30+ Stage Performances to Watch Friday to Sunday, October 23-25
Friday, October 23
The Shows Must Go On!: Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
On Friday at 2 p.m. ET, the Shows Must Go On! streams Jeff Wayne‘s musical adaptation of The War of the Worlds. Originally a hit concept album in the ’70s, Wayne’s take on H.G. Wells’ sci-fi classic about a Martian invasion spawned a high-tech touring iteration in the 21st century. This production was recorded at London’s O2 Arena in 2012 and features a 3D hologram of Liam Neeson, flesh-and-blood performances by Jason Donovan, Ricky Wilson, Marti Pellow, Will Stapleton and Kerry Ellis, and a 35-foot tall spaceship that shoots flames above the audience. Watch for free until Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on YouTube though donations are encouraged.
New Federal Theatre: Medal of Honor Rag
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, New Federal Theatre, one of NYC’s leading Black companies, continues its Friday night reading series of important plays from its past with Medal of Honor Rag. First produced by the company in 1976, Tom Cole‘s drama centers on a decorated Black veteran and an Army psychiatrist trying to work through the trauma they both experienced during the Vietnam War. Beethovan Oden, Micah Stock and Thomas Booker star; A. Dean Irby directs. Watch for free until Sunday on New Federal Theatre’s website though donations are encouraged.
Stephen Petronio Company: Virtual Bloodlines Festival
On Friday at 7 p.m. ET, NYC choreographer Stephen Petronio continues his multi-year Bloodlines project exploring his modern dance influences with three programs of archival performances. The first features Yvonne Rainer‘s Diagonal (1963), Trio A with Flags (1966/1970) and Chair Pillow (1969); and Steve Paxton Jag Vill Gärna Telefonera (1964/1982). There will be a live post-screening conversation with Petrino, Rainer and dance critic Deborah Jowitt. Tickets are required to receive the free viewing link; donations are encouraged. The recording will be viewable until Friday, October 30.
St. Ann’s Warehouse: The Tempest
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, throughout October, St. Ann’s Warehouse presents director Phyllida Lloyd‘s acclaimed Donmar Warehouse Shakespeare Trilogy, starring Tony nominee Harriet Walter and an all-female ensemble as inmates mounting the Bard’s plays in prison, a framing that provides a fresh perspective on familiar works. All three productions were filmed in front of live audiences in 2016, with handheld and GoPro footage edited in to give them a kinetic feel. The series wraps up with The Tempest featuring Walter as Prospero, the sorcerer whose quest for revenge softens when her daughter Miranda falls in love. Watch for free until Thursday on St. Ann’s website though donations are encouraged.
BRIC: DEBATE: Baldwin vs. Buckley
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, in the wake of nationwide protests sparked by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans, theatre artists have been parsing our country’s recent racist past by acting out historical speeches, trials and conversations. There’s The Vineyard Theatre’s Lessons in Survival series and Rattlestick Playwright Theater’s Why Would I Dare?: The Trial of Crystal Mason. Now Brooklyn’s BRIC partners with the american vicarious for DEBATE: Baldwin vs Buckley, a recreation of the legendary 1965 debate between author and civil rights activist James Baldwin and conservative intellectual William F. Buckley Jr. around the subject, “Has the American Dream been achieved at the expense of the American Negro?” Christopher McElroen directs Teagle F. Bougere as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller as Buckley, though this is less about impersonation, more about how Baldwin’s words still ring true. Watch for free on BRIC’s YouTube channel.
The Metropolitan Opera: Falstaff
On Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera‘s week of operatic comedies continues with Franco Zeffirelli‘s classic 1992 staging of Verdi’s Falstaff. Paul Plishka is the lascivious and louche title character, who’s outwitted by the clever ladies around him, played by Marilyn Horne, Mirella Freni and Susan Graham. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, La Cenerentola, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
WP Theater: Ole White Sugah Daddy
On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, WP Theater, formerly known as The Women’s Project, kicks off its virtual season with a live reading of Ole White Sugah Daddy, written by and starring Obehi Janice as a Black woman coder trying to get her start-up off the ground while staying true to herself. Presented in partnership with Aye Defy, which debuted the work online back in July, the play is directed by Caitlin Sullivan and costars Alex Esola, Andy Lucien, Natalie Paul, Taji Senior, Greg Stuhr and Madeline Wise. Tickets are free but required to receive the viewing link; donations are suggested. A recording will be viewable until Tuesday.
Saturday, October 24
Metropolitan Opera Stars Live in Concert: Diana Damrau and Joseph Calleja
On Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera continues its series of live recitals with soprano Diana Damrau and tenor Joseph Calleja performing from Italy’s Cappella Palatina of the Royal Palace of Caserta. The duo will sing a selection of classic arias and duets from Puccini’s Tosca, Bizet’s Carmen and other operas. Roberto Moreschi accompanies on piano. Tickets cost $20 and a recording will remain viewable until Thursday, November 5.
The Breath Project Festival
On Saturday at 2 and 5 p.m. ET, The Breath Project Festival showcases short works created by BIPOC artists that are eight minutes and 46 seconds long—the length of time George Floyd gasped in vain for air under his killer’s knee. The playlets respond to our current moment and come from a wide array of creators, including choreographers and theatres for young audiences. Tickets are required to receive the free viewing link; donations are encouraged. All videos will be archived on The Breath Project’s website.
