Top 5 Stage Performances to Stream This Weekend August 23-25
Colm Feore stars as a murderous royal in the Stratford Festival’s Richard III, which is streaming for free. Photo by David Hou.
Even though in-person theatre and dance are back in full swing, in the name of accessibility we’re continuing to round up performances to watch online from the comfort of home. Our curated list spotlights the five best options to stream this weekend, Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25, for free or at low cost.
Live from 54 Below: Ann Hampton Callaway in Finding Beauty: Inspired Classics and Originals
Live-streaming on Saturday, August 24 at 7 p.m. ET for $28.50.
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Stratford Festival: The Tempest
The late, great Canadian stage star, Martha Henry, plays Prospero in Stratford’s 2018 mounting of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a tale of revenge, forgiveness, magic and love. Stratford’s artistic director Antoni Cimolino helmed this well-received production.
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Stratford Festival: Richard III
Canadian theatre stalwart and perennial screen bad guy Colm Feore (The Umbrella Academy) puts his own stamp on Shakespeare’s Richard III, who’s “determined to prove a villain” as he stops at nothing to ascend to the throne. Stratford’s artistic director Antoni Cimolino also helmed this acclaimed 2022 production.
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PBS Great Performances: Richard III
Compare and contrast two different takes on Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy! Danai Gurira headlines Robert O’Hara’s radically inclusive Richard III, which was recorded live on stage in 2022. The Black Panther actor is riveting as the power-hungry and ruthless title villain in this Shakespeare in the Park production, and her costars include Oklahoma! Tony winner Ali Stroker as Anne, Heather Alicia Simms as Queen Elizabeth and Tina Tony nominee Daniel J. Watts.
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National Theatre at Home: Underdog: The Other Other Brontë
In 2020, London’s lauded National Theatre launched its own streaming service featuring professional stage captures of its productions. While you can buy a subscription, shows are also available to rent individually. New to the roster is Sarah Gordon’s Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, an irreverent spin on the lives and legacies of the three Brontë sisters, literary legends and squabbling siblings. Natalie Ibu directed this 2024 production, which was co-presented by National Theatre and Northern Stage. A 72-hour rental costs $10 and captions are available. It’s just one of many fantastic National Theatre shows you can stream, so be sure to browse the entire list.
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