Performing arts organizations have hit their virtual stride, offering a diverse menu of live and prerecorded performances, discussions, podcasts and special events, both free, paid and with donation requested. (Every theater-related organization is hurting, so please give as generously as you can.)
Here are some highlights coming up this week:
The National Theatre
From now until noon on Thursday, May 14, you can watch Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple Antony & Cleopatra in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power. The free performance, from London’s National Theatre Live, was directed by Simon Godwin. Running time is 3 hours 8 mins with a short intermission. It’s on YouTube and has subtitles.
The Moth
On Wednesday, May 13th, storytelling icon The Moth goes live and virtual with Taking the Plunge: Stories of Going All In. Host is Ophira Eisenberg, who also hosts NPR’s “Ask Me Another.” Tickets are $15 per household and a registration link with Zoom access will be sent upon ticket purchase.
The Wallis
Local jewel The Wallis will stream The Encounter, originally performed during the theater’s 2016-17 season online, from its own website from Friday, May 15th through Friday, May 22nd. Inspired by the novel Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu, The Encounter tells the story of National Geographic photographer Loren McIntyre who, in 1969, became lost in a remote part of the Brazilian rainforest while searching for the Mayoruna people. The immersive theatre piece won a Special Tony Award for Sound Design and requires headphones to experience the effect of the binaural recording. (Any headphones will work.)
Macha Theatre Company
West Hollywood’s Macha Theatre Company launches Marilyn: My Secret on Saturday, May 16th. The show presents the untold story Marilyn Monroe’s affairs with both female and male lovers, from her acting coach to the president of the United States. Tickets are $10 per household. Running time is 1 hour 13 minutes.
The show stars Erin Gavin as Marilyn Monroe, Odalys Nanin as Natasha Lytess, Lori Allen Thomas as Paula Strasberg, Margo Alison as Lily St. Cyr and Sean McCraken as Bobby Kennedy.
Broadway on Demand
Look heavenward for an alignment of stars not seen since…well, since Sondheim’s 90th Birthday celebration a few weeks back. Broadway on Demand will livestream “A Night of Covenant House Stars,” a truly star-studded array to raise funds for Covenant House. on Monday, May 18th at 5pm. The event, co-hosted by Audra McDonald and John Dickerson, features performances and appearances by Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Jon Bon Jovi, Rachel Brosnahan, Stephen Colbert, Morgan Freeman, Martin Short, Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Stephanie J. Block, Tony Shalhoub, Charlie Day, Chris O’Dowd and many, many more. Register at Covenant House’s website. The show will be streamed on Broadway on Demand (registration required), Stars in the House, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and IheartRadio Broadway (audio only).
Playwrights Horizons
A series of Soundstage Episodes: Podcasts from Playwrights Horizons features original plays and musicals performed for audio. New episodes are published every other Thursday. Here’s what’s already available:
Episode 1 PRIME: A Practical Breviary by Heather Christian
Episode 2 GATHER by Robert O’Hara
Episode 3 PLAY FOR ANY TWO PEOPLE by Jordan Harrison
Goodman Theatre
Chicago’s Goodman Theatre is streaming the production of School Girls: Or, the African Mean Girls Play that was onstage when the COVID-19 crisis brought down the curtain. Tickets are $20 per household and are available here. And you can read the Buzz review of the 2018 Kirk Douglas production of School Girls here.
All times given are Pacific Standard Time. And don’t forget to make a donation of any size!
