Even if you can’t make it to a live performance, the show must go on.
Being a Broadway fan is tough when you don’t live near a major city. Even if you do, Broadway shows can be expensive, with some tickets fetching hundreds of dollars.
Best options to watch Broadway plays and musicals online
While each trip to the theater is a unique experience, many of these plays have been professionally recorded at one time or another.
With a number of online resources to watch them, you no longer have to miss out on your favorite Broadway musical.
Here are some of the best sites and apps you should check out:
BroadwayHD
If you’re looking for a Broadway streaming service, BroadwayHD should be your very first stop.
Often considered “Netflix for Broadway lovers,” BroadwayHD costs a simple monthly subscription of $8.99/month. The library is huge, and you will find many of your favorite titles.
You won’t find any amateur work, which can be a bit of a downside. However, all filming is top quality and there are a few off-Broadway productions to be found.
Oh, what a beautiful day you’ll have while streaming “Oklahoma” on BroadwayHD.
Netflix
You won’t find many stage musicals here. However, You can take a chance on Netflix and watch film adaptations of musicals like “Mamma Mia.”
There are a few stage musicals you can find, such as “Shrek the Musical” and “Oh, Hello” on Broadway. However, you won’t find as many on this streaming service as you would on BroadwayHD.
Instead, Netflix is a great choice for anyone interested in movie adaptations of Broadway plays. Some examples include: “Burlesque,” “Grease,” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Hulu
Like Netflix, Hulu has more movie adaptations than actual stage films. That being said, it’s one of the only places you’ll be able to find “Jesus Christ Superstar.“ So, you can find out what’s the buzz and what’s a-happenin’.
Hulu also features a lot of older musicals that can be hard to get, such as “The King and I,” “Hello Dolly,” and “Annie.” You may want to compare Hulu and Netflix’s selection before deciding if you want to subscribe to one or both.
Fandango
Most of you know Fandango as the app that helps you get tickets for your favorite movies. However, many movie theaters have special events where you can watch a recording from a live Broadway performance.
You can search for those musicals on Fandango, and then go see them at a theater near you. The $10-$20 you pay for a movie ticket far outweighs the huge prices you’d have to dish out to see the show live.
Basically, if “Hamilton” makes ever its way to the silver screen, don’t throw away your shot to see it through Fandango.
YouTube
Amateur and off-Broadway productions can be just as good, if not better than original Broadway plays. YouTube is full of well-filmed (and plenty of poorly-filmed) amateur work that you won’t be able to find on any of the other streaming services.
For example, we found this full performance of “Rent.” How can you measure that?
Of course, you may find full Broadway productions on YouTube, too. However, you’ll have more luck finding off-Broadway productions. You also can find full soundtracks to musicals. It’s easy to find soundtracks like “Heathers,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Legally Blonde,” “Spamalot” and many more.
YouTube might not be the first option that comes to mind when looking for Broadway musicals. However, a little digging might bring up a hidden gem.
Beyond the Broadway barricade, there are musicals we long to see
Through these services, you can enjoy the Broadway stage straight from your device without having to pay Broadway prices.
If you must attend in person, check out this list of apps that our users picked as the best options for buying Broadway tickets. They can get you the best deals for buying Broadway tickets.
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