As quarantine continues in much of the country and businesses slowly reopen in other states, most of us find ourselves missing museum exhibitions, concerts, Broadway musicals, Shakespeare in the park and other cultural outings cancelled due to Covid-19. The team at British American Household Staffing has gathered our recommendations for art and music events taking place this August. Any of these would make a warm summer night a little more special!
An Evening at the Metropolitan Opera
The Met Opera has continued its nightly live stream, with different performances each evening, online for only 24 hours. Upcoming operas in the next week include Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. In addition to the free nightly livestreams, the Met is also now offering tickets to a new, live concert series, Met Stars Live in Concert. Tickets for each recital are $20, and the performances will remain available on demand for 12 days.
The Theatre Will Survive: A Benefit for The Actors Fund
On August 31, over 25 of Broadway’s biggest stars will come together for a special benefit for The Actors Fund. The evening will feature an all new video, special performances and a talkback with the video’s creators and stars. Founded in 1882, The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.
Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s Reading Series
Each year, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival hosts a dynamic reading series featuring contemporary plays read by HVSF company members and other professional actors. This year’s series has moved online and takes place each Thursday in August. This Thursday, the company will be reading Paradise Lost. Registration is free, with a suggested $20 donation per viewer.
The Met at Home
Since the beginning of stay at home orders, the Metropolitan Museum has been continuously improving the virtual experiences they offer. The Met’s new Art at Home page makes it easy to navigate all of their online experiences in one place. Whether you want to immerse yourself in a 360° video of The Temple of Dendur, listen to an audio tour of a recent exhibition, read one of the over 500 books that the Met has made available online or get a quick recap of period or artist, the Met has a solution. Children and adults alike will both enjoy spending an afternoon wandering the virtual halls of the museum.
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival: Free Live Performances
Like New York, San Francisco traditionally hosts free Shakespeare performances outside during the summer months. This summer, the organization will be hosting online weekly live performances of King Lear through the end of August. Details here.
The Frick: Cocktails with a Curator
Visit The Frick’s website for a full list of upcoming virtual events, including weekly Cocktails with a Curator, every Friday through Labor Day. Tonight, August 21, Xavier F. Salomon, Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp, Chief Curator offer their insight on works by Titian over a glass of wine. Cheers!
As always, we’re here to assist with all your household staffing needs during this challenging time. Both childcare and cleaning professionals are considered essential workers and we have implemented strict protocols to make sure your family is as safe as possible. Contact us today to learn more.