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.)
Try Broadway HD, Theater Close-Up on WNET Thirteen, Marquee Arts TV, Digital Theatre (UK)
— Caridad Svich (@Csvich) March 13, 2020
Free 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”
a 14-day free trial then $8.99 monthly
Try out our 7 day free trial 😊
— BroadwayHD (@BroadwayHD) March 13, 2020
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?
£9.99 a month, or you can rent a specific production for £7.99 and up
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)
I love the #PBSPassport streaming service. It has some great live theatre productions available to stream including Broadway shows. Also, the Broadway production of Romeo And Juliet that starred Orlando Bloom is available on @GooglePlay .
— Susan Friedman (@superdaisy41) March 13, 2020
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
The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!
Smash, the first two seasons, are on NBC for free
And I love you too.
— Theresa Rebeck (@TheresaRebeck) March 13, 2020
(the creator of Smash)
Soundtrack, on Netflix! (Sorry, couldn’t help but shill!)
— Joshua Safran (@Anthologist) March 13, 2020
I started binge-watching the ten episodes of Season 1 (it was canceled after that), created by Safran,the former executive producer of “Smash.”
And when you’re ready to get experimental, try this: https://t.co/NuQkQqOopt
— John Wyszniewski (@wyszniewski) March 13, 2020
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.
CultureHub is doing something incredible at La MaMa and you can watch it anywhere in the world from the safety and comfort of your home at https://t.co/GbGP09hfck#REFEST pic.twitter.com/iuVeNff1b6
— La MaMa E.T.C. (@LaMaMaETC) March 13, 2020
Yes, check out my ONE MAN BROADWAY YouTube series.https://t.co/fTcxnDkQ1s
— Adam B. Shapiro (@TheAdamBShapiro) March 13, 2020
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.