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In-person shows have been back for over a year now, but sometimes we want to get our theatre fix at home. Thankfully, there are still wonderful stage performances to watch online. Our carefully curated list spotlights the ten best performances to stream over the holidays, Friday, December 23 to Monday, January 2, 2023, for free or at low cost.
Streaming until Friday, December 23 for FREE
Justin Vivian Bond's cracked Christmas cabaret Oh Mary, It's Christmas is in the middle of a sold-out run at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. But how's this for a seasonal treat? You can stream it online for FREE until the end of the day on Friday. Expect holiday hilarity and irreverent joy as Bond and their talented pals pay tribute to the famous virgin and her baby boy.
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Live-streaming Friday, December 23 at 9:45 ET for $25
Up-and-coming stage and screen performer Sis (Dunaway in the current season of American Horror Story, Ado Annie in the national tour of Oklahoma!) celebrates Christmas at swanky cabaret club 54 Below. Musical theatre maven Seth Rudetsky serves as musical director, and special guests include Once on This Island Tony nominee Hailey Kilgore and West Side Story star Rachel Zegler. Hear Sis' singular story as she croons holiday tunes with her fabulous friends. If you prefer to attend in person, click here for info.
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Starts streaming Sunday, December 25 to Netflix subscribers
The starry movie adaptation of the Tony-nominated musical Matilda arrives on Christmas Day! Inspired by Roald Dahl's iconic book and featuring Tim Minchin's sly songs and Tony winner Dennis Kelly's wickedly funny script, this is the tale of an extraordinary little girl with a keen intellect whose light can't be dimmed by the abusive adults in her life. Alisha Weir is the title character, Emma Thompson is her school's grotesque headmistress Miss Trunchbull and Lashana Lynch is the kindly teacher Miss Honey. A great choice for family viewing!
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Live-streaming Wednesday, December 28 at 9:45 ET for $25
Ilene Graff's holiday cabaret is a family affair. The Broadway vet and Mr. Belvedere mom is performing with her real-life daughter, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, and her husband, Ben Lanzarone, who serves as musical director. Enjoy a '70s-style Christmas special with new takes on old favorites, guest stars, treats and a visit from the jolly red guy. If you prefer to attend in person, click here for info.
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Starts streaming Saturday, December 31 at 8 p.m. ET for FREE
Ring in 2023 with this uplifting annual concert. Tony nominees Christopher Jackson (Hamilton) and Renée Fleming (Carousel) host the rousing evening, which spotlights three historic US theatres—the People's Bank Theater in Ohio, the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Georgia and Idaho's The Egyptian Theatre—and features performances by Broadway favorites Matt Doyle, Joaquina Kalukango and Mandy Gonzalez backed by the American Pops Orchestra.
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Live-streaming Sunday, January 1 at 8 p.m. for $40
Kick off 2023 with three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone up close and unscripted as she sings tunes and tells stories from her illustrious career—whatever she pulls from the hat. Although all the in-person performances during her three-week 54 Below residency are sold out, you can live-stream the January 1 show from the comfort of your couch. And you thought her (now defunct) Twitter feed was funny—wait until you stream her live!
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Streaming until Monday, January 2 for FREE
The invaluable Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is about to wrap up its annual run at New York City Center. But you can enjoy their awe-inspiring artistry at home throughout the holidays by streaming the company's 2022 opening night performance. The 90-minute recording includes an excerpt from Mauro Bigonzetti's Festa Barocca featuring students from The Ailey School, Alvin Ailey's Night Creature, Robert Battle's haunting Unfold and Alvin Ailey's masterwork Revelations.
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Streaming until Tuesday, January 10, 2023 for FREE
After two years of reruns, this beloved annual tradition returns to PBS for the holidays. Tony nominee and Smash star Megan Hilty and screen actor Neal McDonough join the 500-member Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for this soulful seasonal celebration featuring popular holiday songs, classic Christmas carols, hymns and Irish folk music.
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Streaming until Monday, January 16, 2023 for FREE
Recorded in 2020 during the shutdown, this modern-day musical take on the old Christmas chestnut comes from John Caird and Paul Gordon, the team behind Broadway's Jane Eyre, and incorporates popular characters and plot lines from multiple Charles Dickens' novels. Betsy Wolfe (& Juliet) is the title character, a ruthless real estate mogul, who heads to her hometown for the holidays to foreclose on a hotel for the homeless run by her childhood sweetheart, Philip "Pip" Nickleby (Clifton Duncan). But soon three spirits arrive to scare her sweet. Jagged Little Pill Tony winner Lauren Patten, Moulin Rouge! Tony winner Danny Burstein and Hadestown's Patrick Page costar.
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Streaming for $10 indefinitely
In 2020, London's lauded National Theatre launched its own streaming service featuring professional recordings of its stage productions. While you can buy a subscription, shows are also available to rent individually for 72 hours. New to the roster is All of Us, an exploration of the challenges people with disabilities face by Francesca Martinez, who has cerebral palsy. Inspired by real-life stories, the critically acclaimed play centers on Jess (Martinez), a therapist who cares for others, even though she isn't receiving the care she needs in a system with little support. When the life she's painstakingly built is threatened by government cuts, she takes a stand to protect herself and her community. All of Us costs $10 and captions are available. It's just one of many fantastic National Theatre shows you can stream, so be sure to browse the entire list.
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Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her at @RavenSnook. Follow TDF at @TDFNYC.
Raven Snook is the Editor of TDF Stages. Follow her on Facebook at @Raven.Snook. Follow TDF on Facebook at @TDFNYC.
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