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Greg Hildreth and Ato Blankson-Wood in Shakespeare in the Park's Hamlet, which is streaming for free on PBS Great Performances. Photo by Joseph Sinnott.
Even though in-person theatre and dance are back in full swing, in the name of accessibility we're continuing to round up performances to watch online from the comfort of home. Our curated list spotlights the five best options to stream this weekend, Friday, May 10 to Sunday, May 12, for free or at low cost.
Airing on TV on PBS Thirteen on Friday, May 10 at 9 p.m. ET for FREE. Streaming online until Sunday, June 30.
Since The Public Theater is doing a massive renovation of the Delacorte Theater, there is no Shakespeare in the Park this summer. Happily, you can enjoy some fantastic productions from seasons past courtesy of PBS Great Performances. This Friday is the premiere of Hamlet starring Slave Play Tony nominee Ato Blankson-Wood as the moody monarch hell-bent on avenging his father's murder. Directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon and recorded live on stage last summer, it's a modern-day reimagining of the tragedy set in a post-COVID world. I quite admired it, especially Lorraine Toussaint as Hamlet's mother and the riveting John Douglas Thompson as his uncle-turned-stepfather. The ghost scene will truly haunt you!
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Streaming until Sunday, June 30 for FREE
Another Shakespeare in the Park production, this 2019 mounting of Much Ado About Nothing wowed critics and audiences alike. Directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon and featuring an all-Black cast led by the fabulous Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple, Orange Is the New Black) and Grantham Coleman, this is one of my favorite mountings of the Bard's romantic comedy, a production that is often hilarious but also highlights the ongoing battle for equality.
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Streaming starting Thursday, May 9 for $10
In 2020, London's lauded National Theatre launched its own streaming service featuring professional stage captures of its productions. While you can buy a subscription, shows are also available to rent individually. New to the roster is The Little Big Things: A New Musical, based on Henry Fraser's acclaimed memoir about how he found a new purpose and passion after a life-changing accident at age 17 ended his rugby dreams. Recorded live on stage last year in London, the show features uplifting songs and a narrative that finds a grown-up Fraser (played by Ed Larkin, who uses a wheelchair) interacting with his younger self (Jonny Amies). A 72-hour rental costs $10 and captions, audio description and British Sign Language interpretation 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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Streaming for FREE
Based on Joe Simpson's best-selling memoir, David Greig's thrilling play chronicles the mountaineer's near fatal accident while climbing the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes and his harrowing journey back down. Recorded live on stage at the UK's Bristol Old Vic, the production was directed by War Horse Tony winner Tom Morris and stars Josh Williams.
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Streaming for $6.31
Absurdist stand-up Daniel Kitson wrote and stars in this two-hander about a literal tree hugger who has been living in a local oak for years out of protest. One day he starts chatting with a man (Tim Key) who's meeting his long-lost love under the branches. While Edward Albee's The Zoo Story comes to mind, Kitson has his own off-kilter sensibility as he explores the concept of commitment.
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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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