Upcoming Livestream Talks, Lectures, and Performances

By Alison Durkee

Thanks to the coronavirus, New York City is a different world right now: theaters are closed, events have been canceled, and New Yorkers are (rightfully) staying inside instead of getting out to discover what the city has to offer. 

But while you may no longer be able to hop on the subway to check out an event, that doesn’t mean you can’t experience them at all. Spend your social distancing time still enjoying what some of New York City’s best institutions have to offer with these upcoming livestreamed talks, lectures, and beyond.

Those looking for more information on the coronavirus—without having to leave the house—can stream several upcoming events that offer insight into the escalating global pandemic. The Asia Society and Museum will host a series of web-based programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays focused on the coronavirus, including a discussion March 26 with coronavirus updates and information from Professor Marc Lipsitch, a professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Two days earlier, the Asia Society will also host a livestream March 24 considering the impact of the coronavirus on the impact of the coronavirus on global trade, with a particular look at the U.S.-China trade deal, as well as a look at the virus’s impact on China’s economy, politics, and the U.S-China relationship March 19. Caveat will also host its own coronavirus-focused series, with a weekly show breaking down the political side of the pandemic. The live show, which will feature political and data science professor Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy alongside a rotating political science expert, is set to stream March 19 and 25, and then every subsequent Thursday until Caveat reopens.

The political science series is just one of many events that Caveat will continue to present during the coronavirus epidemic despite the shutdown. The venue currently plans to livestream events five nights a week, from its recurring Nerd Nite series featuring educational talks (March 21), to a timely look at the gig economy (March 27). Science fans can check out a live recording of Popular Science’s The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week March 30, or stream An Inconvenient Talk Show April 3, which brings together comedians and climate experts to break down the current state of climate change. Trivia fans with an interest in true crime should take part in Yellow Tape: A True Crime Trivia Show March 22, in which all the categories will be true crime-based. And for anyone who might actually be missing taking the subway right now, tune into a deep dive on the 4/5/6 line—and a look at coronavirus and the MTA—with Why Your Train Is F*cked on March 26.

Another venue set to host livestreams in lieu of live events is the Greene Space, whose upcoming events include a screening and discussion on the Future of Trans March 31 for Trans Visibility Day, and a live podcast taping of Yes, Girl! on April 2. Music lovers can also enjoy concerts by pianist and MacArthur “genius” Jeremy Denk, who will dive into Book 1 of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier March 20, and violinist Timmy Chooi, who will perform April 1 with pianist Jinhee Park. The 92nd Street Y will also host several upcoming livestreamed concerts, including pianist Jonathan Biss on March 26 and the Junction Trio on March 24. You can keep an eye out for more 92Y livestreams on their website, which are set to be scheduled in the weeks ahead, as well as watch livestreams from past events.

The People’s Forum will host several upcoming politically-based livestreams, including an upcoming book talk with The Ballot, the Streets―or Both author August Nimtz about the history of the radical left, as well as a March 25 event focused on political philosopher Frantz Fanon. Fans of art and design, meanwhile, can check out a March 19 livestream hosted by the New Museum marking the 50th anniversary of Expanded Cinema, a landmark book documenting early media arts in the U.S., or join the Center for Book Arts March 19 for a look at Arabic type design and the history of Arab graphic design. On March 25, the New York Adventure Club will delve into fashion history, with a livestreamed event exploring 200 years of fashion in New York City.

While the city’s theaters may be shut down, theater fans also have some special live (and not-so live) streams to look forward to. Theaters throughout the city are starting to announce plans to share work with their audiences in non-traditional ways: Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater will share concerts online on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm, while HERE Arts Center will stream full-length videos of past HERE productions every Wednesday night on Facebook Watch through their new HERE@HOME initiative. New Yorkers should also keep their eyes peeled for more livestream events to pop up at theaters around the city, with companies like La MaMa and Primary Stages already planning for upcoming livestreamed classes and events. Those missing Broadway, meanwhile, should carve out time Sunday night to tune into a one-night-only return of The Rosie O’Donnell Show on March 22, which will feature appearances and performances by many of the biggest names in Broadway. The event will stream on Broadway.com and benefit The Actor’s Fund, which is providing help and resources to those in the performing arts community during this challenging time.


Thought Gallery has New York’s state of mind. Sign up for our weekly Curriculum and get the best of smart NYC delivered right to your inbox.