15+ Stage Performances to Watch Online This Weekend October 1-3
In-person theatre is back in NYC, both and beyond. But there are still wonderful shows to stream at home. Below are performances you can watch online this weekend, Friday, October 1 to Sunday, October 3, for free or at low cost.
Friday, October 1
Sunday, October 3
All Weekend
Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts
Chicago’s invaluable Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents a triptych of playlets by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts (August: Osage County, Linda Vista). The virtual offering just received a rave review in The New York Times and consists of Night Safari, a monologue performed by Rainn Wilson as the world’s most depressing animal tour guide; The Old Country, in which two foundering old men are portrayed by puppets voiced by William Petersen and Mike Nussbaum; and The Stretch, starring Letts as a man parsing this horse race we call life. Tickets are $20 and the recording is viewable until Friday, October 15.
PBS: Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes
PBS Great Performances presents Matthew Bourne‘s Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the legendary 1948 movie The Red Shoes, based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. An eye-popping examination of obsession, possession and the hard choices artists make in their pursuit of perfection, the production stars Ashley Shaw as a rising ballerina torn between Adam Cooper‘s imperious impresario and Dominic North‘s intense composer. The dance production was filmed live on stage at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. Watch for free until Friday October 15 on PBS’ website.
Ian McKellen on Stage
Enjoy a glorious two and a half hours with the incomparable Ian McKellen as he shares behind-the-scenes stories about his incredible career on stage and screen, as well as excerpts from some of his legendary performances in this solo tour de force. Directed by Sean Mathias and recorded live on stage by London’s National Theatre, this enchanting reminiscence includes recreations of scenes from Shakespeare as well as The Lord of the Rings. The man’s got range! Tickets are $30 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to theatres. The recording is viewable until Sunday.
New Normal Rep: F.I.R.E.
New Normal Rep presents F.I.R.E., a story of corporate intrigue and greed by Julia Blauvelt. A diverse ensemble portrays lowly accountants at a high-end hedge fund trying to wrap up an emergency audit so they can go party with the bigwigs at a swanky soiree. Heather Arnson 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 Wednesday, October 20.
Play-PerView: The House in Scarsdale: A Memoir for the Stage
Play-PerView presents a reading of The House in Scarsdale: A Memoir for the Stage, an autobiographical play written by and starring Dan O’Brien that explores the unhappy history of his dysfunctional family. Alex Draper costars in this one-act, which is directed by Christian Parker. Tickets are $20 and the recording is viewable until Sunday.
Center Theatre Group: Canyon
LA’s Center Theatre Group presents Canyon, a timely new play by Jonathan Caren about a thirtysomething couple whose progressive ideals are challenged when they hire a Mexican father and son to renovate a deck and the job goes awry. Filmed at the Kirk Douglas Theatre and directed by rising star Whitney White, the show was coproduced by IAMA Theatre Company and The Latino Theater Company. Tickets are $15 and the recording is viewable until Friday, October 22.
—
Top image: Kelli O’Hara performing at The Kennedy Center at 50, which airs on PBS on Friday. Photo by Scott Suchman.
RAVEN SNOOK