant, to name a handful) sharing their time and expertise with public school students throughout the five boroughs. Together they see and discuss hundreds of shows a year, and then all the groups gather for an end-of-season celebration. This year we're bringing that party online, which means everyone can tune in and be inspired by these amazing youngsters. Watch for free on TDF's YouTube channel.

Staged at Home: a Virtual Benefit Concert for Long Wharf Theatre
At 6:30p.m. ET, Connecticut's Long Wharf Theatre, which has imported a number of productions to Broadway over the years, most recently Steve Martin's Meteor Shower, hosts a star-studded benefit concert featuring Tony winners Laura Benanti, Stephanie J. Block and Kelli O'Hara as well as Tony nominees Robin De Jesús, Norm Lewis, Matthew Morrison and Bryce Pinkham. Tickets start at $20.

Desperately Seeking the Exit
At 7 p.m. ET, Peter Michael Marino live-streams Desperately Seeking the Exit, his riotous solo comedy about the behind-the-scenes drama at his notorious 2007 London flop musical Desperately Seeking Susan. Tickets are $10 and partly benefit the Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

The Metropolitan Opera: La Clemenza di Tito
At 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera shares Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito, starring Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elina Garanca, Kate Lindsey and Giuseppe Filianoti, conducted by Harry Bicket. The production was filmed for the company's Live in HD series in 2012, and is available to watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website. You can still stream yesterday's opera, Thaïs, until 6:30 p.m. today.

Bindlestiff Open Stage: Quarantine Edition
At 7:30 p.m. ET, run away with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at the troupe's weekly live-streamed variety show, hosted by adorkable ringmaster Keith Nelson. Enjoy a cavalcade of amazing acts, including aerialist Serenity Smith Forchion, wirewalker Logan Kerr, contortionist Elena Sanders and "flexible" comedian Jonathan Burns. Watch for free on Bindlestiff's Facebook page though donations are encouraged.

Renée Elise Goldsberry and Norm Lewis on Stars in the House
At 8 p.m. ET, On Your Feet! star Andréa Burns guest hosts Stars in the House, and she's welcoming a starry group of guests, including Hamilton Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, Porgy and Bess Tony nominee Norm Lewis, Telly Leung from Aladdin and Tony nominee Michael McElroy, the founder of Broadway Inspirational Voices. We expect some seriously joyful noise from this bunch. This twice daily series supports the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and you can watch for free on YouTube.

Jim Caruso's Pajama Cast Party
At 8 p.m. ET, cabaret maven Jim Caruso welcomes renowned singers and up-and-comers at Pajama Cast Party, a live-streamed version of his popular weekly Cast Party gatherings that have taken place at Birdland for years. Tonight's lineup includes Whose Line Is It Anyway? improv star Colin Mochrie and his performer wife Debra McGrath, On the Town Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck, Adam J. Levy from Waitress, and jazz crooners Nicole Zuraitis and Amanda King. Watch for free on YouTube though tips via the Venmo app are appreciated.

Available to Watch All Day

Lincoln Center Theater: Pipeline
BroadwayHD is streaming Pipeline at no cost, Dominique Morisseau's thought-provoking drama about a Black inner-city public school teacher (Karen Pittman) fighting to ensure her son doesn't become a statistic of the school-to-prison pipeline. Watch for free anytime on BroadwayHD.

National Theatre: Tom Hiddleston in Coriolanus
London's National Theatre presents Shakespeare's tragedy Coriolanus starring Tom Hiddleston (the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Betrayal on Broadway), who earned a 2014 Olivier nomination for his powerful turn in the title role, a Roman general turned politician who's brought down by his principled bluntness, corrupt colleagues and an easily manipulated populace. Watch for free through Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on the National Theatre's YouTube channel.

Shakespeare's Globe: The Merry Wives of Windsor
London's Shakespeare's Globe shares a recording of its 2019 mounting of The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare's comedy about the clownish Falstaff, who romances two women for their fortunes until they turn the tables on the two-timer. Olivier nominee Bryony Hannah and Sarah Finigan play the clever ladies and Pearce Quigley is Falstaff. Watch for free anytime through Sunday, June 14 on the theatre's YouTube channel.

The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
In honor of Pride Month, the 92nd Street Y shares a recording of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, writer-performer James Lecesne's one-man play about how the disappearance of a gay teenager impacts a small New Jersey town. Lecesne, who earned an Oscar for his short film Trevor, portrays all the characters in this award winner, which was a hit Off Broadway. Watch for free anytime all month on the 92Y's website though donations are encouraged.

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Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her at @RavenSnook. Follow TDF at @TDFNYC.

Top image: Norm Lewis.