Best Streaming Broadway Shows and Platforms

BroadwayHD

BroadwayHD describes itself as “an online streaming service on a mission to promote and preserve live theatre, extending the reach of Broadway and Broadway caliber shows to anyone, anywhere.” 

The Nuts and Bolts

• Price: $19.99/month or $199.99/year

• There is a 7-day free trial available

• Ad-free viewing

• The service available to stream on iOS, Android devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV

• BroadwayHD is also available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video. 

The Catalogue

BroadwayHD has a wide selection of over 300 productions to choose from including pro shots of Broadway and West End musicals, movie musical adaptations, documentaries, concerts and ballets, Shakespeare plays, and content from the BBC, PBS, and Lincoln Center. 

Highlights include:

Allegiance follows one family’s journey in an untold American story – a mysterious envelope leads Sam Kimura back 60 years to a time when he and his sister tried to save their family from being wrongfully imprisoned in an internment camp during World War II. The musical is inspired by the true-life experience of George Takei. 

“Defiantly moving.” – USA Today

Billy Elliot: The Musical is based on the beloved film and won 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical. With music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, this pro shot was filmed from London’s West End and follows Billy, a British boy who begins taking ballet lessons. As he immerses himself in dance, his father and brother grapple with the 1984 Miners’ Strike in the UK.

“There might not be a musical easier to love than Billy Elliot.” – The Guardian

Elaine Stritch At Liberty was filmed at London’s Old Vic Theatre. This one-woman show follows star, legend, force of nature Elaine Stritch as she recounts her over fifty years on stage and screen. Follow her backstage as she reminisces about colleagues like Noel Coward, Judy Garland, and Rock Hudson as well as personal stories about her triumphs and struggles. This show won a Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event in 2002 and is a must-watch for any theater fan.

“Ms. Stritch turns this production into the season's one indispensable ticket for fans of musical comedy, a one-woman testimony to the vitality that once made the Broadway musical the liveliest of the American arts.” – The New York Times

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill was filmed in 2014 at Café Brasil in New Orleans and stars Audra McDonald as the legendary Billie Holliday. Written by Lanie Robertson, Lady Day features songs like “When a Woman Loves a Man,” “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” “Baby Doll,” “Easy Living,” and “T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness if I Do.”

“This amazing actress and this jazz icon are indivisible.” - Newsday

She Loves Me is based on Miklos Laszlo’s Parfumerie (the films The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and You’ve Got Mail are all based on this same play). With lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by Jerry Bock, and book by Joe Masteroff, She Loves Me follows Amalia and Georg, a salesgirl and store clerk who can’t stand each other. When they both respond to a “lonely hearts” newspaper advertisement, a romance blooms…but neither knows the identity of the person they are writing to. 

“A show to fall head over heels for.” – The Guardian

The Bottom Line:

BroadwayHD has a wide selection of theater offerings including popular recent hits like Kinky Boots and She Loves Me and more niche offerings. For musical theater lovers wanting the largest selection of shows to watch, this is the service to pick.

Marquee TV

Marquee TV describes itself as “a streaming service that allows our members to watch a wide variety of award-winning and critically acclaimed dance, opera, music and theater performances on internet-connected devices.” In addition to theater, Marquee TV has a wide selection of ballet, opera, contemporary dance, and orchestral music and concert performances. 

The Nuts and Bolts:

• $9.99/month, $99.99/year

• There is a 7-day free trial available

• Ad-free viewing

• The service available to stream on iOS, Android devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV

The Catalogue

Marquee TV offers a wide selection of performances from world-renowned companies like the English National Ballet, Royal Shakespeare Company, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Royal Opera House.

