As we all hit pause and hunker down, we at the Flynn still want to brighten your day and enrich your life with art and entertainment. Each week, we’ll update this post to highlight up-to-date happenings from all over, as well as from the Flynn, that you can access from home. We hope you enjoy this curated resource.

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VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

MARCH 27, 7:30 PM

ON DEMAND THROUGH APRIL 3

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra's March offering is a unique combination of classical and jazz music, visual art and poetry by BIPOC artists. Reuben Jackson, known for presenting VPR’s Friday Night Jazz and curating the Smithsonian Institution’s Duke Ellington collection, serves as the host and fellow poet alongside readings by US Poet Laureate Rita Dove. Two new commissions receive their world premieres by prominent composers and musicians Ray Vega and Carlos Simon, performed alongside music by Florence Price, Matthew Evan Taylor, Dorothy Rudd Moore, Scott Joplin, and more.

16th ANNUAL ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN INTERNATIONAL PIANO MASTER COMPETITION

APRIL 1-MAY 3

The 2021 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition will be held in a new format that combines online competition with live performances. Stages I & II (the recitals) will be recorded in five venues around the world: Beijing, London, Potsdam, New York, and Tel Aviv, and will air on the competition website, on April 1 through 10. The final stage will take place in the halls in Tel Aviv between April 29 and May 3, with the Israel Camerata Jerusalem, a String Quartet, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. 

ROOTS TO MASTERY: Lec/Dem with Raphael Xavier

MARCH 30, 7 PM

Williams College presents Choreographer Raphael Xavier in an online lecture demonstration which covers his philosophy behind his choreography and teachings of the Breaking art form. Attendees will get a chance to participate in the movement concepts he builds from to experience his connections of thought process and physical practice.

To find out more about Sassafrazz, Xavier's most recent work, check out Michigan Tech's free virtual residency activities: Behind the Scenes: Sassafrazz from Roots to Mastery on April 8 at 7:30 pm EST and Creative Jam Session followed by a live Q&A on April 13 at 12 pm EST.

BIG EARS FESTIVAL: LONNIE HOLLEY

ON DEMAND THROUGH APRIL 1

In October 2020, Lonnie Holley—the essential visual and performing artist—came to Knoxville to record with a series of musicians from across the region. Big Ears captured Lonnie's Knoxville sessions for a series of streaming films. This new 70-minute streaming film—the second coming out of those sessions—shows Lonnie making music with an expert ensemble of collaborators outdoors at the Southern Railroad Depot and inside at The Mill & Mine.

THE MONSTER IN THE MIRROR

ON DEMAND THROUGH APRIL 4

The Monster in the Mirror Musical is a comical but touching 90-minute original pop musical film that aims to empower the youths of today by addressing important and relevant issues like self-love and identity-building. An insecure teenage girl uses a magic mirror that extracts all her insecurities into a monster girl in order to win a boy’s affections, only to learn the true value of self-love and compassion.

BATTERY DANCE FESTIVAL

ON DEMAND THROUGH APRIL 22

Battery Dance Festival—NYC's longest-running, free, public dance festival—presents a program celebrating the work of Canadian dance makers—Citadel + Compagnie, Kaeja d’Dance, RUBBERBAND, The National Ballet of Canada, and Tanveer Alam—in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in New York. In anticipation of the program, Battery Dance Artistic Director Jonathan Hollander sat down with the artists to discuss their works. 

WHO I AM: A Celebration of African American Heritage

ON DEMAND

Seven actor-writers share their TRUTH about the significance of Black History Month. Unspooling personal stories as well as life lessons learned from their parents and grandparents, they explore the impact of their heritage in shaping the artists they are today. Words and images collide in a frank examination of what it means to be Black in America in the wake of 2020’s call to action.

Produced by: Dina Morrone | Edited by: Clara Rodriguez
I'm Tired poem and slide show by: Angel Guice
with Karen Bankhead • James A. Goins • Angel Guice Andrew Lloyd Preston • Shalonda Reese • Levy Lee Simon • Kevin Tomlinson
Original Music by: James A. Goins | Publicist: Philip Sokoloff

HOLLYWOOD STREAMING NIGHTS

THURSDAYS

The Ambler Theater usually offers Hollywood classics in person, on the big screen. They are keeping the tradition alive by streaming some of Hollywood's best public domain titles right into your home. Join them for free YouTube Live streams every Thursday night at 7:30 pm (EST) and chat with everyone during the show.

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP: Dance On! Video Vault

Until MMDG can share the joy of dance with patrons in theaters again, they continue to Dance On! (online). Dance On! Video Vault is a series of curated archival collections that provide a rare chance to rediscover dances from the earlier years of the Mark Morris Dance Group with lively introductions by Mark Morris himself. 

