A Theater-Sized Hole in My Heart
I had briefly considered calling this series Bored in the House. I recognize not everyone has the privilege to stay home right now, and that even finding space in your brain to be bored is a bit of a privilege.
But okay, if your book stash is looking good these days but you miss the other things you used to do, then what?
I have deeply missed live theater in these pandemic times. I will also tell you that it became clear to me that part of what I liked about live theater was that I - and most of the other audience members - agreed that for the moments that the house lights were darkened, I was focused on one thing.
Depending on the population of your household right now, it may be tough to replicate this environment. It is nice, I admit, to have my snacks that cost, well, whatever I paid for them, and my temperature controls, and if I need to make a break for bathroom, it's my bathroom with my toilet paper. (This pandemic is not going to make me a hermit, but I was never much a fan of other bathrooms before. This has only increased.)
L.A. Theatre Works has audio only recordings of a number of plays. DC library has them available through Overdrive/Libby, your library may also have access. I listened to "Crumbs From the Table of Joy" by award winning playwright Lynn Nottage. It's a play about two teens watching their father and their aunt go in different directions in the 1950's after the death of their mother.
L.A. Theatre Works has also been making a few of their plays available on Soundcloud for limited periods, including "Vietgone" which I have heard great things about, and "Hold These Truths" which I was able to see performed in the before times at Arena Stage. It's a one person play about Gordon Hirabayashi's experience and subsequent legal fight against curfews and concentration camps for Japanese Americans during World War II.
Playbill has also been doing live readings and other performance nights. Keep an eye on their site if that is of interest to you.
And Play-Per-View has been reuniting casts for Live Zoom readings, that they also record. There are a limited number of $5 tickets for each, so keep a careful eye on their announcements if the live part is of priority for you.
Roundhouse Theatre did a digital series called Homebound, that is completed but available for viewing.