How to visit Broadway while staying at home

Broadway might be closed, but you can still experience the magic of the Great White Way from the comfort of your home.

It feels like forever since Broadway productions were playing to a full house. With Broadway theatres closed until at least May 30, 2021, going to a Broadway show is somewhat of a distant dream. But, you don't have to go to the Great White Way to get the full theatre experience. Thanks to the resilience of industry creatives and performers, there's a ton of theatre content that you can access from the comfort of your own home.

Here at New York Theatre Guide, we've scoured the best ways to stay in touch with the theatre world while staying indoors. It'll really feel as if you're on Broadway but at home.

Watch theatre-related films and TV shows

Is your favorite Broadway musical based on a film? Have your favorite stars appeared in television shows? Relive all the forgotten classics from over the years and plan a theatre movie night. Over on Netflix, marvel at the film adaptations of The Boys in the Band and The Prom, with Amazon Prime users are able to experience Golden Age Hollywood with films like 42nd Street and An American in Paris. If you've got Disney+, you can even imagine you're on Broadway and watch Hamilton, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Stream theatre productions to your living room

Although we can't be *at* the theatre right now, streaming alternatives are still giving us the pre curtain-up feels normally experienced in an auditorium. Okay, you may not be able to hear the orchestra warming up, but a plus for streamed shows is you don't have to barge your way through a crowd to take your seat. Instead, you can catch online stream of Broadway shows while sitting on your sofa. Livestreamed shows are announced frequently, so be sure to check New York Theatre Guide for the latest information on upcoming productions.

Purchase theatre streaming networks

Think you've exhausted all your theatre watching options? Impossible. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, numerous initiatives have come to the forefront and they're all designed to get you watching as much theatre as humanly possible.

Some of our favorites include BroadwayHD, a streaming service that costs just $8.99 per month with shows including Kinky Boots and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. New releases are frequently added too; January 2021's offerings include Jersey Boys and British hits like Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Similarly named but not to be confused with the former, Broadway On Demand is another service dedicated to theatre across the United States, with concerts, documentaries and exclusive streams.

Listen to theatre podcasts

Podcasts have become somewhat of a phenomenon in recent years. Just like theatre, podcasts can make us laugh with joy, or cry with overwhelming emotion, but they can also teach us about the world we live in. If you're looking for a theatre lesson or two, or just want to impress your friends when you can eventually meet in person, put your headphones on and listen to some theatrical podcasts. Hamilton fans will love The Hamilcast, a podcast dedicated to Lin-Manuel Miranda's genre-defying production. For Disney lovers, learn more about the magic of Walt Disney with Backstage With Disney Theatrical. Conversations take place with Disney creatives based in London's West End, but each episode offers insight into the arduous process of preparing a show for its opening night.

Stay a part of the conversation

Missing the Broadway buzz? So are we. We can't wait for the moment when theatre returns to New York. It's going to be incredible. Before that, make sure you keep up to date with everything Broadway by reading the latest news. Here at New York Theatre Guide, we're covering all the action taking place across New York theatres. Bookmark this page to stay in the know about everything Broadway, Off-Broadway and beyond.

Donate to theatres

With theatres having had their doors closed for months on end, it's more important than ever that we give back to the community. If you're able to, donate a few dollars to venues across New York City. When shows eventually start again, there'll be even more theatres open; your donation could make all the difference.

Here's some New York theatres and New York companies that you can donate to:

Donate to Atlantic Theater Company
Donate to Carnegie Hall
Donate to Lincoln Center Theater
Donate to Manhattan Theatre Club
Donate to the Metropolitan Opera
Donate to New York City Center
Donate to Playwrights Horizons
Donate to Primary Stages
Donate to Second Stage
Donate to Signature Theatre
Donate to The New Group

^{Photo credit: New York (Photo by Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash)}