25+ Stage Performances to Watch This Weekend April 9-11
Friday, April 9
The Shows Must Go On!: Julius Caesar
On Friday at 2 p.m. ET, The Shows Must Go On! presents a powerful mounting of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar about a political assassination with deadly consequences. Based on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed stage production and set in post-colonial Africa, this film is directed by Gregory Doran and stars Paterson Joseph, Jeffry Kissoon, Cyril Nri and Ray Fearon. Watch for free until Friday, April 16 at 2 p.m. ET on YouTube.
Virtual Halston: Best-Of Episode
On Friday at 5 p.m. ET, Julie Halston and her producers Ruby Locknar and Jim Caruso share their favorites clips from her chatfest in honor of its 40th episode. Lots of big stars have come on to dish so expect lots of tasty tidbits! Watch for free on YouTube.
The York Theatre Company: Ute Lemper: Rendezvous with Marlene
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, The York Theatre Company presents internationally renowned German chanteuse Ute Lemper in Rendezvous with Marlene, a celebration of Marlene Dietrich inspired by a three-hour conversation she had with the Hollywood icon back in 1988. Directed by Daniel Nardicio as a cinematic cabaret, the performance features some of Dietrich’s signature numbers as well as secrets divulged during that long-ago chat. Tickets are $20.
Lena Hall: Obsessed: Heart
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, Lena Hall adores the women-led rock group Heart. So much so, the Hedwig Tony winner is doing an evening of the band’s songs as part of her Obsessed concert series. The set list includes “Barracuda,” “Alone,” “What About Love” and “Magic Man,” all belted out by Hall in an intimate Zoom concert. Tickets are $20.
The Metropolitan Opera: The Nose
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents Shostakovich’s The Nose, based on Nikolai Gogol’s 1836 satirical short story about a bureaucrat who loses his schnoz. Directed and designed by celebrated South African artist William Kentridge, the 2013 production stars Andrey Popov, Alexander Lewis and Tony winner Paulo Szot. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, Francesca da Rimini, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
Saturday, April 10
Lincoln Center: By One Route, and By Another: A Performance by Anna Deavere Smith
On Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, Lincoln Center presents Anna Deavere Smith in a reading of By One Route, and By Another, her meditation on kindness and hope. The playwright-performer will channel cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, playwright and poet Ntozake Shange, Buddhist monk and author Matthieu Ricard and other real-life figures. A live Q&A follows the show. Register for the free Zoom link.
Play-PerView: Babette in Retreat
On Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, Play-PerView presents a live reading of Babette in Retreat, Justin Sayre‘s glorious farce about a 50-year-old courtesan looking to retire in peace at her country house… if only her old friends and clients would stop bothering her. The cast includes the playwright, who’s also a fabulous performer, along with three-time Tony nominee Mary Testa, Becca Blackwell, Nathan Lee Graham, Randy Harrison, Auden Thornton and Jack Wetherall. Ellie Heyman directs. Tickets start at $5 and net proceeds go to the Ali Forney Center. Can’t make the live performance? For $20, you can watch a recording until Wednesday, April 14.
The York Theatre Company: Ute Lemper: Rendezvous with Marlene
On Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, The York Theatre Company presents internationally renowned German chanteuse Ute Lemper in Rendezvous with Marlene, a celebration of Marlene Dietrich inspired by a three-hour conversation she had with the Hollywood icon back in 1988. Directed by Daniel Nardicio as a cinematic cabaret, the performance features some of Dietrich’s signature numbers as well as secrets divulged during that long-ago chat. Tickets are $20.
The Metropolitan Opera: Roméo et Juliette
On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents Roméo et Juliette, Charles Gounod’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy about ill-fated teenage lovers. Roberto Alagna and Anna Netrebko play the star-crossed couple in this 2007 production, which costars Nathan Gunn and Robert Lloyd. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, The Nose, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
East West Players: From Number to Name
On Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, LA’s lauded East West Players presents From Number to Name featuring real-life stories from individuals of Asian Pacific Islander descent who spent time in prison. Kristina Wong directed and devised this powerful piece in collaboration with the formerly incarcerated members of API RISE, their families and supporters. After the live Zoom performance, there will be a Q&A. Tickets start at $5.
Sunday, April 11
Joe Iconis and Family in Concert
On Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, Adelphi University presents a live online concert by Tony-nominated songwriter Joe Iconis and some of talented pals, including Will Roland, Jason SweetTooth and Lauren Marcus who all starred in his cult hit Be More Chill. Iconis’ other work includes , Love in Hate Nation and dozens of stand-alone songs. Expect this performance to feel like a music-filled party full of creative friends. Tickets are $20.
