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The Play of the Week

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For the ITV series, see ITV Play of the Week.
The Play of the Week
GenreAnthology Teleplay
Written byvarious
Directed byStuart Burge
Marc Daniels
Sidney Lumet
Ralph Nelson
Don Richardson
Boris Sagal
Theme music composerJohn Green
Maurice Levin
David Martin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes67
Production
Executive producersLewis Freedman
Worthington Miner
David Susskind
ProducersHenry Weinstein
Jack Kuney
Production locationNew York City
CinematographyMel London
Production companyTalent Associates
Original release
NetworkSyndication (NTA Film Network)
ReleaseOctober 12, 1959 (1959-10-12) –
May 1, 1961 (1961-05-01)

The Play of the Week is an American anthology series of televised stage plays which aired in NTA Film Network syndication from October 12, 1959, to May 1, 1961.

Ambitious undertaking

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The series presented 67 (35 in the first season, 32 in the second) videotaped Broadway-style productions, broadcast nightly and Sunday afternoons on NTA-owned independent station WNTA-TV (now WNET) in New York City, and syndicated to approximately 100 other NTA Film Network-affiliated stations.[1] Because well-known performers were willing to accept minimum payments (top salary was $750) for the prestige of appearing in the critically praised showcase, production costs were kept to an average of $40,000. Although the budget was low, the show had a high distinction which, combined with its reputation as an innovative production, gave it momentum and propelled it into winning a Peabody Award.[2][3][4]

Episodes

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Season 1 (1959–60)

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First aired # Title Author
Adaptation 		Producer Director Notes
Cast
Oct
12
1959 		1x01 Medea Euripides

translated by
Robinson Jeffers 		David Susskind H. Wesley Kenney
and
José Quintero 		[In order of appearance] Judith Anderson as Medea (1947–48 and 1949 Broadway cast), Henry Brandon as Jason (1949 Broadway cast), Aline MacMahon as Nurse, Jacqueline Brookes as Attendant to Medea, Eric Berry as Aegeus, Colleen Dewhurst[5] as Second Woman of Corinth, Morris Carnovsky as Creon, Michael Wager as Jason's Slave, Mannie Sloane as Child, Rickey Sloane as Child, Don McHenry as Tutor (1947–48, 1949 and 1982 Broadway cast), Betty Miller as First Woman of Corinth
Introduction by episode producer David Susskind
Oct
26
1959 		1x02 Burning Bright John Steinbeck Lewis Freedman
and
Henry Weinstein 		Curt Conway Staged by Guthrie McClintic and produced by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Burning Bright opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 18, 1950 and closed on October 28, after 13 performances.
Nov
2
1959 		1x03 Back to Back:
The Dock Brief
and
What Shall We Tell Caroline? 		John Mortimer David Susskind Stuart Burge Michael Hordern as Morgenhall and Tony Peters, George Rose as Fowle and Arthur Louden, Lueen McGrath as Bin, Jeane Marsh as Caroline
Nov
9
1959 		1x04 A Month in the Country Ivan Turgenev

translated by
Emlyn Williams 		Lewis Freedman
and
Henry Weinstein 		Marc Daniels Uta Hagen as Natalia Petrovna, Luther Adler as Ignaty Illyich Shpichelsky, Alexander Scourby as Rakitin, Richard Easton as Beliaev, Tim O'Connor as Yslaev, Olga Bellin as Vera
Nov
16
1959 		1x05 The Waltz of the Toreadors Jean Anouilh

translated by
Lucienne Hill 		David Susskind Stuart Burge Hugh Griffith as Général St. Pé, Mildred Natwick as Mme. St. Pé, Beatrice Straight as Mlle. de St. Euverte, John Abbott as Dr. Bonfant, Mary Grace Canfield as Sidonia, Jenny Egan as Estelle, Louise Kirtland as Mme. Dupont-Fredaine, James Valentine as Gaston
Nov
19
1959 		1x06 The Power and the Glory Graham Greene

