Humanity in Performance

This week's list of "Must Watch Streams" dives into the portrayal of humanity on stage. One of the most powerful things about live theater is its ability to break down barriers and show humanity at its core. It can educate us on life experiences that might differ from our own, and cause us to reexamine our own perspectives and values. These streams highlight the complexities of what it means to be human: the good, the bad, and the supernatural!

Theater

Measure for Measure (Shakespeare) - Goodman Theater

Streaming Date: April 26 - May 9th

Set in 1970's NYC, this gritty modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" from The Goodman Theater shows how the human experience at its core is not so different from when the play was originally written in the 1600's. This lesser known black comedy by "The Bard" (aka Shakespeare) is wickedly funny as it examines the contrast between public and private morality.

Addict Insider: How many times have you had to bail your sibling out of trouble? In Shakespeare's comedy "Measure for Measure" young novice, Isabella must plead and shrewdly negotiate for her brother Claudio's life when he is imprisoned for getting his fiance pregnant before their wedding. The Goodman Theater sets this production in 1970's NYC to show how contemporary and relevant the play is 400 years later! This show is gritty, seedy, and amazing!! This is NOT your grandma's Shakespeare!

Click HERE to watch!

Concert & Lecture

Jordi Savall: Bal-Kan "Honey and Blood: Music in the Ottoman Empire" - Carnegie Hall

Streaming Date: April 30th-May 31st

Catalan conductor Jordi Savall takes viewers on a journey through the Ottoman Empire. This concert, presented by Carnegie Hall as part of their "Voices of Hope" series, illustrates how different cultures and experiences, blended throughout time, can come together to create the music of a nation.

Addict Insider: Be transported to an ancient world with this concert rooted in rich cultural traditions. In this concert Savall explores how cultures connect and influence each other to uplift their common values that stand the test of time. Praised as having the "broadest vision among any musicians today," Savall delivers a moving performance that honors the musical traditions of the past while making them relevant in our modern world.

Click the video above to WATCH!

 Opera

dwb (driving while black) - UrbanArias

Dwb (driving while black), a one-woman opera by filmmakers Du'Bois and Camry A'Keen, is a haunting examination of the trials and triumphs of Black mothers as they watch their children come of age in a dangerous world of inequality. The filmmakers use dance and cinematography paired with a beautifully mesmerizing score to highlight the intensity and high stakes of these daily experiences for BIPOC.

Addict Insider: Like all good art, dwb will make you question the world around you and look inside yourself. dwb's intimate storytelling gives an honest look at what it is like to live in today's society while Black. Let go of what you think you know about opera! Told through a mix of memories and metaphors, this heart-wrenching operatic film is opera for today: bold, relevant, and breath-taking.

Click HERE to watch!

Performance Art

Predator Songstress - Degenerate Art Ensemble

Streaming Date: Available Now

Get ready to feast your eyes on this multidisciplinary theatrical event which incorporates intense visuals, powerful dancing and ethereal music to tell the story of an anti-heroine looking for her stolen voice! Predator Songstress is a quest for truth and 'voice' set in a world that works to stifle individuality.

Addict Insider: There is something magical that happens when incredible artists come together to tell a story. Predator Songstress will activate all your senses from exquisite costumes to beautiful music and cutting-edge cinematography! While workshopping this piece, Degenerate Art Ensemble collaborated with local organizations helping individuals recovering from homelessness on the power of "voice". The stories of the participants were then integrated into this hypnotic avant-garde work. This theatrical event for the senses is provocative, raw, and mesmerizing!

Click HERE to watch!

Dance

"Members Don't Get Weary" - Alvin Ailey Dance Company

Streaming Date: April 28 - May 11

What does it mean to "have the blues"? Choreographer Jamar Roberts and the Alvin Ailey dancers explore this notion and how it manifests in today's social landscape in "Members Don't Get Weary." The emotional piece, set to the music of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and performed by one of the world's leading modern dance companies, shows the determination of the downtrodden and the strength and grace that carries them through.

Addict Insider: Everyone internalizes struggles in their own ways. That is something that is universally human. Jamar's expressive choreography beautifully shows the different ways people handle having "the blues" in today's society. But just because it's about hard times doesn't mean it will make you feel like singing the blues! "Members" acts as a balm for viewers experiencing their own personal blues and leaves them feeling uplifted and empowered!

Click the video above to WATCH!



We hope that you enjoy this week's lineup of streaming experiences! To receive weekly updates first (before the public!), click here to create a profile on our page to receive our weekly newsletter!