What can I watch online that’s like Broadway?

With Broadway shut down for at least a month, I asked on Twitter:
Anything online that’s like a Broadway show?
Here are some of the choicest responses. (And stay tuned, because there is serious talk of trying to livestream current shows.)

Theater Close Up

Theater Close Up selectionsFree in the NY area. “a unique collaboration between THIRTEEN and the large community of non-profit Off-Broadway theaters, dedicated to bringing worthy but neglected plays back to the stage. After broadcast, viewers in the THIRTEEN area can stream the programs for a limited time”

Marquee TV

Marquee TV selections

a 14-day free trial then $8.99 monthly

BroadwayHD

BroadwayHD selections

Perhaps they will see fit to give a discount from their usual $8.99 monthly subscription fee after their seven-day trial until Broadway reopens?

Digital Theatre

Digital Theatre selections

£9.99 a month, or you can rent a specific production for £7.99 and up

PBS Passport,

PBS Passport

Offers access to shows past and present from the Public Broadcasting System; requires that you become a member of Channel 13. ($60+ annual, or $5 monthly)

 

In addition to the full library of GREAT PERFORMANCES episodes on PBS PASSPORT, there is also a special collection of Broadway plays on Broadway on PBS including The Sound of Music, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, Red, Much Ado About Nothing and Kinky Boots.

Amazon Prime
Lots musicals and other Broadway shows, some of them taped directly from the stage, that you can rent (for as little as $2.95) or buy (usually for $9.99) if you have a membership on Amazon Prime. (Some, such as “Carousel,” are free with Amazon Prime membership.)

Live from Lincoln Center: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel

Into The Woods (Theatrical)

Memphis

The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!

Wishful Drinking

 

Smash, the first two seasons, are on NBC for free

Smashseason2

(the creator of Smash)

I started binge-watching the ten episodes of Season 1 (it was canceled after that), created by  Safran,the  former executive producer of “Smash.”

OnTheBoards.TV

a decade-old website that delivers full-length performance films, is offering its show for free through the end of April!

    • Choose a performance
  • Pick the 48-hour rental option, then add to your cart (you can do this with as many films as you like)
  • Go to Checkout
  • Enter your name and email address
  • Use the promo code ARTATHOME20

Although, nobody mentioned it also check out the schedule for HowlRound TV, which is live-streaming Re-Fest from CultureHub and La MaMa. Like most theaters in New York, La MaMa is suspending live performances but promises to livestream some of their shows.

Here he is as the Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton

In fact, you can just type “Broadway” into YouTube and (skipping all the news about Broadway shutting down), you can get videos like these:

Check out my NewYorkTheater YouTube channel for videos from shows you can’t see live at the moment.

Author: New York Theater

Jonathan Mandell is a 3rd generation NYC journalist, who sees shows, reads plays, writes reviews and sometimes talks with people.

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