Hamlet, Frankenstein and Fela all due at the Guthrie, on high-def video

This Hamlet wears sneakers: Rory Kinnear, left, is Hamlet in the National Theatre's staging of the Shakespeare tragedy, also with Giles Terera (Horatio). See the play on video at the Guthrie Jan. 20. / Photo by Johan Persson

Twenty bucks for a movie may seem like a lot, but it's cheap compared to flying to London to see the productions that are being shown at the Guthrie this winter and spring as part of the National Theatre Live series. The productions -- which despite the series name are not being show live -- are screened in high-def video in the Guthrie's proscenium theater.

The 2011 lineup, which kicks off with two shows in January, includes a lot of big names in both stage and screen, so listen up. All shows except "Frankenstein" are at 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 -- "Hamlet," directed by Nicholas Hytner, with Rory Kinnear in the title role and reportedly including smiley-face T-shirts. (Go here for a review of the London production in the Guardian.)

Jan. 27 -- "Fela!" as staged for Broadway (where it won 11 Tonys) by Bill T. Jones

Sahr Ngaujah in "Fela!" / Photo by Tristram Kenton

Feb. 21 -- "King Lear," with Derek Jacobi in the title role, directed by Michael Grandage.

April 3 -- "Frankenstein," directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire") 1:30 p.m.

July 18 -- "The Chery Orchard," starring Zoe Wanamaker as Madame Ranavskaya