Hamilton to Oklahoma! – how to watch Broadway and West End shows from home
12 May 2020, 18:21 | Updated: 12 May 2020, 18:31
An updating list of all the major Broadway, London West End and other shows being streamed online.
With Broadway and London’s West End shows cancelled or postponed for the time being as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, fans of all-singing-all-dancing stage entertainment will be left wondering how they can get their musical theatre fix.
From Hamilton to Six, and Cats to Moulin Rouge, there’s far too much glitz, glam and gusto to miss out on.
But the show must go on... line (*ahem*), so here are just some of the musicals to keep you entertained over the coming weeks.
Click here for the latest coronavirus advice from the NHS >
• Romeo and Juliet – a digitally-captured production of the 2013 Broadway revival of Shakespeare’s tragic love story, starring Orlando Bloom and two-time Tony-nominated Condola Rashad.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• The King and I – a company of over 50 world-class performers tell the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher (2018).
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• Rent – the infectiously catchy musical ran on Broadway for 22 years, and now you can watch a version of the gritty tale filmed live from the stage in 2002.
Visit: Amazon Prime
• The Wind in the Willows – a 2017 production of Kenneth Grahame’s whimsical river bank tales, performed live at the London Palladium and starring Rufus Hound.
Visit: willowsmusical.com
• Oklahoma! – a 1999 National Theatre production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s epic show, starring Hugh Jackman.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• An American in Paris – a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, inspired by the Oscar-winning film, telling the impassioned story of discovering love in the ‘City of Light’.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• Peter Pan – a family-friendly, Tony-Nominated Broadway revival of the classic tale, starring actress and former artistic gymnast, Cathy Rigby.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• 42nd Street – one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals follows Peggy Sawyer, a talented entertainer from small-town America shooting for stardom.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – the original Harold Prince-directed Broadway production filmed during its national tour in 1982.
Visit: Amazon.co.uk
• Kinky Boots – a must-see Broadway classic, following factory owner Charlie who is struggling to save his family business, and fabulous entertainer Lola.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• Death of a Salesman – a gripping 1966 stage musical adaptation of Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.
Visit: broadwayhd.com
• Timpson: The Musical – performed at the Stockwell Playhouse, this award-winning musical explaining the origins of everyone’s favourite high street cobblers is pure hilarity for the whole family.
Visit: YouTube/Gigglemug Comedy
• Deluxe – BalletBoyz’ new dance show is now available to watch for free, with an option to donate.
Visit: facebook.com
• ‘Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway’ (17 April) – Watch the recording from the starry silver-anniversary concert tribute held at the New Amsterdam Theatre last November, which raised more than half a million dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The charity shared the clip to raise money for pandemic relief through its COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund.
Visit: youtube.com
• Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration (26 April) – see Broadway veteran, Raúl Esparza, host a star-studded online special commemorating the birth of legendary composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim.
Visit: broadway.com / youtube.com
• The Midnight Gang – Chichester Festival Theatre is now streaming archived shows, including the musical version of David Walliams’ hilarious comedy, which will be available for a month. Starring Jennie Dale, Matthew Cavendish, Marilyn Cutts, Dickon Gough, Tim Mahendran and Lucy Vandi, the 2018 show was written by Bryony Lavery and features music and lyrics by Joe Stilgoe.
Visit: cft.org
• Wasted – One of South London’s favourite theatres, Southwark Stayhouse, has released three archived productions online, including this infectiously catchy rock musical. Directed by Adam Lenson, it features music by Christopher Ash and lyrics by Carl Miller, and tells the story of the Brontë sisters as they endeavour to navigate the literary world.
Visit: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
• Only the Brave – Based on true events, this moving show written by Rachel Wagstaff evokes the camaraderie and bravery of the second world war generation. Originally filmed in 2016 at Wales Millennium Centre, its cast includes Welsh musical stars led by Caroline Sheen and David Thaxton, and stunning music from Cardiff born composer Matthew Brind.
Visit: vimeo.com
Upcoming virtual shows
• Daily – The Actors Fund are producing free, mini-Broadway shows at 2pm and 8pm.
Visit: youtube.com
• Weekly – Musical legend Andrew Lloyd Webber is serving up a free stream of one of his productions via his YouTube channel, The Shows Must Go On! every week, including The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar. This Friday 15 May, it’s a stage adaptation of Cats, starring the originator of the role of Grizabella, Elaine Page.
Visit: youtube.com
• Hamilton – From 3 July 2020, the entire original Broadway cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s powerhouse of a musical is coming to our screens for the first time – and a year ahead of schedule! Filmed in 2016 at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, the production stars Miranda himself, Leslie Odom Jr, Jonathan Groff, Phillipa Soo and Daveed Diggs. The production was accelerated from an original October 2021 cinema release, following the birth of Disney’s streaming service and theatre closures.
Visit: Disney+
Other musical theatre-inspired performances
• MAMMA MIA! – to satisfy your musical theatre craving, the current West End cast have performed ‘Mamma Mia’ while in lockdown.
Visit: youtube.com
• The Prince of Egypt – with the new musical only staged for a few weeks before lockdown, the cast have come together for an exclusive jam instead, featuring Christine Allado (Tzipporah) and Luke Brady (Moses) as they perform the song, ‘Dance To The Day’.
Visit: youtube.com
• Hamilton – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s show-stopping musical fuses rap music and politics-inspired lyrics to tell the story of forgotten American Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. It might not be on Broadway right now, but you can follow the cast’s entertaining videos and stream the music from the original Broadway album to get your Hamilton fix.
Visit: youtube.com
• Les Misérables – West End tenor and actor, Alfie Boe, is joined by special guests to perform in a moving ‘at-home’ musical tribute of ‘Bring Him Home’ to the NHS, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Visit: classicfm.com