COVID-19 has many of us now at home for extended amounts of time and trying to find new ways to entertain ourselves and our families. Lucky for us, companies are continuing to launch new platforms, technologies, and services to keep us informed and entertained while staying safe and healthy inside our homes. From streaming services offering extended free trials to Broadway and Opera shows online, there’s no shortage of entertainment available to watch while at home. Or maybe you’re looking for something more educational? Google’s Arts and Culture Collection is featuring museums from all over the world. Here are just a few of the many ways to keep yourself and your family happy, healthy, and entertained while practicing social distancing.
Broadway
While Broadway shows have temporarily shut down in New York and elsewhere, the online theater streaming service BroadwayHD is now offering a seven-day free trial to new customers. The catalog includes over 270 shows, such as the popular Oklahoma and Kinky Boots shows, all previously captured with high definition cameras. BroadwayHD also features content other than plays, such as coverage of the American Theatre Wing’s Centennial Gala, concerts, and theater documentaries. When your free trial is over, the service only costs $8.99 per month, a great deal on its own.
Peloton
The Peloton app is perfect for anyone looking to stay in shape while remaining at home. Now offering a 90-day free trial, the home-fitness app enables group participation in classes ranging from full-body strength training, yoga, biking, cardio workouts, and more. Choose the instructor, time period, and area you’d like to focus on. All you need is a mobile device or laptop. Once the free trial expires, the app only costs $13 per month. The Peloton app is available for Android phones and iPhones.
Streaming
Streaming services have been increasing in popularity and consumption for quite some time now, especially with the recent addition of Disney+ and Apple+. The plethora of streaming options available means you can enjoy pretty much any of your favorite TV shows and movies anywhere, any time. Want to enjoy them with your friends while you’re apart? Take advantage of Netflix Party, which allows you to watch, pause, and comment on movies with your friends from separate devices and locations. Amazon Prime Video has a 30 day free trial with access to hundreds of movies and TV shows. Or, dive into Hulu originals such as Little Fires Everywhere and The Handmaid’s Tale. We’ve always had the options, but now we definitely have the time.
Museum Tours
Looking to learn more about arts and culture rather than just binging television and film? Google’s Arts and Culture Collection has a wonderful selection of virtual museums tours from hundreds of places around the world. The collections feature content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world’s treasures online. Browse the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and much more. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your personal knowledge on the arts.
Opera
You can still enjoy a night at the opera, now from the comfort and safety of your home. The New York Metropolitan Opera will stream a different high-definition performance every day. Each show will begin at 7:30 p.m. EST and will remain available for streaming for 20 hours. “We’d like to provide some grand opera solace to opera lovers in these extraordinarily difficult times,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. “Every night, we’ll be offering a different complete operatic gem from our collection of HD presentations from the past 14 years.” Watch on your computer or download the Met Opera on Demand, available for Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.
Here are just a few of the upcoming live streams:
Saturday, March 28 – Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Sunday, March 29 – Wagner’s Tannhäuser
Monday, March 30 – Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites
Tuesday, March 31 – Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Wednesday, April 1 – John Adams’s Nixon in China
Thursday, April 2 – Verdi’s Don Carlo
Friday, April 3 – Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles
Saturday, April 4 – Verdi’s Macbeth
Sunday, April 5 – Bellini’s Norma
These are just a few of the many ways to keep yourself, and your family, entertained while at home. Although it may be a different way of life for many of us, it’s important to think about the incredible opportunity we now have to try new forms of entertainment, while also staying healthy.
Stay tuned for next week’s blog, “Staying In: A Personal Wellness Guide.”
