15+ Stage Performances to Watch Online August 25-26
Wednesday, August 25
Stars in the House: Tom Kitt & Friends
On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley welcome Tony-winning composer, orchestrator and musical director Tom Kitt to Stars in the House. The songwriter behind shows such as Next to Normal, If/Then and the upcoming Flying Over Sunset will be joined by some of his talented pals, including Heidi Blickenstaff and Pearl Sun. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.
Thursday, August 26
Chichester Festival Theatre: South Pacific
On Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET, the UK’s Chichester Festival Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical South Pacific. Filmed live on stage last month, this new production of the Tony-winning classic about romance and racism during World War II features British stage stars Gina Beck and Julian Ovenden as Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque, the dashing Frenchman with a secret; Joanna Ampil as Bloody Mary; Keir Charles as Luther Billis and Rob Houchen as Lt. Joseph Cable. Tickets start at £20, approximately $28, and the recording is viewable for 24 hours from the start time. Closed captions and audio description are available.
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater: Ni Mi Madre
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, NYC’s acclaimed Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is presenting a hybrid season, with its productions performed in person but also streamed to at-home audiences. First up is Arturo Luís Soria‘s autobiographically inspired solo show Ni Mi Madre, about the complex relationship between an over-the-top Brazilian woman and her queer son as they grapple with identity and what it means to be an immigrant family in America. Tickets are $40 for both streamed and in-person performances at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.
Jacob’s Pillow: LaTasha Barnes Presents
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Berkshires’ lauded Jacob’s Pillow dance festival resumed in-person performances this summer, but select events are also being streamed to at-home audiences. Starting tonight, catch a new installment of LaTasha Barnes‘s The Jazz Continuum series, spotlighting the vibrancy of jazz dance and the Lindy Hop. RSVP to receive the free viewing link though donations are encouraged. The recording is viewable until Thursday, September 9 at 6 p.m. ET.
Available to Watch Both Days
The Old Vic: Bagdad Cafe
Wednesday and Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET, the Old Vic presents visionary director Emma Rice‘s stage adaptation of Bagdad Cafe, Percy and Eleonore Adlon’s charming 1987 cult film about quirky characters connecting at a rundown roadside restaurant and motel on California’s Route 66. A celebration of female friendship and unexpected romance, the music-filled show is performed in-person on stage in London and also streamed to at-home audiences. Tickets cost £20 to £40, approximately $28 to $55. Audio description and closed captions are available.
Signature Theatre: Detroit ’67
Virginia’s lauded Signature Theatre presents Detroit ’67, the first installment in Tony-nominated playwright Dominique Morisseau‘s Detroit Project exploring different periods in her beloved hometown’s history. This powerful family drama about two Black siblings squabbling over how to move forward takes place against the backdrop of the Detroit Rebellion, as tensions rise indoors and outside. Directed by Candis C. Jones, this production was filmed live on stage. Tickets are $35 but if you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Thursday, September 16.
Christopher Lloyd in King Lear
On Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. ET, Obie and Emmy Award-winning actor Christopher Lloyd (Taxi, Back to the Future) is currently headlining King Lear at Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires, but you can also stream the show at home. Directed by Nicole Ricciardi, the production was filmed live on stage earlier in the run. Tickets are $25 and the recording is viewable for 72 hours from the start time.
Untitled Theater Company #61: Alma Baya
Untitled Theater Company #61 presents an in-person performance of Alma Baya that was also filmed for at-home audiences. In this absurdist sci-fi drama, Alma and Baya are struggling to survive on a hostile planet. But when a refugee arrives begging for shelter, they face a moral dilemma. Two different casts perform this thought-provoking play, written and directed by Edward Einhorn. Tickets are $25 for the on-demand recording, which was filmed earlier in the run and is viewable until Sunday, September 19.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The world’s largest arts festival, Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is back in person this year, but many offerings are also being streamed to adventurous at-home audiences. Check out performances from artists around the world, including cutting-edge comedy, experimental theatre, wacky musicals and the indefinable. Some shows cost money, others are free; some are available on demand, others have specific start times. Browse the options to see what piques your interest.
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Top image: Sandra Marvin in The Old Vic’s Bagdad Cafe, which is streaming live from the London theatre both days. Photo by Steve Tanner
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