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Top 10 Stage Performances to Stream This Thanksgiving Weekend

By: Raven Snook
Date: Nov 19, 2022
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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 this Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday, November 24 to Sunday, November 27, for free or at low cost.

Broadway Musicals at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Airing on TV on NBC on Thursday, November 24 at 9 a.m. ET and streaming on Peacock for FREE

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is back for its 96th annual edition. In addition to floats, giant balloons and marching bands, you can watch lavish Broadway musical performances from the comfort of home. Catch numbers from the new Neil Diamond tuner A Beautiful Noise, the new musical comedy Some Like It HotThe Lion King, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary, and Lea Michele in Funny Girl. Other stage stars to spot include The Radio City Rockettes, Aladdin's Joshua Dela Cruz, dancers from Ballet Hispánico, amazing acts from the Big Apple Circus, Jordin Sparks from Waitress and Mario Lopez from A Chorus Line.

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Great Performances: Josh Groban's Great Big Radio City Show

Airing on TV on PBS Thirteen on Friday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET for FREE

International recording sensation Josh Groban celebrates New York City in his Great Big Radio City Show. Recorded live on stage in April 2022 at the storied music venue, this thrilling concert includes many of Groban's greatest hits such as "You Raise Me Up" as well as iconic musical theatre anthems like "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha and "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables. In between powerhouse songs, Groban shares personal stories and welcomes special guests, including his Broadway costar Denée Benton from Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, pop legend Cyndi Lauper and New York City principal ballet dancer Tiler Peck. Note, this will NOT be streaming on PBS for free, however it is airing at other times if you're busy on Friday night.

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Live from 54 Below: Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway: As Long As We're Together!

Live-streaming on Saturday, November 26 at 7 p.m. ET for $25

Two Tony-nominated sisters—jazz singer Ann Hampton Callaway, who wrote and performed the beloved theme to The Nanny, and Broadway Baby Liz Callaway, who voiced a number of cinematic princesses—reunite for the holiday! The siblings are well-known for their family cabarets, and this evening includes numbers from their acclaimed sister acts Sibling Revelry, Boom! and Broadway the Calla-way! Accompanied by a jazzy trio, the Callaways croon standards, pop classics and songs from their hit Broadway shows. Streaming live from the cabaret hub's swanky stage. If you prefer to attend in person, click here for info.

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Live From 54 Below: Sondheim Unplugged

Live-streaming on Sunday, November 27 at 7 p.m. ET for $25

Enjoy the latest installment of Sondheim Unplugged, a stripped-down concert series celebrating the late songwriting legend. Talented vocalists croon Sondheim tunes accompanied solely by piano alongside special guests Ramona Mallory (Anne in A Little Night Music's revival), Nicholas Rodriguez (from the recent revival of Company) and Lucia Spina (from Broadway's current Into the Woods revival). Live-streaming from 54 Below's swanky stage. If you prefer to attend in person, click here for info.

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The Seth Concert Series: Nikki M. James

Live-streaming on Sunday, November 27 at 8 p.m. ET for $25

Even though show-tune savant Seth Rudetsky is back doing shows in person, he hasn't completely abandoned the virtual realm. In fact, he's relaunched his weekly live-streamed concert series! Tonight his guest is Nikki M. James, a Broadway vet who won a Tony Award for her hilarious turn in The Book of Mormon though she's equally adept at drama—she was heartbreaking in A Bright Room Called Day at The Public. For this concert, she'll be indulging her musical side, performing tunes from her eclectic career, including roles in Les MisérablesAll Shook UpSuffs and The Wiz.

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Bristol Old Vic: Hamlet

Streaming until Sunday, November 27 for $15
Billy Howle stars as the brooding Danish Prince in this critically acclaimed mounting of Hamlet from the UK's lauded Bristol Old Vic. Filmed live on stage earlier this year, John Haidar's visceral production delves into the murky subconscious of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy.

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Mint Theater Company: The New Morality

Streaming until Sunday, December 4 for FREE
Off Broadway's esteemed Mint Theater Company, which has been unearthing forgotten plays since 1992, presents a recording of The New Morality by Harold Chapin, who died tragically in World War I at age 29. Filmed live on stage in 2015 and set in 1911 England, this production stars Brenda Meaney as Betty Jones, a woman who refuses to back down when she gets into it with a neighbor, despite the men around her pressuring her to apologize. What is it they saw about a woman scorned? Closed captions are available.

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Summoners Ensemble Theatre: A Christmas Carol

Streaming until Friday, December 30 for $35

Every December, John Kevin Jones stars in this singular solo adaptation of Charles Dickens' holiday classic mounted at the 19th-century Merchant's House Museum in the East Village. In this historic setting, he plays Dickens performing all of the characters in his ghost tale of redemption, just like the Victorian author did back in the day. If you can't make it to the in-person production this season, you can stream a recording at home.

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Kaye Ballard: The Show Goes On!

Streaming indefinitely for FREE

For eight decades, Kaye Ballard was a cutup with powerhouse pipes who performed on stage (Broadway's Carnival! and The Pirates of Penzance) and screen (she was one of Julie Andrews' evil stepsisters in Cinderella and appeared in dozens of movies and TV series). Released in 2019 just days before her death at age 93, this documentary chronicles her incredible career and features rare archival footage of her show-stopping shtick and interviews with her friends, including Joy Behar, Carol Burnett, Carol Channing and Ann-Margret.

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Gypsy Starring Imelda Staunton

Streaming indefinitely for FREE

British stage legend Imelda Staunton won her third Olivier Award for her tour-de-force turn as Mama Rose in the Chichester Festival's critically acclaimed revival of Gypsy. The production transfered to London's Savoy Theatre, where this searing mounting of Stephen Sondheim and Jules Styne's musical about getting famous at all costs was filmed. Tony nominee Lonny Price (A Class Act, Sunset Boulevard) directs. Let them entertain you!

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

Top image: Josh Groban's Great Big Radio City Show, which was recorded live on stage earlier this year, streams for free courtesy of PBS Great Performances. Photo by Thomas Falcone.

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