TDF Stages

With in-person theatre a rarity for the foreseeable future, many companies and performers from Broadway and beyond are showcasing their work online. Below are performances you can watch Friday, March 26 to Sunday, March 28, for free or at low cost.

Friday, March 26

Virtual Halston: Lucie Arnaz
On Friday at 5 p.m. ET, Broadway scene-stealer Julie Halston welcomes Lucie Arnaz to her chatfest. The daughter of one of the funniest women of all time, Lucille Ball, Arnaz is a pretty hilarious lady in her own right and a Broadway vet who's appeared in Pippin, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and They're Playing Our Song. Watch these hilarious ladies in conversation for free on YouTube.

New York City Center: Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet
On Friday at 6 p.m. ET, New York City Center continues its New Adventures Festival of Matthew Bourne ballets with Romeo and Juliet. The visionary choreographer presents a powerful take on the old tragedy, set in a not-too-distant dystopian future with the star-crossed couple stuck as inmates in the oppressive Verona Institute. Cordelia Braithwaite and Paris Fitzpatrick headline the production, which was filmed on stage at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London in 2019. Tickets are $15 and the recording is viewable until Sunday, April 4.

M-34 Productions: Franz Kafka's Letter to My Father
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, this weekend is your last chance to catch M-34 Productions' Franz Kafka's Letter to My Father, a one-man dramatization of the anguished but unread missive the groundbreaking author wrote to his dad in 1919. James Rutherford directs Michael Guagno in this digital production exploring alienation and isolation. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish.

Jazz at Lincoln Center: Voices of Freedom
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrates four female singers and songwriters who changed the world through their art and activism: Betty Carter, Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone. Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra pay tribute to these amazing women and their legacies with special guest vocalists Melanie Charles, Shenel Johns and Ashley Pezzotti. Tickets are $20 but if you're a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Opera: Idomeneo
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera shares a gem from its vaults: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's 1982 mounting of Idomeneo, an early Mozart work featuring Luciano Pavarotti as the King of Crete, who's faced with an impossible dilemma. Hildegard Behrens, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica von Stade and John Alexander costar. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website. You can still stream yesterday's opera, Elektra, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.

Stars in the House: Ragtime Reunion
On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, it's a Ragtime reunion on Stars in the House! Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley welcome songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty along with the stars of the original Broadway production: Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Peter Friedman, Mark Jacoby, Judy Kaye and Steven Sutcliffe. Bring tissues—we expect moving tributes to late cast member Marin Mazzie and book writer Terrence McNally, who died from COVID-19 one year ago this month. We can never go back to before. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.

Saturday, March 27

The Metropolitan Opera: Don Giovanni
On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents Franco Zeffirelli's staging of Mozart's Don Giovanni, featuring Bryn Terfel in the title role of the world's most notorious lover. Renée Fleming, Solveig Kringelborn, Hei-Kyung Hong, Paul Groves, Ferruccio Furlanetto and Sergei Koptchak costar in this 2000 mounting. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website. You can still stream yesterday's opera, Idomeneo, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.

Metropolitan Playhouse: He Said and She Said
On Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, Metropolitan Playhouse, an Obie-winning company that revives forgotten works, presents a reading of Alice Gerstenberg's He Said and She Said, about a married couple whose unwed friend aims to break up their union. The theatre's artistic director, Alex Roe, helms this century-old satire about coveting our neighbors' lives. Watch for free on the company's YouTube channel though donations are encouraged.

Powerstories Theatre: Classic Six
On Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, Florida's Powerstories Theatre presents Classic Six, a thriller by playwright (and TDF member!) Leigh Flayton about a middle-aged woman who revisits the family that employed her as a live-in nanny/researcher in her youth. Is she there to reminisce or reveal the secrets she learned about her employers 25 years earlier? Tickets are $10.

Sunday, March 28

M-34 Productions: Franz Kafka's Letter to My Father
On Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, this weekend is your last chance to catch M-34 Productions' Franz Kafka's Letter to My Father, a one-man dramatization of the anguished but unread missive the groundbreaking author wrote to his dad in 1919. James Rutherford directs Michael Guagno in this digital production exploring alienation and isolation. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish.

Brave New World Rep: Go Down, Moses
On Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, Brooklyn's Brave New World Rep presents Dana Leslie Goldstein's Go Down, Moses, about two civil rights champions who've settled into the comfortable world of academia. But their long-held ideals are challenged by the arrival of an activist from a new generation. Tai Thompson directs Toree Alexandre, Ezra Barnes, Nadia Diamond, Maggie Horan, Dexter McKinney, Nathan Salstone and Lindsay Smiling. Reservations are required to receive the free viewing link though a $15 donation is suggested.

The Metropolitan Opera: Der Fliegende Holländer
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents Der Fliegende Holländer, Wagner's ghost story about a sea captain cursed to sail the globe forever unless he finds true love. Evgeny Nikitin, Anja Kampe, Sergey Skorokhodov and Franz-Josef Selig star in this 2020 mounting, which was filmed just before the pandemic shut down the opera house. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera's website. You can still stream yesterday's opera, Don Giovanni, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.

