Streaming theatre is helping to fill the void
(Photo: BCCL/ iStock)
I’m going to 3 concerts this month. “What?!” you say, “How is that possible?!”. Let me clarify. I’m streaming 3 virtual concerts in my family room this month. I’m saying it. There are some (not many I’ll grant you) but some upsides to life in a pandemic. And streaming concerts and theatrical productions are one of them.
Earlier this year, The Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago presented a streaming production of “Fun Home”. It was fantastic. It was a show that I wouldn’t have selected on a trip to NYC; I’m much more of a splashy, old-fashioned musical kind of gal. But with the option to watch this from my bedroom in my jammies, I took a chance. And I’m glad I did.
By streaming their production, the theater made additional money off of me, someone who wasn’t able to fly out to see the show live, and it exposed me to a new show and opened my eyes to a composer I previously knew little about. I call that a win-win.
This holiday season there’s no shortage of streaming events. My family and I will be streaming a concert by the Laurie Berkner Band, the TSO, and Straight No Chaser. The former is primarily for my 2 YO daughter, though Ms. Berkner’s music isn’t of the horribly childish genre that makes you want to stab yourself in the ears so I’m hoping we’ll all enjoy ourselves.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Straight No Chaser are groups my husband and I have always talked about seeing (OK me more than him when it comes to SNC). Living where we do, it’s likely that they would make a stop in Boston or even closer to us if/when live concerts become a thing again.
But then the logistics of having a night out with a small child at home come into play. Assuming concerts resume in the near future and my daughter is too young to attend, we need to wrangle and pay for a babysitter on top of the ticket price, parking, and if we want to be really fancy, dinner out. Next weekend all we have to do is put her to bed, turn on the TV click on a link, and BAM. A concert in my living room. Is it going to be the same experience as seeing them live? Absolutely not. Will it still be an experience. I’m counting on it.
Lastly, I’m loving all the extra “features” groups have thought to add to these virtual concert experiences. Again, they are not taking the place of a live show but they are still fun to contemplate and participate in. SNC has the option of adding a life-size cut out of you to one of the front row seats at the venue where SNC is recording their shows.
So when the camera pans the audience, it’s almost like you’re there! Laurie Berkner is offering a “video meet and greet” either before or after her show. IRL that would mean me and dozens of other parents and kids all vying for attention, standing in line, all for that 30-60 second interaction. This one takes place from my couch and I’m promised will last 3 minutes. My daughter is too young to care so I skipped it, but for this introverted mom, I really hope these virtual meet and greets continue into the future.
Do I think these virtual concerts and productions are replacing live theater and shows? Nope. Not even a little bit. But they are helping to fill a void in my life. There’s been scant opportunity for creativity and art and being able to attend a show even remotely has lifted my spirits. I hope producers find a way to keep the remote option going even once live theater resumes. I’d love to see a show at the Old Vic in London (they are live streaming their production of “A Christmas Carol” this month!) or allow my daughter to see her favorite singer from the comfort of her home.
So if you need me this month I’ll be where I’ve been these last 9 months, at home. Only I’ll be enjoying live shows again.