23 Stage Performances to See Today, May 20
Lyric Hammersmith: A Doll’s House
At 9:30 a.m. ET, London’s Lyric Hammersmith theatre shares a recording of its well-reviewed 2019 mounting of A Doll’s House directed by Rachel O’Riordan. Henrik Ibsen’s landmark drama was reimagined by playwright Tanika Gupta, who reset the story in 1879, Calcutta in order to explore issues of race and colonialism as well as gender. No matter where Nora (here rechristened Niru) lives, that door slam always reverberates! Watch for free anytime for 24 hours on Lyric Hammersmith’s YouTube channel.
English National Ballet: Nora
At 2 p.m. ET, the English National Ballet shares a recording of Nora choreographed by Stina Quagebeur and inspired by the title character in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (yup, her again!). The one-act dance is set to a score by Philip Glass, and you can watch for free anytime through Friday at 2 p.m. on the troupe’s YouTube channel.
How to Survive the End of the World
At 2 p.m. ET, EllaRose Chary and Brandon James Gwinn premiere How to Survive the End of the World, their new quarantine-made and set mini musical about a grieving woman (Hamilton‘s Hannah Cruz) whose human interactions all play out on screens. Watch for free on the creators’ website.
Linda Lavin and Billy Stritch
At 3 p.m. ET, celebrated jazz pianist and singer Billy Stritch and his Tony-winning BFF/neighbor Linda Lavin continue their series of live online concerts in support of their new album Love Notes. Their friendship, banter and classic songs always feel incredibly soothing. Watch for free on Lavin’s Facebook page.
Hansel and Gretel at the Met
At 5 p.m. ET, it’s a bonus opera from the Metropolitan! Ever since the shutdown began, the opera house has been sharing productions from its Live in HD series nightly at 7:30 p.m. But it also presents weekly student streams that debut on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. These operas have been specially selected for families, and Zoom education sessions leading up to the screening teach school-age kids about opera. This week’s offering is the Met’s 2008 mounting of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, a holiday staple at the venue. Starring Alice Coote and Christine Schäfer, it’s an eye-popping, English-language production that’s great for families, with oversize cartoon chefs, singing trees and an unforgettable witch’s kitchen. Watch for free anytime through Friday at 5 p.m. on the Metropolitan Opera’s website
54 Does 54: The Feinstein’s/54 Below Staff Show
At 6:30 p.m. ET, cabaret haven Feinstein’s/54 Below spotlights its quadruple-threat staffers in this concert performed by its servers, managers, programmers, marketers, cooks and other employees. These folks can act, dance, sing and do a day job, although right now they’re all out of work. Although you can watch this concert for free on Feinstein’s/54 Below’s YouTube channel, consider donating to the GoFundMe the club set up for its staff.
Ballet Hispánico: El Beso
At 7 p.m. EST, Ballet Hispánico presents El Beso, choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s 2014 work that explores the nuances of a kiss, set to Spanish Zarzuela music and featuring costumes by Venezuelan fashion designer Angel Sanchez. Watch for free on the dance company’s Facebook page.
New York Theatre Barn: Mary and Max and Second Line
At 7 p.m. ET, for the past 13 years, New York Theatre Barn has showcased musicals in progress in its New Works Series. That initiative has now gone virtual, with 40-minute peeks at two new shows a week. Today, Oklahoma! Tony winner Shuler Hensley and Lauren Elder croon two songs from Bobby Conin and TDF teaching artist Crystal Skillman’s Mary and Max, based on the animated movie of the same name; and Austin Scott and Lagoona Bloo perform two numbers from Sam Carner and Derek Gregor’s Second Line set during Hurricane Katrina. Watch for free on New York Theatre Barn’s YouTube channel.
HERE Arts Center: The Pigeoning
At 7 p.m. ET, downtown culture hub HERE presents The Pigeoning, a haunting and darkly comedic puppet show for grown-ups about an ’80s office worker slowly descending into madness. I saw it seven years ago and still can’t shake it! Watch for free on HERE’s Facebook page.
Un Ballo in Maschera at the Met
At 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera shares Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Kim, Stephanie Blythe, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Fabio Luisi. The production was filmed for the company’s Live in HD series in 2012, and is available to watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, Lohengrin, until 6:30 p.m. today.
Available to Watch All Day
Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall
We don’t usually promote performances on Netflix, but we couldn’t resist mentioning the premiere of this 90-minute concert showcasing the powerhouse pipes of Ben Platt. Backed by a full band and soulful singers, the Dear Evan Hansen Tony winner shares songs from his debut album Sing to Me Instead, as well as personal stories about how music has enhanced his life. Don’t have Netflix? You can still watch at no cost by signing up for a 30-day free trial.
National Theatre: Barber Shop Chronicles
It’s your last chance to catch London’s National Theatre‘s Barber Shop Chronicles, Inua Ellams’ hit play about the thriving social scenes at six different barbershops, one in London, the others in Africa. A critically acclaimed production, the show presents a loving and insightful portrait of the African men who work and visit these hair-styling havens. Watch for free anytime through Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on the National Theatre’s YouTube channel.
Stratford Festival: The Tempest
Ontario’s venerable Stratford Festival continues its Shakespeare On Film series with The Tempest starring six-decade stage vet Martha Henry as Prospero the vengeful sorcerer. Stratford’s artistic director Antoni Cimolino helmed this well-received 2018 production, which you can watch for free on the Stratford Festival’s YouTube channel.
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Top image: Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee in Smash. Photo courtesy of NBC.
RAVEN SNOOK