All the world’s a (virtual) stage

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/03/2020 (2344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s one thing that every live performance depends on: an audience. With audiences tucked away at home practising social distancing, performers and organizations have had to adapt and turn to social media to share their stories.

Here are five great “live” performances to see on social media right now (or in the very near future).

LIVE PLAY READINGS ON ZOOM

On March 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Playwrights Guild of Canada will be hosting seven hours of play readings via Zoom. Each playwright will read a 10-minute excerpt from a play they have written or a work-in-progress, and up to 1,000 audience members can attend.

The lineup includes local playwright Ellen Peterson, who adapted the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s 2018 production of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (directed by Krista Jackson), as well as some of Canada’s hottest playwrights, including Edmonton’s Beth Graham (The Drowning Girls), Marcus Youssef (Winners and Losers) and Christine Quintana (Selfie).

wfp.to/readingrelay

 

LIVE LOCAL CABARETS ON INSTAGRAM

Local performing arts school the Village Conservatory is taking its monthly A Lot of Night Music cabaret nights online and the next one is taking place on Monday, March 30, starting at 8 p.m.

This month’s theme is musical-theatre alter egos — or, as the company Instagram says, “whatever songs you sing in the shower but would never sing in public” — and if you’re feeling bold, you can make a video of your own, tag it #ALoNM and they’ll share it live on Instagram (@VillageConservatory).

Or, if singing isn’t your thing, you can always just tune in and watch some of Winnipeg’s most talented singers serenade you right in the comfort of your own home.

wfp.to/village

 

LIVE OPERA AND BALLET ON YOUTUBE

London’s Royal Opera House has always had a strong social media presence but is gearing up to be an even more of an influencer on YouTube and Facebook as it launches a curated series of live opera streaming.

On March 27 at 2 p.m., the Royal Ballet’s 2010 production of Peter and the Wolf will be streaming on both YouTube and Facebook, followed by the Royal Opera’s 2009 production of Acis and Galatea on April 3. A complete schedule of live streams is available on the company’s YouTube channel.

 

BROADWAY STARS IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

Broadway is taking a beating. In addition to the recent citywide theatre shutdown, multiple Broadway stars have tested positive for COVID-19, including Chad Kimball (Come From Away), Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge) and Matt Doyle (Company).

While theatre lovers won’t be seeing any of those faces onstage anytime soon, Seth Rudetsky (host of Sirius XM Broadway) and his partner James Wesley are making sure we stay connected to our favourite Broadway stars in a livestream series Stars in the House that takes place every day at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In the series, stars of stage and screen will virtually join Seth for online performances and conversation. Confirmed guests include Sara Bareilles (Waitress), Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked), Adam Pascal (Rent), Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and more.

wfp.to/broadway

 

CELEBRITIES LIVING THEIR BEST LIVES ON TIKTOK

Maybe you aren’t on TikTok yet… but you should be.

An influx of celebrity accounts on the video-sharing app has drawn a whole new audience to the platform, which was once primarily used by Gen Z. For instance, Kyle MacLachlan (@kyle_maclachlan) recently recreated his first scene on the iconic TV series Twin Peaks using cardboard and an exercise bike.

Other celebrities who are absolutely crushing it on TikTok include High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale (@ashleytisdale), who regularly throws it back with old-school dance routines from the ‘00s, inspirational workout queen Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) and even the elusive chanteuse herself, Mariah Carey (@mariahcarey).

www.tiktok.com

 

Frances.Koncan@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter (and TikTok): @franceskoncan