Highlights

Marquee TV offers many recordings of shows from the Royal Shakespeare Company, including acclaimed productions of:

• King Lear starring Antony Sher

• Richard II starring David Tennant 

• Macbeth starring Christopher Eccleston 

• Romeo and Juliet starring Bally Gill and Karen Fishwick

• Hamlet starring Paapa Essiedu 

• Henry V starring Alex Hassell

And acclaimed operas including:

• Royal Opera House’s La Traviata

• Glyndebourne’s The Barber of Seville

And world class ballet including:

• The Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty.

• Bolshoi Ballet’s Swan Lake

The Bottom Line

This service is less Kinky Boots and more Hamlet. If you’re looking for internationally renowned Shakespeare, or for top-in-class Opera, Ballet or Contemporary Dance performances, look no further.

NT Live, NT At Home

National Theatre (NT) Live brings British theatre to movie screens across the UK, US, and around the world. You can find a venue by putting in your zip code and seeing what is playing in your area. Recent recordings have included Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, James McAvoy in Cyrano de Bergerac, and Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan in David Hare’s Skylight. And they recently started a digital streaming service called NT At Home.

The Nuts and Bolts

• $12.99/month, $129.99/year

• There is no 7-day free trial available

• Ad-free viewing

• The service available to stream on iOS, Android devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV

The Catalogue

NT At Home has both archived and recent theatrical hits from the UK. 

Highlights 

Angels in America by Tony Kushner. Set in America in the 1980s in the midst of the AIDS crisis and Reagan administration, six New Yorkers with interconnected lives grapple with life, death, love, sex, heaven and hell. This pro shot features Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, Denise Gough, and Russell Tovey. 

“Flat-out fabulous.” – The New York Times

All About Eve was filmed on London’s West End and stars Gillian Anderson and Lily James. Directed by Ivo Van Hove, All About Eve lifts the curtain on a world of jealousy and ambition, and asks why our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never seems to get old. 

“Anderson’s enigmatic performance is captivating.” – London Theatre

Everyman – starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and directed by Rufus Norris. Everyman is successful, popular and riding high. When Death comes calling, he is forced to abandon his hedonistic life and embark on a frantic search to find a friend that will speak in his defense. But with Death close behind, his time is running out. 

“Occasionally, just occasionally, a show comes along that is so exciting, so dynamic but so profoundly moving that, irrelevant of personal preference, I just say, ‘Go see this show.’ Go see Everyman.” – Huffington Post

Chewing Gum Dreams by Michaela Coel. Meet Tracey Gordon. Friendship, sex, school, teachers, periods, emergency contraception, raves, tampons, white boys, God, money. The more she learns about the world, the less she understands. Michaela Coel plays Tracey in this one-woman play that recalls the last days of innocence before adulthood. The tv adaption is now available to watch on HBOMax. 

“A firecracker of a monologue.” – The Guardian

Yerma – Starring Billie Piper and set in contemporary London, this radical production from the Young Vic of Lorca’s classic tragedy builds with elemental force to a staggering, shocking, climax.

“Billie Piper is earth-quaking in the title role.” – The Guardian

The Bottom Line

This service is great for anglophiles and fans of British theater. New shows are consistently added and include very recent productions. Some shows are available with audio-descriptions.

Broadway On Demand 

Broadway on Demand describes itself as “the premiere streaming platform offering exclusive livestream events, a wide-ranging library of video on demand content, interactive engagements, and educational resources.” In addition to shows available to watch on demand, this service also has live streaming content and a feature called “ShowShare” that allows amateur and professional theaters, as well as schools, to stream their productions online. 

The Nuts and Bolts

• Price: tiered. Sign-up is free for base subscription, and many shows require a rental fee.

• The service available to stream on iOS, Android devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV

The Catalogue

Broadway On Demand has a selection of Broadway, Off-Broadway and International shows, while also including workshops, workout classes and an ability for theaters outside of New York to showcase their own work by selling tickets to streamed performances of their local shows. 

Highlights

Puffs: Filmed Live Off-Broadway: For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs…who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.

