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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 this Labor Day weekend, September 4 to 7, for free or at low cost.
Friday, September 4
Virtual Halston: Debbie Gravitte
On Friday at 5 p.m. ET, Julie Halston, Broadway scene-stealer and longtime friend to TDF, welcomes Jerome Robbins' Broadway Tony winner Debbie Gravitte to her weekly chatfest. The stage vets will be joined by up-and-coming vocalist Alex Getlin, a Michael Feinstein protégé. Watch for free on YouTube.
Dinner with Friends
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, catch a live reading of Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize-winning play Dinner with Friends about two couples who reevaluate their intertwined friendships in the wake of a divorce. Broadway vets Jackie Burns (Hair), Chad Jennings (Wicked), Kenita R. Miller (Come From Away) and Ben Davis (Dear Evan Hansen) star, and there will be a post-performance Q&A with the cast. Watch for free on YouTube but donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.
Bristol Riverside Theatre: Broadway Summer Spectacular
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, Pennsylvania's Bristol Riverside Theatre brings its annual concert of showstoppers online, with Broadway vets such as Derrick Cobey (Kiss Me, Kate), Telly Leung (Aladdin) and Jessica Wagner (The Phantom of the Opera) crooning beloved tunes by Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers and George Gershwin. Tickets are $35.
The Metropolitan Opera: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents James Robinson's lauded production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, which was recorded at the venue just a month before the shutdown. Eric Owens and Angel Blue star as the title couple trying to find happiness on Catfish Row, and the supporting cast includes Alfred Walker, Frederick Ballentine, Latonia Moore, Golda Schultz and Donovan Singletary. This is a breathtaking mounting of a classic, with a Tony-winning creative team and choreography by Camille A. Brown. Watch for free for 48 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website. You can still stream yesterday's opera, Lulu, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
Barrington Stage Company: Harriet Harris in Eleanor
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Pittsfield, Massachusetts' Barrington Stage Company presents Tony winner Harriet Harris in Eleanor, an evocative bio play by Mark St. Germain about former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. While Harris is best known for her comedic performances (the villains in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella and Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway), she has a lot of experience getting inside Eleanor's more serious skin: She already portrayed the feminist icon on Netflix's Hollywood and in the soon-to-be-released series Atlantic Crossing. Directed by Henry Stram, the solo show was recorded live onstage without an audience. Tickets are $15.
Stars in the House: Flower Drum Song Reunion
On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley welcome artists involved in both Broadway mountings of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song to Stars in the House. A Chorus Line star Baayork Lee represents the original 1958 production, which she danced in at age 12! Actors Alvin Ing, Jose Llana and Miss Saigon Tony winner Lea Salonga will talk about the 2002 revival, which had a new book by David Henry Hwang, who will also drop by. Watch for free on YouTube.
Broadway Relief Project: Teal Wicks in Concert
On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, last month, midtown Manhattan's Open Jar Studios launched an in-person, socially distant concert series, with Broadway stars performing for intimate yet spread out audiences. But for those still wary of indoor gatherings, there's a safer and cheaper option: synchronous live-streams of the performances. Tonight, you can catch Teal Wicks, star of Broadway's The Cher Show and Finding Neverland. In-person tickets are $35 to $50 but you can watch for free online.
Seacoast Repertory Theatre: The Bus Stop
On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, New Hampshire's Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents The Bus Stop, a timely new drama by Najee Brown about five Black women who meet while on their way to visit incarcerated loved ones. The play will be performed live in front of a small in-person audience and streamed to many more online. Tickets are $20.
Latino Theater Co.: The Last Angry Brown Hat
On Friday at 10 p.m. ET, Los Angeles' Latino Theater Co. presents a live reading of The Last Angry Brown Hat, a new drama by Alfredo Ramos about four former members of the Brown Berets, a '60s Chicano civil rights group, who reconnect at the funeral of a peer. Robert Beltran of Star Trek: Voyager fame, Mike Gomez, Sal Lopez and Geoffrey Rivas star, and Jose Luis Valenzuela directs. Watch for free on the company's YouTube channel.