Guild Hall: Squeaky
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, East Hampton's Guild Hall presents Squeaky, an autobiographically inspired play by Jeff Cohen about how his dysfunctional family set aside their differences to help their ailing patriarch, Stan "Squeaky" Cohen, an eccentric man with failing memory. Bob Balaban directs Broadway vets Harris Yulin, Jessica Hecht, Marc Kudisch, Ben Shenkman and Latanya Richardson Jackson in this virtual reading. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish.

The Seth Concert Series: Ashley Spencer
On Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, apparently, hosting a daily online talk show 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 with Broadway stars for the past decade. This year he brings the show online and tonight's headliner is Ashley Spencer. The former ballerina initially gained national fame as a contestant on NBC's reality competition Grease: You're The One That I Want! Although she was the runner-up to Laura Osnes, she still ended up on Broadway, playing leading roles in Hairspray, Rock of Ages and even taking over for Osnes in Grease. In this intimate concert, she'll croon some of her favorite songs, including a few duets with two special guests: Spencer's husband, Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan, and his Newsies costar Kara Lindsay. Tickets are $25.

All Weekend

Broadway's Best Shows Spotlight on Plays: The Thanksgiving Play
Since spring of 2020, Broadway's Best Shows has presented performances of important plays featuring big stars acting from their respective homes. The series continues with Larissa FastHorse's biting comedy The Thanksgiving Play, about four well-meaning, over-woke folks trying to mount a school holiday pageant that simultaneously celebrates Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month. Tony nominee Leigh Silverman directs Keanu Reeves, Heidi Schreck, Bobby Cannavale and Alia Shawkat as the clueless quartet. Tickets start at $15 and the recording is viewable until Monday at 6 p.m. ET. Proceeds benefit The Actors Fund.

George Street Playhouse: Fully Committed
New Jersey's George Street Playhouse presents a new online production of Becky Mode's Fully Committed, a satire of NYC's haute cuisine scene. 30 Rock star Maulik Pancholy plays more than 40 characters in this one-man comedy, including an aspiring actor/harried restaurant reservationist, who's having a really bad day, along with all of his demanding patrons. The 1999 play was initially a smash Off Broadway, and was revamped and revived on Broadway in 2016. With sitcom and stage vet Pancholy as the main ingredient, this digital reimagining is a delicious tour de farce. Tickets are $33 but if you're a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Sunday, April 11. Closed captions and audio description are available.

New York City Center: American Theatre Ballet: A Ratmansky Celebration
New York City Center presents an evening of works by American Ballet Theatre's celebrated resident choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. The program was recorded live on stage at City Center sans audience and features excerpts from The Seasons, Seven Sonatas and The Sleeping Beauty, as well as the world premiere of Bernstein in a Bubble, set to music by Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are $25 and the recording is available until Sunday, April 18.

La Femme Theatre Productions: The Night of the Iguana
La Femme Theatre Productions presents Night of the Iguana, Tennessee Williams' steamy tale of an Episcopal priest turned tour guide, who gets into love trouble south of the border. Dylan McDermott stars as the struggling reverend, and Phylicia Rashad, Roberta Maxwell, Carmen Berkeley and Jean Lichty are some of the ladies who complicate his life. Emily Mann directed this presentation, which premiered last December and is being restreamed in honor of the playwright's birthday. Tickets start at $15 but if you're a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Sunday.

The Shows Must Go On!: Letters Live
The Shows Must Go On! presents another star-studded edition of Letters Live, featuring well-known actors reading remarkable correspondence on stage. This performance features Taron Egerton, Claire Foy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Asa Butterfield, Olivia Colman and Damian Lewis. Watch for free until Sunday on YouTube though donations to Choose Love are encouraged.

Mint Theater Company: Yours Unfaithfully
Off Broadway's esteemed Mint Theater Company, which has been unearthing forgotten plays since 1992, presents a recording of Yours Unfaithfully, Miles Malleson's 1933 dramcom about the cost of free love, centering on an artistic couple trying to embrace open marriage. Tony nominee Max von Essen, Mikaela Izquierdo and Elisabeth Gray star in this production, which was recorded on stage in 2017. Watch for free until Sunday, May 16 on the Mint's website by clicking on the photo and entering your email address. Donations are encouraged and closed captions are available.

BKLYN–The Musical
On Friday at 3:30 p.m.; Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, discover an undersung gem with this virtual production of BKLYN, a modern-day urban fairy tale about five street performers who share their talents and one big story with passersby. Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson's chamber musical enjoyed a brief run on Broadway under the title Brooklyn. This digital reimagining was recorded in London during quarantine and stars West End vets Sejal Keshwala, Emma Kingston, Newtion Matthews, Jamie Muscato and Marisha Wallace. Tickets are £18, approximately $25.