East West Players: From Number to Name
On Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, LA’s lauded East West Players presents From Number to Name featuring real-life stories from individuals of Asian Pacific Islander descent who spent time in prison. Kristina Wong directed and devised this powerful piece in collaboration with the formerly incarcerated members of API RISE, their families and supporters. After the live Zoom performance, there will be a Q&A. Tickets start at $5.
The Metropolitan Opera: Luisa Miller
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera presents Verdi’s Luisa Miller, featuring Sonya Yoncheva as the title character and Plácido Domingo as her father. Olesya Petrova, Piotr Beczala, Alexander Vinogradov and Dmitry Belosselskiy costar in this 2018 mounting. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, Roméo et Juliette, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
All Weekend
John Cullum: An Accidental Star
Two-time Tony winner John Cullum reflects on his 65-year career in An Accidental Star. He’ll croon songs from the shows he’s known for, such as Shenandoah, On the Twentieth Century, The Scottsboro Boys and Urinetown, and share never-before-heard stories about working with stars like Julie Andrews, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Coproduced by three theatres he has longstanding relationships with—The Vineyard Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House and Irish Rep where it was filmed—this intimate and inspiring solo show is a must-see for theatre history buffs. Tickets start at $28.75 but if you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase them at a discount. The recording is viewable until Thursday, April 22.
Asolo Repertory Theatre: Camelot in Concert
Florida’s Asolo Repertory Theatre presents a virtual concert of Camelot, the classic 1960 musical about the love triangle between King Arthur, his beloved Queen Guenevere and Lancelot. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s celebrated score includes “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “I Loved You Once in Silence” and the title number. Tickets start at $20.
The Joyce Theater: Ayodele Casel: Chasing Magic
Chelsea dance haven The Joyce continues its digital season with tap master Ayodele Casel‘s Chasing Magic, an evening of works about the power of reconnecting. The program features a new collaboration with choreographer Ronald K. Brown as well as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Cheek to Cheek,” both co-choreographed by Anthony Morigerato. Casel is joined on the Joyce stage by Morigerato, Naomi Funaki, Amanda Castro and John Manzari. 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, April 21.
Roundabout Theatre Company: Reverb Theatre Arts Festival
Roundabout Theatre Company presents its inaugural Reverb Theatre Arts Festival showcasing artists with disabilities. A few months ago, the venerable nonprofit put out a call inviting artists with disabilities to submit original monologues, dance pieces, spoken word and musical works. The result is 24 short collaborations between emerging artists and pros, including Tony-winning performer Ali Stroker, Tony-nominated director Scott Ellis, Tony-nominated performer Lauren Ridloff, choreographer Chase Brock and songwriter Adam Gwon. Watch for free until Thursday, May 20 on Roundabout’s website. ASL interpretation, closed captioning and audio description are available.
American Repertory Theater: Hype Man
On Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, American Repertory Theater at Harvard University presents Idris Goodwin‘s Hype Man, about a multicultural hip-hop trio whose members face identity and political crises in the wake of the police shooting of an unarmed black teenager. John Oluwole ADEkoje and Shawn LaCount direct Kadahj Bennett, Rachel Cognata and Michael Knowlton star. Tickets start at $10.
Manhattan Theatre Club: Please Welcome Our Guest
On Friday at 4 and 6 p.m.; Saturday at 8 a.m., 12:30, 7:30 and 11 p.m.; and Sunday at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET, Manhattan Theatre Club presents Please Welcome Our Guest, a live interactive experience with emerging playwright Liza Birkenmeier. Log in to Zoom and, with the help of a surprise guest, an experimental survey and guidance from the dramatist, you just may gain surprising insights into yourself. Camera shy? Don’t worry, your face is not needed and off-camera participation is voluntary. Not sure what to expect? That’s the point! Reservations are required to receive the free Zoom link for this 20-minute performance. Captions are available.
The Tank: Islands of Contentment
On Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.; and Sunday at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, indie theatre incubator The Tank presents Islands of Contentment, Dipti Bramhandkar‘s collection of 13 monologues examining the challenges of modern-day romance. Viewers can choose different experiences: a streaming-only version of the show, or two separate interactive journeys. Tickets range $20-$60 depending on what you pick.
Hindsight 2020: A Theatrical Time Capsule
On Friday at 10:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 9 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 8 p.m. ET, theatre artists from around the globe come together to devise a virtual time capsule seeking to answer the question, which parts of 2020 should we take with us, and what should be left behind? This unique performance is meant to inspire reflection on our personal pandemic experiences and how we want to move forward as individuals and as a community. Come ready to contemplate! Tickets are pay-what-you-wish.
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Top image: John Cullum, who’s starring in the autobiographical solo show An Accidental Star. Photo by Tristan Fuge.
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