THE SILENT COMEDY WATCH PARTY

SUNDAYS, 3 PM

The Silent Comedy Watch Party is a weekly live-streamed silent film show with live piano accompaniment. The show is co-hosted by film historian Steve Massa and silent film accompanist Ben Model. The shows streams live on Sunday afternoons at 3pm EDT on YouTube, free of charge (donations welcome).

Each episode of The Silent Comedy Watch Party is live about 5-10 minutes prior to 3 pm on YouTube and then archived there for viewing after the livestream ends.

VIRTUAL BIRDLAND with Arturo O'Farrill & ALJO

SUNDAYS, 8:30 PM

Recorded remotely from locations around the world, Arturo O’Farrill and the mighty Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra are continuing their Sunday night Birdland residency in an online setting. Please join every Sunday at 8:30 pm ET.

I CALLED HIM MORGAN

AVAILABLE NOW

The 2017 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival premiered this documentary at Merrill's Roxy Cinema and now you can watch it on Netflix.

On a snowy night in February 1972, the 33-year-old jazz trumpet star Lee Morgan was shot dead by his common-law wife, Helen, during a gig at a club in New York City. Years later, she gives a remarkable interview that acts as a refrain throughout the film, which draws together a wealth of archival photographs and footage, notable talking heads and incredible jazz music to tell the ill-fated pair’s story.

Bang on a Can

FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

This free monthly series of virtual mini-concerts features brand-spanking new, recently new, and kind of new music for solo double bass—streaming from Black's home studio in Connecticut.

The Metropolitan Opera

Every day, 7:30 pm

Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming on the Met website, with each performance available for a period of 23 hours, from 7:30 pm until 6:30 pm the following day.

The Tank

Tuesdays, 4 pm

CyberTank is an e-home for e-merging artists. The CyberTank Variety Show is The Tank’s FREE virtual gathering place, hosting dozens of artists every week on Tuesday at 4 pm EST.

Renée Fleming: Music and Mind

Renée Fleming held weekly webinars that explored the powerful impact of music and arts on human health and the brain.

Live with Carnegie Hall

Live with Carnegie Hall is a new online series designed to connect world-class artists with musical lovers everywhere, featuring live musical performances, storytelling, and conversations that offer deeper insights into great music and behind-the-scenes personal perspectives.

Vermont Comedy Club

Natalie & Nathan chat with celebrity comedians, local heroes, strange characters, talented musicians and other fun people in their series Talk to Us (please)!. The club also has a number of other streaming options across their channels including family-friendly and archival videos.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

AAADT is thrilled to share full-length videos of the company performing on stage, streaming free online, directly to your living room!

Lincoln Center at home

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has a bevy of archival performances and tributes streaming on their site. Additionally, holding regular youth-oriented concert streams and educational programming, including Pop-Up Classroom and Pop-Up Concerts for Kids.

Caramoor

Thursdays, 7 pm

Caramoor, a summertime classical-music destination housed on a verdant estate near Katonah, New York, inaugurates a boldly reconceived festival, featuring both online concerts and outdoor events that allow for social distancing.

Joshua William Gelb’s Theater in Quarantine

Every other Thursday

Joshua William Gelb is a theater director, performer, and librettist based out of New York’s Lower East Side. He is currently in residence in his 4x8x2 closet, which he has converted into a white box for the duration of this quarantine. His Theater in Quarantine (TiQ) series features new works posted every other Thursday. Any money raised will go to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Joe’s Pub Live!

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 8 pm

While Joe’s Pub is temporarily closed, they are hosting a free series of live-streamed and archived performances from their iconic stage in New York City.

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Fridays, 2 pm

Andrew Lloyd Webber is streaming of one of his Broadway musicals every Friday at 2 pm (available for 48 hours).

SFJAZZ

Fridays, 8 pm

SFJAZZ has launched a weekly series called Fridays at Five, featuring archival concerts from amazing musicians live from the SFJAZZ Center.

West Australian Opera

Saturdays

Each Saturday through the end of May, Ghost Light Opera will celebrate Western Australian singers performing gorgeous arias spot lit on a darkened stage.

Afro Latin Jazz Alliance

Sundays

Each sunday, ALJA hosts a Digital Village event with Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orquestra, playing Virtual Birdland live on Facebook at 8:30 pm. Their site also features a bunch of new performances and talks with a variety of jazz musicians.

