20+ Stage Performances to Watch August 18-19
Wednesday, August 18
Chichester Festival Theatre: South Pacific
On Wednesday at 9:30 a.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 are available.
TDF: Pass Over Conversation
On Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, TDF presents a thought-provoking conversation with the stars of Pass Over: Jon Michael Hill, Namir Smallwood and Gabriel Ebert. Three years ago, the trio appeared in Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu‘s critically acclaimed one-act at Lincoln Center. Now they’re reprising their roles in a revised version of this powerful play inspired by Waiting for Godot, the biblical story of Exodus and the ongoing reckoning with racism in our country. Watch for free on TDF’s YouTube channel.
On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley geek out to their favorite musicals of the 1970s with special guests Len Cariou (Applause, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music) and Cheryl Clark (A Chorus Line. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.
Thursday, August 19
On Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley geek out to their favorite musicals of the 1980s with special guests Priscilla Lopez (A Chorus Line) and Jennifer Leigh Warren (Big River). Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.
Available to Watch Both Days
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater: Ni Mi Madre
On Wednesday and 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 $35 for both streamed and in-person performances at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.
TADA! Youth Theater: Heroes
TADA!, NYC’s 36-year-old, Drama Desk Award-winning youth company whose alums include Jordan Peele and Kerry Washington, presents Heroes, an original musical for all ages that was recorded live on stage earlier this summer. A fantastical tale of bickering kids who need to band together to save the world after the sun disappears, the song-filled fable celebrates teamwork and stars members of TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble, talented tykes ages 8 to 18 (including, full disclosure, my daughter). Tickets are $10 and the recording is viewable until Monday, September 6.
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.
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. I highly recommend the poignant solo show Open by NYC playwright (and TDF teaching artist) Crystal Skillman. and it’s free to watch online.
ZooTV
Enjoy Fringe-y performances courtesy of ZooTV, a platform showcasing cutting-edge dance and theatre artists. During its three weeks of streaming, you can catch performances by established artists such as British experimental theatre-maker Tim Crouch and NYC solo artist Peter Michael Marino or discover exciting emerging talents. Browse the options to see what piques your interest.
Jacob’s Pillow: Brian Brooks / Moving Company
The Berkshires’ lauded Jacob’s Pillow dance festival resumed in-person performances this summer, but some are also being streamed to at-home audiences. Catch a program by Brian Brooks‘ troupe The Moving Company, which was filmed live on stage last month. The lineup features Flight Study, a new work set to a string quartet by Bryce Dessner; an untitled solo piece performed by Brooks himself; and Closing Distance set to music by Caroline Shaw. RSVP to receive the free viewing link though donations are encouraged. The recording is viewable until Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.
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.
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RAVEN SNOOK