Saturday, September 5
Barrington Stage Company: Harriet Harris in Eleanor
On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Pittsfield, Massachusettes' Barrington Stage Company presents Tony winner Harriet Harris in Eleanor, an evocative bio play about former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. See Friday at 7:30 p.m. above for more info. Tickets are $15.
Broadway Relief Project: Kate Baldwin in Concert
On Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, last month, midtown Manhattan's Open Jar Studios launched an in-person, socially distant concert series, with Broadway stars performing for intimate yet spread out audiences. But for those still wary of indoor gatherings, there's a safer and cheaper option: synchronous live-streams of the performances. Tonight, you can catch Kate Baldwin, who was nominated for Tonys for her performances in Hello, Dolly! and Finian's Rainbow. In-person tickets are $35 to $50, but you can watch the set for free online.
Sunday, September 6
Bristol Riverside Theatre: Broadway Summer Spectacular
On Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, it's your last chance to catch Pennsylvania's Bristol Riverside Theatre's annual concert of showstoppers online, with Broadway vets such as Derrick Cobey (Kiss Me, Kate), Telly Leung (Aladdin) and Jessica Wagner (The Phantom of the Opera) crooning beloved tunes by Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers and George Gershwin. Tickets are $35.
Nick Cordero Tribute
On Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, although multiple Broadway artists lost their lives to COVID-19, the death of Nick Cordero was particularly shocking. Just 41 years old and a new dad, the Bullets Over Broadway Tony nominee battled the virus for three months before passing away on July 6. Over the past decade, he had been a commanding yet affable presence on New York stages, with starring roles in A Bronx Tale, Waitress and the Off-Broadway cult favorite The Toxic Avenger. Tonight, his family, friends and costars celebrate his life and career in what's sure to be an emotional event featuring songs, personal stories, and archival photographs and videos. Watch for free on Broadway on Demand though donations to the Save the Music Foundation are encouraged.
The Metropolitan Opera: The Tempest
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents The Tempest, composed and conducted by Thomas Adès and based on Shakespeare's powerful play. Visionary director Robert Lepage helmed this 2012 production, starring Simon Keenlyside as Prospero the sorcerer, whose quest for revenge softens when his daughter Miranda (Isabel Leonard) falls in love. Alek Shrader, Alan Oke and Audrey Luna costar. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website.
Broadway Relief Project: Brandon Victor Dixon in Concert
On Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, last month, midtown Manhattan's Open Jar Studios launched an in-person, socially distant concert series, with Broadway stars performing for intimate yet spread out audiences. But for those still wary of indoor gatherings, there's a safer and cheaper option: synchronous live-streams of the performances. Tonight, you can catch Brandon Victor Dixon, star of The Color Purple, Shuffle Along and Hamilton on Broadway, and the TV musicals Rent: Live and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. In-person tickets are $70-$90 and close to sold out, but you can watch the live-stream for $5.
The Seth Concert Series: Karen Olivo
On Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, apparently, hosting a daily talk show online and a Sirius XM Satellite Radio series isn't enough for the multitalented Seth Rudetsky. Well-known for his skills as a pianist, musical director and interviewer, he's hosted a series of intimate live concerts in Provincetown with Broadway stars for the past decade. This summer he brings the show online, and tonight's headliner is Karen Olivo, who was starring as Satine in the musical Moulin Rouge! when the shutdown hit. Olivo's New York stage career began as a replacement in Rent, and she went on to appear in Brooklyn, In the Heights and as Anita in West Side Story, for which she won a 2009 Tony Award. Since then she's alternated between headlining major productions (Hamilton in Chicago) and teaching acting in Madison, Wisconsin. Rudetsky is a master at getting divas to dish, so she's sure to talk about her impressive yet unusual career as well as perform some of her signature songs. Tickets are $25.