adapted by
Pierre Bost
and Denis Cannan 		David Susskind Carmen Capalbo James Donald as Priest, Peter Falk as Mestizo, Ronald Long as Tench, Val Avery as Police Chief, Scotty McGregor as Maria, David J. Stewart as Governor's Cousin, John Alderson as Miguel, Alfred Ryder, Rudy Bond
Nov
23
1959 		1x07 The White Steed Paul Vincent Carroll David Susskind Joseph Gistirak Frank Conroy as Canon Matt Lavelle, Tim O'Connor as Father Shaughnessy, Helena Carroll as Nora Fintry, Dermot McNamara as Denis Dillon, Roy Poole as Patrick Hearty, Pauline Flanagan as Sarah Hearty, Lester Rawlins as Toomey, Neil Fitzgerald as Fintry, Tom Clancy as Shivers
Nov
30
1959 		1x08 Crime of Passion Jean-Paul Sartre

translated by
Lionel Abel 		David Susskind Stuart Burge Claude Dauphin as Hoederer, Donald Harron as Hugo, Betsy von Furstenberg as Jessica, Marian Seldes as Olga, Horace McMahon as Georges
Dec
7
1959 		1x09 Simply Heavenly Langston Hughes

music by
David Martin 		David Susskind Joshua Shelley Melvin Stewart as Jesse P. Simple, Claudia McNeil as Mamie, Gail Fisher as Joyce Lane, Ethel Ayler as Zarita, Frederick O'Neal as Boyd, Earle Hyman as Hopkins
Dec
14
1959 		1x10 The World of Sholom Aleichem Arnold Perl

Music by
Serge Hovey
and
Robert de Cormier 		Producer for NTA
Lewis Freedman

Produced by
Henry T. Weinstein 		Don Richardson 1. "A Tale of Chelm"
2. "Bontche Schweig — Based on a story by I. L. Peretz
3. "The High School" — Based on a story by Sholom Aleichem
Dec
21
1959 		1x11 Thieves' Carnival Jean Anouilh

translated by
Lucienne Hill 		Lewis Freedman Warren Enters
and
Richard Dunlap 		[in alphabetical order] Larry Blyden as Hector, Tom Bosley as Dupont-Dufour Jr., Howard Da Silva as Dupont-Dufour Sr., Kurt Kasznar as Peterbono, Robert Morse as Gustave, Cathleen Nesbitt as Lady Hurf, Pat Stanley as Juliette, Frances Sternhagen as Eva
Dec
28
1959 		1x12 The Cherry Orchard Anton Chekhov David Susskind Daniel Petrie Helen Hayes as Madame Ranevskaya, E. G. Marshall as Lopakhin, Susan Strasberg as Anya, Salome Jens as Dunyasha, John Abbott as Gayev, Peggy McCay as Vary, Gerald Hiken as Trofimoff, Martin Wolfson as Semyonoff-Pishtchik, Paula Laurence as Carlotta Ivanova, Woodrow Parfrey as Epihodoff, Byron Russell as Fiers, Julian Battersby as Gardener
Jan
4
1960 		1x13 The Closing Door Alexander Knox David Susskind Alexander Knox
and
Karl Genus 		Staged by Lee Strasberg and produced by Cheryl Crawford, The Closing Door opened on Broadway at the Empire Theatre on December 1, 1949 and closed on December 17, after 22 performances. The playwright, Alexander Knox, had the leading role of Vail Trahern, and his wife, Doris Nolan, played Vail Trahern's wife, Norma.
Jan
11
1960 		1x14 The Emperor's Clothes George Tabori Lewis Freedman Boris Sagal Viveca Lindfors as Belia Odry, Jules Munshin as Kossa, George Voskovec as Elek Odry, Sandor Szabo as the Baron, Charles Saari as Ferike, Tamara Daykarhanova, Peter Falk, Margit Fossgrin, David Hurst, Reuben Singer
Jan
18
1960 		1x15 Lullaby Don Appell David Susskind Don Richardson Eli Wallach as Johnny Horton, Anne Jackson as Eadie Horton, Ruth White as Mother, Tom Carlin as the Bellboy
Jan
25
1960 		1x16 Strindberg on Love:
Miss Julie
and
The Stronger 		August Strindberg

