TDF Stages

With in-person theatre still a rarity, many companies and performers from Broadway and beyond are showcasing their work online. Below are performances you can watch this Wednesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 12, from the comfort of your couch for free or at low cost.

Wednesday, August 11

Ute Lemper in Concert: All That Jazz
On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, catch internationally renowned German chanteuse Ute Lemper in a concert recorded on a NYC rooftop. She croons songs by Kurt Weill and Jacques Brel, tunes made famous by Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf, and "All That Jazz" from Chicago, which she headlined on Broadway. Tickets are $20.

Jim Caruso's Pajama Cast Party
On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, cabaret maven Jim Caruso is pulling double duty! His in-person Cast Party gatherings are back at Birdland on Mondays, which means the live-streamed version of the show, dubbed Pajama Cast Party, has moved to Wednesdays. Every week, the charming host welcomes renowned singers and up-and-comers for songs and stories. Tonight's lineup includes Ain't Too Proud's Jelani Remy and the college winner of BroadwayWorld's Next on Stage talent contest Tommy Kaiser. Watch for free on YouTube though donations are encouraged.

Stars in the House: Adam Pascal
On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley are on a well-deserved vacation, during which behind-the-scenes Stars in the House staffers are hosting the show. Tonight, show coordinator Cara Serber welcomes Rent Tony nominee Adam Pascal and others. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.

Thursday, August 12

Battery Dance Festival: International Dance Film Festival
On Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, after going completely virtual last year, downtown's Battery Dance Festival returns as a hybrid event, with both in-person and online performances. The nine-day fest kicks off with an International Dance Film Festival featuring shorts from the Netherlands, South Korea, Mexico, Tanzania and Puerto Rico. Watch for free on YouTube—the link will be posted on the fest's website at showtime. The recording is viewable until Sunday, August 22.

Jacob's Pillow: Life Encounters: Archie Burnett
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Berkshires' lauded Jacob's Pillow dance festival resumed in-person performances this summer, but select events are also being streamed to at-home audiences. Starting tonight, you can catch Life Encounters, a celebration of the evolution of NYC's underground dance scene choreographed by ballroom legend Archie Burnett. Guest performers include former Martha Graham Dance Company principal Abdiel, performance artist Princess Lockerooo and Bessie Award winner Ephrat Asherie. RSVP to receive the free viewing link though donations are encouraged. The recording is viewable until Thursday, August 26 at 6 p.m. ET.

PBS Thirteen: Liza with a Z
On Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, PBS Thirteen presents Liza with a Z, the celebrated 1972 concert special directed by Bob Fosse and featuring Liza Minnelli belting, hoofing and wowing in an array of outfits designed by Halston. Filmed on stage at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre, the program was an award-winning smash in its day, but was lost in the vaults for decades before being rereleased 15 years ago. This is Minnelli in her heyday, performing highlights from Cabaret, of-the-era pop songs and special material written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, including the title tune. Watch for free on PBS Thirteen.

The Reading Series: If I Needed Someone
On Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, since its launch during the pandemic, The Reading Series has presented live-streamed performances of multiple plays by Neil LaBute. But tonight is the first time it's sharing a world premiere by the polarizing playwright. Alison Tanney directs Broadway vets Lauren Zakrin and Tobias Segal in If I Needed Someone, a twisty two-hander about a hookup that examines the challenges of modern-day romance. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.

Stars in the House: Sandy Duncan
On Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley are on a well-deserved vacation, during which behind-the-scenes Stars in the House staffers are hosting the show. Tonight, public liaison Diane Kelber welcomes three-time Tony nominee Sandy Duncan for a dance-centric episode. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.

Available to Watch Both Days

Putting It Together: An Evening with James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim
Last week, in honor of the release of James Lapine's book Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created 'Sunday in the Park with George', the creators of that Pulitzer Prize-winning musical came together on Zoom to talk about their brilliant collaboration. Now you can watch a recording of that fabulous event. Christine Baranski, who appeared in the original Off-Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George, moderates the discussion between Lapine and Stephen Sondheim as they share behind-the-scenes stories about the making of their masterpiece and their fruitful friendship. Original Sunday stars Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters also appear. Tickets start at $25 and the recording is viewable until Thursday.