Molière in the Park: Tonya Pinkins in The School For Wives
On Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. ET, Molière in the Park, which usually mounts productions in Prospect Park, presents The School for Wives about a lascivious old man who wants to wed his naïve young ward. Tony winner Tonya Pinkins plays the letch and is supported by an all-women cast, upending the power dynamics of this 1662 satire. Kaliswa Brewster, Cristina Pitter, Tamara Sevunts, Mirirai Sithole, Carolyn Michelle Smith and Corey Tazmania costar, Lucie Tiberghien directs. Tickets are required to receive the free viewing link; donations are encouraged. A recording will remain viewable until Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.
BRIC: DEBATE: Baldwin vs. Buckley
On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, in the wake of nationwide protests sparked by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans, theatre artists have been parsing our country’s recent racist past by acting out historical speeches, trials and conversations. There’s The Vineyard Theatre’s Lessons in Survival series and Rattlestick Playwright Theater’s Why Would I Dare?: The Trial of Crystal Mason. Now BRIC partners with the american vicarious for DEBATE: Baldwin vs Buckley, a recreation of the legendary 1965 debate between author and civil rights activist James Baldwin and conservative intellectual William F. Buckley Jr. around the subject, “Has the American Dream been achieved at the expense of the American Negro?” Christopher McElroen directs Teagle F. Bougere as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller as Buckley, though this is less about impersonation, more about how Baldwin’s words still ring true. Watch for free on BRIC’s YouTube channel.
The Metropolitan Opera: Le Comte Ory
On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera‘s week of operatic comedies continues with Rossini’s rarely staged Le Comte Ory. Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher helmed this charming 2011 production starring Juan Diego Flórez as the title character, a philandering count whose lust life is complicated by Diana Damrau‘s virtuous Countess Adèle and his page, played by Joyce DiDonato. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, Falstaff, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
Stars in the House: Sneak Peek of We the People: America Rocks!
On Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, Stars in the House presents a sneak peek at We the People: America Rocks!, TheaterWorksUSA’s uplifting musical for all ages about a teenager running for class president who gets a little help from a rock band featuring four of our Founding Fathers. The show premiered in 2008, a very different election year, but its message about doing our civic duty is more important than ever. Directed by Gordon Greenberg, this production was shot live on stage at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse earlier this month. Tonight, watch numbers from the show and hear from the cast and Tony-nominated book writer Joe Iconis. Watch for free on YouTube though donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.
Sunday, October 25
Lockdown Theatre: Derek Jacobi and Jennifer Saunders in The Real Inspector Hound
On Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, UK’s Lockdown Theatre presents a live reading of Tom Stoppard’s absurd farce The Real Inspector Hound about a pair of theatre critics who get tangled up in the murder mystery they’re reviewing. The all-star British cast includes Derek Jacobi, Simon Callow, Jennifer Saunders and Emilia Clarke. Tickets are £35, approximately $46, and proceeds go to UK arts workers.
2020 Olivier Awards
On Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET, we still don’t know when or how the Tonys are happening, but if you’re longing for a theatre awards show, check out London’s 2020 Olivier Awards online, honoring West End productions. The ceremony will be broadcast from different areas within the London Palladium, and there will also be prerecorded performances and interviews with UK stage stars. Watch for free on YouTube.
The Breath Project Festival
On Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, The Breath Project Festival showcases short works created by BIPOC artists that are eight minutes and 46 seconds long—the length of time George Floyd gasped in vain for air under his killer’s knee. The playlets respond to our current moment and come from a wide array of creators, including choreographers and theatres for young audiences. Tickets are required to receive the free viewing link; donations are encouraged. All videos will be archived on The Breath Project’s website.
The Metropolitan Opera: Der Rosenkavalier
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Opera‘s week of operatic comedies wraps up with a 2017 mounting of Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss’ romp of love and errors starring Elina Garanca, Erin Morley, Matthew Polenzani, Marcus Brück, Günther Groissböck and Renée Fleming. Watch for free for 23 hours after the start time on the Metropolitan Opera’s website. You can still stream yesterday’s opera, Le Comte Ory, until 6:30 p.m. ET today.
All Weekend
Baruch Performing Arts Center: dwb (driving while black)
Baruch Performing Arts Center presents dwb (driving while black), a solo opera written by and starring Roberta Gumbel as a Black mother concerned her teenage son’s license to drive may lead him down a dangerous road. Composer Susan Kander‘s minimalist score is played by the duo New Morse Codes. Tickets are required to receive the free viewing link; donations are encouraged.
Black Lives, Black Words International Project: Plays for the People: Call for the Wailing Women
Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, Black Lives, Black Words International Project presents Call for the Wailing Women, Katrina D. RiChard‘s searing Afro-Centric adaptation of Euripides’ The Suppliants about two mothers at odds as they desperately fight for their respective sons. Valerie Curtis-Newton directs Bianca Laverne Jones and Allyson Lee Brown. Tickets start at $10.
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Top image: Patti LuPone.
RAVEN SNOOK