“‘Puffs’ exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry.” – The New York Times

*available for rent at $3.99

Olympia: This intimate fly-on-the-wall verité documentary tells a heart-wrenching story of a woman finding her own voice on her own terms to assert a gigantic creative force into the world. Olympia Dukakis models how to live life with blazing courage.

“A compelling profile of a woman who’s defiantly marched to the beat of her own drum.” – The Hollywood Reporter

*available for rent at $3.99

Classes and Workshops: There are many workout classes in various genres like tap, hip hop, musical theatre, modern ballet as well as masterclasses with actors, directors and producers. 

The Bottom Line

This service offers a unique way for theaters to stream their work online and offers a variety of workout classes and workshops. You’re less likely to see a newer Broadway show on this service, and more sought-after titles will require a subscription or additional fee to rent.

Netflix

Oh, Hello: This pro shot stars John Mulaney and Nick Kroll in the popular Broadway comedy that follows two delusional geriatrics who reveal curious pasts, share a love of tuna and welcome a surprise guest each night. 

“Stupendously entertaining.” – The New York Times

Boys in the Band: At a birthday party in 1968 New York, a surprise guest and a drunken game leave seven gay friends reckoning with unspoken feelings and buried truths. This adaptation features the same cast and creative team as the Broadway show of the same name from 2018. The cast includes Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, and Robin de Jesus and is directed by Joe Mantello. 

“This new film version of the off-Broadway hit about gay lives in New York is strange, compelling and unexpectedly potent” – The Guardian

The Prom: A group of down-on-their-luck Broadway stars shake up a small Indiana town as they rally behind a teen who just wants to attend prom with her girlfriend. Based on the Broadway musical and featuring actors like Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Keegan-Michael Key, and Ariana DeBose.

“An old-fashioned, newfangled blast.” - Variety 

Diana the Musical: The dazzling and devastating life of Princess Diana takes center stage in this original musical; this pro shot was filmed in advance of its official Broadway opening. 

“Bursting with the kind of broad, feel-good energy that typically packs the house with tourists.” - Variety

American Son: Time passes and tension mounts in a Florida police station as an estranged interracial couple awaits news of their missing teenage son. Starring Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, and Jeremy Jordan. 

“An intimate, affecting dramatization of a nationwide crisis.” – Hollywood Reporter

Mike Birbiglia: The New One: Comedian Mike Birbiglia hits Broadway with a hilarious yet profound one-man show that recounts his emotional and physical journey to parenthood. 

“The New One is the kind of thing that makes you want to speak in superlatives. It's the most moving, most honest, most surprising and tender, and it's also wildly funny.” – Vulture 

John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons: In this one-man Broadway show, John Leguizamo finds humor and heartbreak as he traces 3,000 years of Latin history in an effort to help his bullied son. 

“An energetic, no-holds-barred monologue that is recklessly, fearlessly funny.” - BroadwayWorld

Apple TV+

Come From Away: Filmed live on Broadway, the Tony Award-winning musical tells the remarkable true story of 38 flights grounded in a small Canadian town on September 11, 2001. As the locals host these “come from aways,” they come together and find hope. 

“Come From Away delivers a best-seat-in-the-house view, offering a moving, brilliantly shot and staged spectacle that brings that moment unerringly back to life.” - CNN

Schmigadoon!: This musical tv show is a parody of 1940s musicals and follows backpacking couple Melissa and Josh as they get trapped in Schmigadoon, a magical town filled with singing and dancing townspeople, and learn they can’t leave without finding true love – which they thought they already had. 

“‘Schmigadoon!’ embodies why whimsy can be so appealing.” – The New York Times

Disney+

Hamilton: The filmed version of the original Broadway smash hit Hamilton combines the best elements of live theater, film and streaming in an astounding blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. Presenting the tale of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, this revolutionary moment in theater is the story of American then, told by America now. 

