Theatre options when theatres are closed
I don't know about you, but with all the theatres closed right now I am looking for ways to get my theatre fix. If you’re also looking to fill that theatre sized void in your life right now may I suggest some of the following theatre options in the form of movies and musical performances to help pass the time?
#SunshineSongs – completely free just look for this hashtag on your social media of choice and you will find many of the talented school performers (of all ages) who had performances that have been canceled. Go watch them, support these upcoming artists, and get that live theatre fix.
Theatre Arts School San Diego - free and low-cost online classes are posted on their classes page. Ranging from acting technique to Masterclasses with Broadway stars there is something here for every skill level
J Company Youth Theatre- they are showing a different watch from home youth performance every day. Check out their Instagram to see whats playing today!
The Metropolitan Opera - Nightly Met Opera streams - each day a different encore presentation is mad available for free for 24 hours to stream!
Broadwayworld - Stars in The House - New shows will be produced DAILY at the traditional theater times of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Each star will be singing a mix of their hit songs and/or something unexpected. Between each song, Seth will interview the star as he does on SiriusXM, leading them to give fun, inside stories about their careers. Confirmed stars to appear incluide: Ian Armitage, Shoshana Bean, Laura Benanti, Sierra Boggess, Wayne Brady, Betty Buckley, Laura Bell Bundy, Andréa Burns, Kerry Butler, Norbert Leo Butz, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Carolee Carmello, Kristin Chenoweth, Gavin Creel, Melissa Errico, Raúl Esparza, Christopher Fitzgerald, Kathryn Gallagher, Ana Gasteyer, Mandy Gonzalez, Justin Guarini, Debbie Gravitte, James Monroe Iglehart, Rachel Bay Jones, Jeremy Jordan, Marc Kudish, Judy Kuhn, Anika Larsen, Linda Lavin, Beth Leavel, Telly Leung, Beth Malone, Melissa Manchester, Lindsay Mendez, Idina Menzel, Kate Shindle, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelli O'Hara, Christine Pedi, Alice Ripley, Adam Pascal, Faith Prince, Kate Shindle, Keala Settle, Marc Shaiman, Jennifer Simard, Elizabeth Stanley, Patrick Wilson and Marissa Jaret Winokur, with many more to be announced!
Neil Gaiman - For kids lots of videos of Neil, and other people reading chapters of Coraline. For adults lots of short stories, essays, audio, and video, and all for free!
Stage Partners - free distance learning materials for kids to get an arts education from home
Ted-Ed Video Playlist - Videos, lessons, and educational questions on everything from visual, music, theatre arts to U.S. History and social studies! Lots to learn and all free!
Broadway weekends At Home - Broadway and National tour performers give free online musical theatre classes teaching choreography, how to act through song, reading music,and more !
The Social Distancing Festival!
This is an online community created with the goal of celebrating and showcasing the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing that has come about due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Performances include the Met and Edmonton Opera's and they even have a video of the day featuring high school performers as well.
Membership apps below
Netflix - this app isn't the easiest to navigate for theatre options, but if you look for "musicals" that's the easiest way to finds these
Hairspray (2007)
Shrek the Musical (2013 Broadway cast)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Sweeny Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter)
Joseph King of Dreams (ok this is an animated movie but there is aWest End musical currently running right now based on this movie!)
Jersey Boys
Mary Poppins Returns
Springsteen on Broadway (2017)
Hulu - theatre options are not as plentiful in this one, but the Fosse/Verdon and the documentary on the Heart of Broadway is pretty interesting
Fosse/Verdon (Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award-winning series)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The Heart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids (tv series 2011)
HAMILTON: One Shot to Broadway (2017 Documentary) starring Lin Manuel Miranda and Tommy Kail
First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb (PBS special with an all-star cast, performance include "new York, New York", "Cabaret", and more!
RENT (2005)
Cats (1998 London)
COMPANY (2006 Broadway revival)
Fiddler of the Roof (1974)
The Greatest Showman
Funny Face (Barbara Streisand won her first Oscar for Best Actress for this role)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Singing In The Rain (1952)
Into the Woods (2014)
Cinderella (1965) Leslie Anne Warren!
Funny Girl (1968)
LA LA LAND
LES MISERABLES (2012)
Live from Lincoln Center: Rodger and Hammerstein’s Carousel (2013)(Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Audra McDonald)
West Side Story (1961)
Falsettos (2017)
The King and I (1956)
BILLY ELLIOTT (2014 London filmed live on stage)
Elaine Stritch At Liberty - London West End production
KISS ME KATE (2003 revival)
NEWSIES: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL (2017)
ANNIE (1999 TV special, Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber,etc…)
The Sound of Music (1965 movie)
Freaky Friday (2018) musical comedy based on the movie and starring the amazing Heidi Blickenstaff - side note I saw her perform this at the La Jolla Playhouse a few years back and she was fantastic!)
ENCORE! – (2019) former classmates restage musicals from highschool years after graduation. Episodesfeature Kristen Bell, Susan Egan, Ali Stroker, Stephen Schwartz, and more!)
Once Upon a Mattress (2005) featuring Carol Burnett, TraceyUllman, Zooey Deschanel, and more…)
Broadway HD – this is a subscription service and has a lot of Broadway shows available for streaming. Update! Now they are offering 30 days free to watch all the Broadway shows you want!!!
This is by no means a complete list, and I am always looking for more theatre options so if there is something I have missed let me know and I will keep updating it!
If you want to read up on past shows check out my reviews here