Monday, September 7
The Seth Concert Series: Karen Olivo
On Monday at 3 p.m. ET, if you missed this live concert with Tony-winning Moulin Rouge! star Karen Olivo yesterday, you can watch a recording today. See Sunday at 8 p.m. above for more info. Tickets are $25.
The Metropolitan Opera: Manon
On Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera kicks off its French week with Massenet's Manon, starring Anna Netrebko as a naive country girl turned ill-fated courtesan. Piotr Beczala, Paulo Szot and David Pittsinger costar in Laurent Pelly's lauded 2012 production. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website. You can still stream yesterday's opera, The Tempest, until 6:30 p.m. today.
Bindlestiff Open Stage: Quarantine Edition
On Monday at 8 p.m. ET, after taking August off, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus leaps into fall with a new season of its weekly live-streamed variety show. Hosted by adorkable ringmaster Keith Nelson, this evening's cavalcade includes hair hanger The Flying Brain, juggler Jon Udry, hula hooper Carolina Cantillo, contortionist Eva Lou Rhinelander and dance trapeze artist Jon Joni. Watch for free on Bindlestiff's YouTube channel though donations are encouraged.
Jim Caruso's Pajama Cast Party
On Monday 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 Tony-winning Next to Normal composer Tom Kitt and his son Michael, who'll sing a new tune by his talented dad; Anastasia and Jagged Little Pill star Derek Klena; and Australian musical theatre hunk Stephen Mahy. Watch for free on YouTube though tips via the Venmo app are appreciated.
Available to Watch All Weekend
The Rev Theatre Co.: The Buddy Holly Story
Auburn, New York's The Rev Theatre Co. presents The Buddy Holly Story, a jukebox musical celebrating the life and music of the title rocker, who died tragically in a plane crash at age 22. Featuring a slew of his '50s hits, including "That’ll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue" and "Not Fade Away," the show was filmed live at the theatre earlier this summer without an audience. Now it's being streamed to fans around the globe. Tickets are $15 and the recording is available until Wednesday, September 16.
The Wooster Group: The B-Side
Pioneering avant-garde theatre troupe The Wooster Group shares a recording of its acclaimed 2017 production The B-Side, inspired by the 1965 LP Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons, featuring work songs and spirituals recorded live by inmates in Texas' then-segregated penitentiaries. Billed as a "record album interpretation," the singular piece is a collaboration between the company and actor Eric Berryman, who brought the source material to The Wooster Group's attention. Watch for free until Monday, September 14 on the company's website.
Latinx New Play Festival
Friday through Sunday, San Diego Repertory Theatre hosts a virtual edition of its annual Latinx New Play Festival, featuring panels, readings of fresh works and a full-fledged performance of Marga Gomez's darkly comic memoir Spanking Machine about growing up brown and queer in Washington Heights. The full schedule is on the website. Tickets are pay-what-you-can but $50 for the three-day event is suggested.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel
It's your last chance to catch the New York Philharmonic's 2013 concert staging of Carousel, starring Tony winner Kelli O'Hara as Julie Jordan and opera star Nathan Gunn as Billy Bigelow. The supporting cast is just as impressive, with Tony winner Shuler Hensley as the villainous Jigger, Tony winner Jessie Mueller (a future Julie Jordan) as Carrie Pipperidge opposite Jason Danieley's Enoch Snow, Kate Burton as Mrs. Mullin, Tony winner John Cullum (a former Billy Bigelow) as the Starkeeper and Dr. Seldon, and New York City Ballet dancers Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck in the Act II dream ballet. Watch for free until Tuesday, September 8 on Lincoln Center's YouTube channel.
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Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her at @RavenSnook. Follow TDF at @TDFNYC.
Top image: Brandon Victor Dixon in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. Photo courtesy of Peter Kramer/NBC..
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