The world’s stage is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, with almost all productions for musicals and other stage presentations either canceled or postponed. Fortunately, theater groups have shared their works online for those missing the theater in these challenging times.
In this High Five list, we collated our musical and stage play recommendations to include on your binge-watch list.
5. National Theatre
Frankenstein by National Theatre.
The prestigious Royal Theatre in London is home to some of the most iconic stage works in the United Kingdom. For a limited time, they are uploading plays on their “National Theatre at Home” YouTube, featuring titles such as Frankenstein starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, One Man Two Guvnors starring James Corden, and more.
4. Shakespeare’s Globe
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare’s Globe.
This one is for the Shakespeare fans! Shakespeare’s Globe, a group dedicated to celebrating the life and works of William Shakespeare, will be screening over 40 of their works on the Globe Player website. This is a great opportunity for people who wants to study Shakespeare, as well as for fans to get reacquainted with plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’s Tale, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Two Noble Kinsmen, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
3. The MET Opera
Nico Muhly’s Marnie by The MET Opera.
Operas from The Metropolitan (MET) Opera can be a rare find. Luckily for everyone eager to watch their previous projects, the group is holding “Nightly Opera Streams” on their website as a way to “brightening the lives of our audience members even while our stage is dark.” They are showcasing Wagner’s Parsifal, Nico Muhly’s Marnie, Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Strauss’s Capriccio, Verdi’s Falstaff, and more.
2. Cultural Center of the Philippines
Hintayan ng Langit by Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Virgin Labfest.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is currently developing an online database for their previous projects through their #CCPOnline on YouTube. The new initiative will be presenting the group’s memorable works, including Ryan Cayabyab’s musicals, concerts of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the celebrated plays from Virgin Labfest such as Hintayan ng Langit and Mga Eksena sa Buhay ng Kontrabida, and more.
1. Andrew Lloyd Weber Productions
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
Legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Weber is uploading recordings of his popular works on his new YouTube channel “The Show Must Go On!” The catch: each title is only available every Fridays for 48 hours. The channel has screened The Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The next titles will be a surprise, but we are expecting Cats to be shown eventually.
Do you have any musicals or stage plays you want to include in the list? Share it with us on the comments section below!