translated by
Arvid Paulsen
adapted by
George Tabori 		David Susskind Henry Kaplan Lois Smith as Julie, Robert Loggia as Gene, Patricia Neal as the Mistress, Nancy Wickwire as the Wife, Madeleine Sherwood as Kristin
Feb
2
1960 		1x17 Juno and the Paycock Seán O'Casey David Susskind Paul Shyre Pauline Flanagan as Juno Boyle, Hume Cronyn as Captain Jack Boyle, Walter Matthau as Joxer Daly, Evans Evans as Mary Boyle, Luella Gear as Maisie Madigan, Liam Clancy as Johnny Boyle, Thomas A. Carlin as Jerry Devine, James Kenny as Charlie Bentham
Feb
8
1960 		1x18 Tiger at the Gates Jean Giraudoux

translated by Christopher Fry 		Robert L. Joseph
and
Henry Weinstein 		Paul Almond
and
Harold Clurman 		Directed by Harold Clurman and produced by Robert L. Joseph, Tiger at the Gates, the English-language title translator-playwright Christopher Fry chose for Jean Giraudoux's 1935 play La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu [The Trojan War Will Not Take Place] opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on October 3, 1955, transferred to the Helen Hayes Theatre on November 21, and closed on April 7, 1956, after 217 performances.
Feb
15
1960 		1x19 Don Juan in Hell George Bernard Shaw David Susskind Don Richardson [in alphabetical order] Marc Connelly as The Stage Manager, Hurd Hatfield as Don Juan, Dennis King as The Statue of the Commander, Siobhán McKenna as Dona Ana, George C. Scott as The Devil
Feb
22
1960 		1x20 A Very Special Baby Robert Alan Aurthur David Susskind Marc Daniels Oscar Homolka as Mr. Casale, Marion Winters as Anna Casale, Larry Blyden as Joey Casale
Feb
29
1960 		1x21 The Climate of Eden Moss Hart

adapted from
Edgar Mittelholzer's 1951 novel 		David Susskind Moss Hart Staged by Moss Hart, who adapted it from Edgar Mittelholzer's British Guiana-set novel, Shadows Move Among Them, The Climate of Eden opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 13, 1952 and closed on November 22, after 20 performances.
Mar
7
1960 		1x22 Volpone Ben Jonson Jack Kuney
[7] 		J. Robert Blum
and
Gene Frankel 		[in alphabetical order] Ludwig Donath as Corbaccio, Alfred Drake as Mosca, Evans Evans as Colomba, Lou Jacobi as Corvino, Kurt Kasznar as Volpone, Art Smith as Voltore, Michael Tolan as Leone, Jo Van Fleet as Canina
Mar
14
1960 		1x23 The Rope Dancers
[8] 		Morton Wishengrad David Susskind Peter Hall Directed by Peter Hall, The Rope Dancers opened on Broadway at the Cort Theatre on November 20, 1957, transferred to Henry Miller's Theatre on January 27, 1958 and closed on May 3, after 189 performances. At the 12th Tony Awards on April 13, 1958, The Rope Dancers was one of eight nominees for Best Play and Siobhán McKenna was among six nominees for Best Actress in a Play.
Mar
21
1960 		1x24 Henrick Ibsen's
The Master Builder
[9] 		Henrik Ibsen

Translated by
Eva Le Gallienne 		Executive Producer
David Susskind

Produced by
Lewis Freedman 		John Stix
and
Richard A. Lukin 		In London, two months after the December 1892 Norwegian publication of The Master Builder, the play received its first English-language production, with a translation by William Archer. The January 1900 American premiere in New York City was not at a Broadway theater, but in Carnegie Hall's Lyceum.
Mar
28
1960 		1x25 The Grass Harp
[10] 		Truman Capote Jack Kuney Word Baker Directed by Robert Lewis, The Grass Harp opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on March 27, 1952 and closed on April 26, after 36 performances.
Apr
4
1960 		1x26 A Palm Tree in a Rose Garden
[12] 		Meade Roberts David Susskind Keve Hjelm
and
Wes Kenney 		Directed by Warren Enters, A Palm Tree in a Rose Garden opened Off-Broadway at the Cricket Theatre on November 26, 1957 and closed on January 19, 1958.
Apr
11
1960 		1x27 The Enchanted
[13] 		Jean Giraudoux

