Top 5 Stage Performances to Stream This Weekend January 3-5
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, January 3 to Sunday, January 5, for free or at low cost.
National Theatre at Home: Coriolanus Starring David Oyelowo
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 David Oyelowo in Coriolanus, Shakespeare’s tragedy about the Roman general-turned-politician, who’s brought down by his principled bluntness, corrupt colleagues and an easily manipulated populace. Recorded live on stage in London in 2024, the production was directed by Lyndsey Turner. 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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Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker
The holidays may be over, but you can still feel the Christmas spirit with a performance of The Nutcracker danced by the lauded Bolshoi Ballet. Vladimir Vasiliev stars as the magical title character in Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet centering on a young girl who’s transported to a fantastical land of mice, sweets and merriment.
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Veteran playwright-performer Robert Galinsky wrote and stars in this moving one-man show about five lost souls whose stories are all connected to one bench in NYC. Inspired by encounters Galinsky had with unhoused folks, The Bench explores addiction, poverty and love with empathy and insight.
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PBS Great Performances: Message in a Bottle
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PBS Great Performances: Shakespeare in the Park: Hamlet
Slave Play Tony nominee Ato Blankson-Wood stars as the moody monarch hell-bent on avenging his father’s murder in this Shakespeare in the Park mounting of Hamlet. Directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon and recorded live in 2023, it’s a modern-day reimagining of the tragedy set in Georgia post-COVID. I quite admired it, especially Lorraine Toussaint as Hamlet’s mother and the riveting John Douglas Thompson as his uncle-turned-stepfather. The ghost scene will truly haunt you!
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