Top 5 Stage Performances to Stream This Weekend January 23-25
Even though in-person theatre and dance are back in full swing, in the name of accessibility we’re continuing to round up performances to watch online from the comfort of home. Our curated list spotlights the five best options to stream this weekend, Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25, for free or at low cost.
Merrily We Roll Along
Streaming on Amazon Prime for $10.
Not a day goes by without me thinking about Maria Friedman’s sublime revival of Merrily We Roll Along, which managed to turn the Stephen Sondheim bomb into a hit, a palpable hit! That was thanks not just to Friedman’s brilliant direction but also the casting of Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez as three showbiz pals whose turbulent friendship is explored in reverse, from 1977 to 1957. A smash at New York Theatre Workshop that transferred to Broadway where it won four 2024 Tony Awards, this fabulous production was filmed for posterity. After a brief theatrical release, you can now stream it at home. While it’s not a traditional stage capture (there are a lot of close-ups, especially of a surprisingly dry Groff!), it is a must-see for musical mavens. Like so many longtime Merrily fans, I’m thrilled I can now revisit this favorite whenever I want instead of watching the grainy bootleg of the 1981 original.
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Lazarus
Streaming on YouTube for FREE.
It’s hard to believe that David Bowie has been dead for a decade. Thankfully, his art lives on. One of the last projects he worked on was the musical Lazarus, a trippy sequel to the 1976 sci-fi movie The Man Who Fell to Earth featuring songs from his catalog, a book by Tony winner Enda Walsh and direction by iconoclast Ivo van Hove. Bowie’s demise informs this existential tale of Newton (Michael C. Hall), an alienated extraterrestrial (Bowie’s part in the film) who’s desperate to return to his home planet. As he wastes away on Earth, he’s wooed by his assistant, haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl and stalked by a very dapper demon. The narrative is, admittedly, weird, but the singing and stagecraft are breathtaking. This recording is of the show’s 2016 production at London’s King’s Cross Theatre starring Hall, Bettlejuice‘s Sophia Anne Caruso, Michael Esper and Amy Lennox.
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Mandy Gonzalez in Concert
Streaming on All Arts for FREE.
Broadway diva Mandy Gonzalez recorded this intimate concert at Long Island University’s Tilles Center in fall 2024. The song list includes numbers from her stage career (“Satisfied” from Hamilton, “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, multiple tunes from In the Heights), plus pop hits and “Fearless,” an anthem written for her by her longtime pal and collaborator, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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André De Shields: Old Dawg; New Tricks
Streaming on All Arts for FREE.
Hadestown Tony winner and upcoming CATS: The Jellicle Ball star André De Shields shows off his powerhouse pipes, flashy moves and fabulous style (there are multiple costume changes!) in this 100-minute concert, which was recorded live at Lincoln Center’s The Appel Room in January 2020. Cheekily titled Old Dawg; New Tricks, this autobiographical cabaret traces the evolution of his illustrious career, which includes star turns in the musicals The Full Monty, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and The Wiz, as he croons an eclectic lineup of classic rock, blues and musical theatre tunes.
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National Theatre at Home: One Man, Two Guvnors
Streaming for $10.
If you’re in need of a laugh (aren’t we all these days?), you’ll find many in Richard Bean‘s uproarious swinging ’60s adaptation of a commedia dell’arte classic about a not-so-smooth operator trying to juggle two jobs. James Corden’s Tony-winning performance as the overworked peon is hilariously exhausting! This is just one of many fantastic National Theatre shows you can stream, so be sure to browse the entire list.
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