Irish Repertory Theatre: The Aran Islands
On Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, it's your last chance to watch Irish Rep's The Aran Islands, director Joe O'Byrne's one-man adaptation of John Millington Synge's 1907 novel of the same name. Brendan Conroy stars as Synge, whose time in the grey, mystical landscape of the remote isles inspired many of his writings, including Riders to the Sea. This digital production was filmed primarily at Dublin's New Theatre, with additional footage from (where else?) the Aran Islands. Tickets are required to receive the free viewing link though a $25 donation is suggested.

Center Theatre Group: Tango the Musical
On Friday and Saturday at 8 and 11 p.m.; and Sunday at 4 and 8 p.m. ET, Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group presents Tango the Musical, a celebration of the title dance and the music of 20th-century Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, who pioneered nuevo tango. This dance spectacle centers on a romance set against the backdrop of Argentina's Dirty War, when the military murdered thousands of citizens from 1976-1983. Recorded at the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, the production features 11 world-champion Argentine tango couples accompanied by a 10-piece orchestra. Tickets are $10.

The Joyce Theater: Israel Galván: Maestro de Barra
Chelsea dance haven The Joyce continues its digital season with a world premiere from acclaimed flamenco dancer and choreographer Israel Galván. With theatres closed, Galván went to cafés and bars for inspiration, riffing on the organic rhythms of everyday life and translating them into lightning-fast and passion-fueled moves. The resulting piece, Maestro de Barra, was filmed live in and around real-life cafés. Tickets are $25 but if you're a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Wednesday, April 7.

IAMA Theatre Company: Anyone But Me and The Oxy Complex
Los Angeles' IAMA Theatre Company presents a pair of compelling solo shows by Latina performers. Sheila Carrasco's Anyone But Me explores the personas women create to get by in a patriarchal society. Anna LaMadrid's The Oxy Complex is set on the 500th day of quarantine (!!!) and examines how loneliness, trauma and the lack of oxytocin impact our well-being. Tickets are $15 per show, $20 for both. The recordings are viewable until Sunday, April 18.

Giles Terera: Black Matter
British actor and singer-songwriter Giles Terera, who won an Olivier Award for his powerful performance as Aaron Burr in the West End production of Hamilton, presents his new song cycle Black Matter, his response to the upheaval of the pandemic and the demands for social justice. The concert was filmed during lockdown at London's Crazy Coqs cabaret, with Giles capturing the intense emotions of the past year, singing alone on stage with his piano and guitar. Tickets are £12, approximately $17 and the recording is viewable until Wednesday.

Irondale: Walking with Bubbles
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Brooklyn's Irondale presents Walking with Bubbles, Broadway vet Jessica Hendy's autobiographical solo show chronicling the dissolution of her marriage due to her husband's mental illness and her journey raising their son in a challenging new reality. Tickets are $15.

Goodman Theater: How to Catch Creation
Chicago's lauded Goodman Theatre is presenting recordings of recent shows, beginning with Christina Anderson's How to Catch Creation, about how a couple's drama impacts four artists 50 years later. Acclaimed director Niegel Smith helmed this 2019 production. Reservations are required to receive the free viewing link. The recording is viewable until Sunday and closed captions are available.

The Picture of Dorian Gray
Stream a starry, contemporary adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and set in our screen-dominated world, this cautionary tale centers on a young influencer who makes a deal ensuring that his social media celebrity will never fade. But his picture-perfect life comes at a terrible cost. Tamara Harvey directs Fionn Whitehead as the title hedonist, alongside Tony nominees Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry and stage favorite Russell Tovey. Tickets are £12, approximately $17. The recording is viewable until Wednesday and closed captions are available.

Out of the Box Theatrics: The Last Five Years
On Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. ET, Jason Robert Brown's musical dissection of a romance, The Last Five Years, has proven to be a pandemic favorite, with multiple productions in the UK and stateside. It makes sense since the two-hander is about disconnection, as the man tells his side of their love story chronologically while the woman recalls their relationship in reverse. This digital reimagining of the show was coproduced by Out of the Box Theatrics and Holmdel Theatre Company and filmed inside a New York City apartment, giving it an air of verisimilitude. Nasia Thomas and Nicholas Edwards star as the ill-fated couple, and celebrated musical director Jason Michael Webb helmed the production. Tickets start at $29.

Goodspeed Musicals: Passing Through
Connecticut's acclaimed Goodspeed Musicals presents Passing Through, about a young man traveling across the country on foot, collecting stories and wisdom that he ultimately applies to his own unresolved family issues. Based on Andrew Forsthoefel's best-selling memoir Walking to Listen: 4,000 Miles Across America, One Story at a Time, this heartwarming show features songs by Brett Ryback and a book by Eric Ulloa, and was filmed live on stage in 2019. Max Chernin stars as Andrew, and Broadway vets Jim Stanek and Garrett Long play his parents. Igor Goldin directs. Tickets are $25 but if you're a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Sunday, April 4 and closed captions are available.

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

Top image: Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside in American Ballet Theatre's The Seasons, which is streaming all weekend. Photo courtesy of Christopher Duggan Photography.