Bria Skonberg

Sundays and Wednesdays

Hang out with 2019 Burlington Discover Jazz artist, Canadian singer, trumpeter, songwriter, arranger, and bandleader Bria Skonberg as she hosts Facebook Live chats every Sunday and Wednesday. It’s lighthearted fun—songs, stories, even singalongs!

Second City

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays

Three days a week, at 8 pm EST, Chicago’s funniest comedy talent joins forces with Second City alumni from across the country to bring you an interactive Improv House Party. Plus, every Thursday at 2 pm EST, The Really Awesome Improv Show offers family friendly, high-energy fun for all ages, and relies on audience suggestions and participation.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Every three days

Ryuichi Sakamoto has launched a new series called Incomplete via his YouTube account. Incomplete pairs new compositions with video art by Zakkubalan, with a new video released every three days. Sakamoto also shared a new concert film, Playing the Piano for the Isolated, which features Hidejiro Honjoh on shamisen, recorded in Tokyo in April.

Scottish Symphony Orchestra

In addition to frequently releasing archival concerts on their website, BBC SSO recently held a virtual Tectonics Festival, featuring performances of new and experimental music from their archives, all available to replay.

The Dark Theatre

The Dark Theatre mixes classroom drama techniques with an interactive comic book, framing you and your students as detectives trying to answer the question: who killed playwright Nathan Page? You just need a smartphone or tablet for personal reading, or PC, Mac, or Chromebook for a big screen read! Issue 1 and issue 2 are available now; issues 3 and 4 are coming soon.

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is holding a Digital Season series with new videos available daily. This weekly program features unmissable full-length performances, live recordings, and never-before-seen footage from the Opera House archives.

Bolero Julliard

Bolero Juilliard is a complex online puzzle with many components being conceived, rehearsed, and produced simultaneously. Directed and choreographed by Larry Keigwin with associate Nicole Wolcott, featuring a reimagining of Ravel’s score, conducted by David Robertson, and produced by Kurt Crowley. The short film features Juilliard dancers, musicians, and actors, with alumni Christine Baranski, Jon Batiste, Renée Fleming, Isabel Leonard, Laura Linney, Yo-Yo Ma, Andrea Miller, faculty member Itzhak Perlman, Bradley Whitford, and many more.

Vermont Shakespeare Festival

VSF is responding to this crisis of isolation with what it does best: spreading joy and connection through performance! Shakespeare To You is an opportunity for you to send a 2-3 minute performance to family, neighbors, or friends via front yard delivery, Zoom, or telephone. It’s kind of like a live telegram! Shakespeare To You is free, and is a fantastic way to send a unique birthday wish, celebrate a graduation or anniversary, or simply offer a connection to someone who needs a pick-me-up

Spruce Peak Arts

Our friends at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe streamed local artists for eight weeks as part of their Wednesday Night Music Series. Now you can catch them on demand on YouTube: Daniel Rodriguez, Myra Flynn, John Fusco, Patti Casey, Dave Keller, Dwight & Nicole, Michael Mwenso and Members of the Shakes, and Christine Malcolm and Rudy Dauth.

The Joyce

The Joyce Theater in Chelsea is curating a recurring archival series, Joycestreams, featuring full performances and artist talkbacks, a discussion series with choreographers and collaborators moderated by Joyce staff.

The Walker

The Living Collections Catalogue—Creative Black Music at the Walker: Selections from the Archives focuses on a select group of influential black artists who came to the fore in the ’60s and ’70s, and appeared at the Walker multiple times, each having an indelible impact on US musical culture. Archival material not before available for public view is at the center of this publication, including rare audio and video recordings, photographs, posters and programs, and correspondence. The volume also features commissioned essays and interviews.

amplify 2020

An extensive library of COVID-era sound art has accumulated at amplify 2020: Quarantine, an online festival headed by Jon Abbey, of Erstwhile Records. Culled from experimental composers around the world, these projects conjure sonic otherness from the constricted, mundane circumstances of lockdown.

Interior Listening Protocol 01

Interior Listening Protocol 01 attempts to recuperate liveness and spatially dynamic, embodied listening back into our mediated moment. It functions as a participatory listening score that’s has to be done to be heard. You’ll miss the phenomenon entirely if you sit back and watch the video like Netflix. Think of it like a quartet for your skull, with you as conductor, shaping the temporal unfolding of the whole experience.

VTIFF

Every week, VTIFF streams exclusive new movies as part of their Virtual Cinema series, plus they feature live Q&As with filmmakers, discussions on specific topics, and showcases of local short films.

Hyperallergic

Online publication Hyperallergic compiled a watchlist of essential Black documentaries, including links where these works are available to stream or purchase. Collectively, they illustrate both the undeniable threat of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy and the incomparable strength of Blackness.