Together Apart
It's a collaboration that could only come out of the pandemic. After attending a Brown University musical theatre department reunion on Zoom, Grammy-winning songwriter Lisa Loeb decided to write a mini-musical about the experience. She then invited other talented alumni to pen their own short tuners. The result is an evening of 10 pieces written, composed, produced, directed and performed by Brown grads, including Broadway vets Josh Hamilton, Ann Harada and JoBeth Williams, and Julie Bowen from Modern Family. Watch for free online though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged. The recording is viewable until Friday, August 20.

Signature Theatre: Detroit '67
Virginia's lauded Signature Theatre presents Detroit '67, the first installment in Tony-nominated playwright Dominique Morisseau's Detroit Project exploring different periods in her beloved hometown's history. This powerful family drama about two Black siblings squabbling over how to move forward takes place against the backdrop of the Detroit Rebellion, as tensions rise indoors and outside. Directed by Candis C. Jones, this production was filmed live on stage. Tickets are $35 but if you're a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Thursday, September 16.

Jacob's Pillow: Ballet Hispánico
The Berkshires' lauded Jacob's Pillow dance festival resumed in-person performances this summer, but some events are also being streamed to at-home audiences. Catch a 50th anniversary program by Ballet Hispánico, featuring highlights from its rich repertoire, including Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Tiburones; Batucada Fantástica, composed of three solos by Vicente Nebrada; and Gustavo Ramírez Sansano's 18+1. RSVP to receive the free viewing link though donations are encouraged. The recording is viewable until Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The world's largest arts festival, Scotland's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is back in person this year, but many offerings are also being streamed to adventurous at-home audiences. Check out performances from artists around the world, including cutting-edge comedy, experimental theatre, wacky musicals and the indefinable. Some shows cost money, others are free; some are available on demand, others have specific start times. Browse the options to see what piques your interest. The fest ends on Monday, August 30.

ZooTV
Enjoy Fringe-y performances courtesy of ZooTV, a platform showcasing cutting-edge dance and theatre artists. During its three weeks of streaming, you can catch performances by established artists such as British experimental theatre-maker Tim Crouch and NYC solo artist Peter Michael Marino or discover exciting emerging talents. Browse the options to see what piques your interest.

Jacob's Pillow: Brian Brooks / Moving Company
The Berkshires' lauded Jacob's Pillow dance festival resumed in-person performances this summer, but some events are also being streamed to at-home audiences. Catch a program by Brian Brooks' troupe The Moving Company, which was filmed live on stage last month. The lineup features Flight Study, a new work set to a string quartet by Bryce Dessner; an untitled solo piece performed by Brooks himself; and Closing Distance set to music by Caroline Shaw. RSVP to receive the free viewing link though donations are encouraged. The recording is viewable until Thursday, August 19 at 6 p.m. ET..

Lincoln Center Theater: The Wolves
Lincoln Center Theater presents The Wolves, Sarah DeLappe's Pulitzer finalist play about nine high school juniors on a soccer field exchanging ideas, thoughts and confidences as they pass the ball back and forth. The chatter is incessant but insightful, offering a glimpse into the insular and messy world of American teenage girls as they candidly discuss everything from periods to politics. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, this Obie-winning production stars Lauren Patten, Sarah Mezzanotte, Susannah Perkins, Tedra Millan and other up-and-comers, and was filmed live on stage at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in 2017. Register on Broadway on Demand to receive the free viewing link; the recording is viewable until Sunday.

Christopher Lloyd in King Lear
On Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. ET, Obie and Emmy Award-winning actor Christopher Lloyd (Taxi, Back to the Future) is currently headlining King Lear at Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires, but you can also stream the show at home. Directed by Nicole Ricciardi, the production was filmed live on stage earlier in the run. Tickets are $25 and the recording is viewable for 72 hours from the start time.

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

Top image: Tanzania's Nantea Dance Company, one of the international troupes featured in the opening night of the 40th annual Battery Dance Festival. Photo by Jimmy Mathias.