“This is ‘Hamilton’ as you always wanted to see it, and it always will be.” - Indiewire

Newsies: At the turn of the 20th century, Jack Kelly leads a ragged band of teenage “newsies” against two publishing titans intent on raising distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense. Filmed live at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, CA.

“Newsies adheres to a time-honored Disney tradition of inspirational storytelling in the best possible sense.” – Hollywood Reporter

Trevor: The Musical: This musical played off-Broadway in 2021 and is based on the Academy Award-winning short film of the same name by Celeste Lecesne, who later co-founded The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that focuses on suicide and crisis prevention for LGBTQ youth. This coming-of-age show follows 13-year-old Trevor as he becomes a teenager and explores his identity and how he relates to the world around him. With book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis, Theatermania said “an amazing young cast brings this funny and moving new musical to life.” 

Disney+ also has a great selection of beloved movie musicals including: Into the Woods, The Greatest Showman, and Mary Poppins. And don’t forget the animated classics like The Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, and Sleeping Beauty and newer classics like Encanto, Moana, and The Princess and the Frog. 

HBOMax

Six by Sondheim: Directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Stephen Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, Six by Sondheim is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. This documentary features performances by Audra McDonald, Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, America Ferrera as well as archival performances from Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, and Dean Jones. 

“One of the best films about the artistic process I’ve seen.” - Vulture 

Angels in America: Al Pacino, Emma Thompson, and Meryl Streep lead an all-star cast in this Emmy Award-winning movie event directed by Mike Nichols and written by Tony Kushner, based on his Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

“An artistically ingenious work of television.” – Hollywood Reporter

Every Brilliant Thing, now on Broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe, was originally filmed by HBO during its Off-Broadway run at the Barrow Street Theater in 2015 starring original star and co-writer Jonny Donahoe. This intimate one-man-show follows the lifelong journey of one man who decides to create a list of brilliant things – a list of everything that makes life worth living.

“One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression – and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop…a truly brilliant thing.” – The Guardian

Waitress: The Musical comes to HBOMax starring Sara Bareilles (who also wrote the music and lyrics), Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett, and Christopher Fitzgerald.

“Nothing produces a tingle up the spine quite like live theater, and ‘Waitress: The Musical’ joins the list of filmed musicals that have preserved their stage qualities while giving viewers the best seat in the house.” - CNN

Peacock

Annie Live! stars Nicole Scherzinger as Grace Farrell, Harry Connick Jr as Daddy Warbucks, Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Tituss Burgess as Rooster, Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis, and Celina Smith as the titular orphan Annie, this live tv musical was directed by Lear deBessonet and Alex Rudzinski with choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

“After another challenging year, it was a treat to watch talented people sing and dance their way through a hopeful bipartisan fable.” - The New York Times 

Amazon

What the Constitution Means to Me stars the writer Heidi Schreck, who at 15 earned her college tuition by winning debates about the US Constitution across the United States. In this show, a filmed version of the Broadway play, Schreck revisits her teenage self as she examines the relationship between four generations of women and the constitution that shaped their lives. 

“The timing could not be better for Heidi Schreck’s affecting play about the Constitution’s impact on our daily lives, now streaming on Amazon.” - The New York Times

In the Heights: Just outside the 181st Street subway stop, a magnetic bodega owner is dreaming about a better life. Infusing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music with director Jon M. Chu’s storytelling to capture a world very much of its place, but universal in its experience. 

“It's a piece of mainstream American entertainment in the best sense - an assertion of impatience and faith, a celebration of communal ties and individual gumption, a testimony to the power of art to turn struggles into the stuff of dreams.” – The New York Times

And we’ll end with a livestream recommendation that you can watch on YouTube or through the website:

Stars in the House 

SiriusXM host Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley, started Stars in the House after Covid forced a global shutdown of the theater industry. The daily live-streamed series supports The Actors Fund and has raised over a million dollars in donations. Guests have included Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Lithgow, Jason Alexander, Kristen Chenoweth, Tina Fey, and Audra McDonald.