Watch Out of the Woods, a new play reading series by American Players Theatre. The viewing period has been extended through August 9!
Chekhov One-Act Plays
The Core Acting Company presents a reading of three one-act plays by Anton Chekhov. The Bear, On the Harmfulness of Tobacco, and The Proposal: three stories about the complexities of love and life, marriage and moving on. After the reading, the actors and artistic team discuss creating these readings from their homes. Available through August 9.
As You Like It
Watch the Core Acting Company and additional APT actors in a virtual reading of As You Like It, a quite-nearly-perfect Shakespearean comedy, featuring one of his greatest heroines. Afterwards, the actors and artistic team discuss producing these readings from their homes. Available through August 9.
Arms and the Man
In Shaw’s Arms and the Man, love and war collide in a uniquely Shavian fashion when an enemy soldier climbs in through the idealistic Raina’s window, throwing her life and worldview into disarray. Following the performance, the actors and artistic team discuss creating these readings from their homes. Available through August 9.
Julius Caesar
Watch the Core Acting Company and additional APT actors in this reading of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Growing unease over Caesar's popularity spreads through Rome, spurring good people to do terrible deeds. A riveting political thriller about blood spilled in the name of the republic, and hands that hold the blades. Available through August 9.
Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been...
Writer and activist Langston Hughes faces down his fears by writing a poem on the eve of his appearance before the Senate Permanent-Sub-Committee on Investigations on Un-American Activities. By Carlyle Brown. Directed by David Daniel. Featuring: Jim DeVita (Senator Dirksen), Jamal James (Frank Reeves), Gavin Lawrence (Langston Hughes), Brian Mani (Senator McCarthy), James Ridge (Roy Cohn), Marcus Truschinski (David Schine). Available through August 9.
An Improbable Fiction
A world premiere reading of James DeVita's new play, told largely in Shakespeare's own words. It's plague time, and Shakespeare's characters are out of sorts, and out of work. Several favorites reunite at The Boar's Head Tavern to celebrate life, and ruminate on the state of the world. Available through August 9.
PBS Wisconsin - Great Performances
PBS Great Performances has several free full-length musical and dramatic theater performances for your enjoyment. Additional performances may require the Passport membership. Beginning and ending dates may not apply for those with Passport membership.
She Loves Me
This delightful musical set in a Hungarian cosmetics shop is based on a 1937 play Parfumerie and has had many versions, including In the Good Old Summertime, The Little Shop Around the Corner, and You've Got Mail. None can match the humor and tunes of this Harnick and Bock "jewel box" of musical theater. Starring Laura Benanti as the new employee at war with seasoned clerk Zachery Levi, with Jane Krakowski as the ditzy friend. Streaming for free on PBS Great Performances beginning July 26.
Porgy and Bess
This 2019 Metropolitan Opera production takes a fresh approach to Gershwin's complicated 1935 masterpiece, which has been criticized for its African American stereotypes since its debut. The setting — Catfish Row, a Charleston, South Carolina neighborhood – is now a close-knit, aspirational working-class community in which everyone is doing his or her best to get by, instead of an abandoned slum. David Robertson conducts a dynamic cast, featuring the sympathetic duo of Eric Owens and Angel Blue in the title roles. Streaming for free on PBS Great Performances beginning July 17.
Gloria: A Life
Experience a unique interpretation of feminist icon Gloria Steinem’s life told by an all-female cast, starring Emmy Award winner Christine Lahti and directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus. Streaming now through July 24.
Ann
Enjoy a powerful and revealing look at legendary, larger-than-life Texas governor Ann Richards who enriched the lives of her followers, friends and family in this critically acclaimed play written by and starring Emmy Award-winner Holland Taylor. Streaming now through July 17.
Twilight: Los Angeles
Anna Deavere Smith's play is about race relations in Los Angeles at the time of the infamous police beating of Rodney King, and the ensuing jury acquittal of the perpetrators. She notes that “few people speak a language about race that is not their own. If more of us could actually speak from another point of view, like speaking another language, we could accelerate the flow of ideas.” “After all,” Smith says later, “identity is in some ways a process toward character. It is not character itself. It is not fixed. Our race dialogue desperately needs this more complex language.”
Smith channels the voices of forty among the hundreds of people she interviewed: white and Black, Korean and Latinx, men and women, cops and activists, store owners and looters. Playing them all, Smith physically embodies the truth that each of us contains multitudes.
Director Marc Levin blends Smith’s stage performance with news footage and interviews to capture a community’s rage and loss, but also its grit and hope and love. This encore streaming will run from June 8 through August 7.
Take Me to the World - Free - A starry line-up of Broadway favorites are toasting Stephen Sondheim with a once-in-a-lifetime concert event live on Broadway.com Mr. Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist known for his work in musical theater like: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962); Company (1970); Follies (1971); A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979); Merrily We Roll Along (1981); Sunday in the Park with George (1984); and Into the Woods (1987). He is also known for writing the lyrics for West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959).
Stratford Festival Theatre - Watch@Home
