Rostand’s classic about an immensely talented but ugly man holding his own in a narcissistic society gets a new treatment by renowned British playwright Martin Crimp in this production broadcast from the National Theatre in London. Known for his experimental and austere approach to theater, Crimp’s minimalist art direction allows star James McAvoy to convince his audience of his self-loathing through acting alone. Audiences probably aren’t used to envying romantic lead Roxane as much as they will here. Repeat performance airs Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Cyrano de Bergerac
Thu, 7pm, $20
Hammer Theatre Center, San Jose

Mark Haddon’s inventive and profound mystery novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” reached a whole new audience when it was adapted into a Tony-award winning play. Following an Aspergian teenager trying to solve the mystery of a neighbor dog’s death, the audience must see the world through the main character’s eyes, including both tremendous insights and infuriating limitations. This performance, run by the legendary National Theatre in London, will be broadcast for a limited run in San Jose State’s gorgeous Hammer Theatre Center.

The Curious Incident
Thu + Sun, 7pm & 2pm, $20+
Hammer Theatre Center, San Jose

Love tangles, nostalgia, and extravagant dance numbers—Stephen Sondheim’s 1971 musical Follies has it all, and National Theatre Live brings it with a 21-piece orchestra to SJSU’s Hammer Theatre, part of a nationwide screening series of their award-winning live performance recordings. Set in the crumbling Weissman theater as former chorus girls relive their glory days, Follies resonates poignantly in a period where venues across the country have fought to stay open amid the pandemic. Directed by Dominic Cooke and filmed in 2017, Broadway pedants can say they saw National Theatre’s production before Follies’ upcoming film adaptation, also slated to be directed by Cooke.

Follies
Thurs & Sun, 7pm & 2pm, $20
Hammer Theatre Center, San Jose