translated by
Maurice Valency 		David Susskind Keve Hjelm
and
Wes Kenney 		Staged by George S. Kaufman, The Enchanted, playwright-critic Maurice Valency's English-language title for his 1950 translation of Jean Giraudoux's 1933 play Intermezzo, opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre on January 18, 1950, and closed on February 25, after 45 performances.[14]
Apr
18
1960 		1x28 The Girls in 509
[15] 		Howard Teichmann David Susskind Keve Hjelm
and
Wes Kenney 		Staged by Bretaigne Windust, The Girls in 509 opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre on October 15, 1958 and closed on January 24, 1959, after 117 performances.[16]
Apr
25
1960 		1x29 Morning's at Seven Paul Osborn David Susskind Jack Ragotzy [in alphabetical order] Beulah Bondi as Mother, Russell Collins as Carl (1939–40 Broadway cast), Frank Conroy as David Crampton, Dorothy Gish as Aaronetta (1939–40 Broadway cast), Ann Harding as Cora, Eileen Heckart as Myrtle, Chester Morris as Swanson, Hiram Sherman as Homer Bolton, Ruth White as Ida
Intermission interview hosted by Russel Crouse
May
2
1960 		1x30 Night of the Auk
[17] 		Arch Oboler Lewis Freedman Nikos Psacharopoulos Based on Arch Oboler's radio play Rocket from Manhattan, Night of the Auk, directed by Sidney Lumet, opened on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre on December 3, 1956 and closed on December 8, 1959, after 8 performances. The cast, in alphabetical order, was: Martin Brooks as Lt. Jan Kephart, Wendell Corey as Colonel Tom Russell, Christopher Plummer as Lewis Rohnen, Claude Rains as Doctor Bruner, Dick York as Lt. Max Hartman.[18] Three years after the TV production, another staging, at Off-Broadway's Cricket Theatre, lasted 3 performances, May 21–23, 1963.[19]
May
9
1960 		1x31 A Piece of Blue Sky
[20] 		Frank Corsaro David Susskind Keve Hjelm
and
Wes Kenney 		Originally titled The Squirrel Cage, A Piece of Blue Sky, with its star, Shelley Winters, was produced by Jay Julian and directed by the author, Frank Corsaro, as a touring play which went into rehearsals on December 15, 1958 and, following three and a half weeks of performances in regional theatre, was scheduled to open in New York City at the end of January 1959.[21] The production folded, however, upon completion of its brief tour.[22]
May
16
1960 		1x32 Archy and Mehitabel
[24] 		Mel Brooks
and
Joe Darion

adapted from Don Marquis' book The Life and Times of Archy and Mehitabel

music by
George Kleinsinger 		Jack Kuney

Producer for NTA
Worthington Miner 		J. Robert Blum
and
Ed Greenberg 		Titled Shinbone Alley and supervised by Sawyer Falk (original director Norman Lloyd requested the removal of his name from the credits), Archy and Mehitabel opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on April 13, 1957 and closed on May 25, after 49 performances.[25]
May
23
1960 		1x33 Mary Stuart
[26] 		Friedrich Schiller

translated by Jean Stock Goldstone
and
John Reich 		David Susskind Dennis Vance Directed by Tyrone Guthrie, Mary Stuart opened off-Broadway at the Phoenix Theatre on October 8, 1957 and closed on November 24, after 56 performances.[27]
May
30
1960 		1x34 The Grand Tour
[28] 		Elmer Rice David Susskind William A. Graham Staged by the playwright, Elmer Rice, The Grand Tour opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on December 10, 1951 and closed on December 15, after 8 performances.[29]
Jun
7
1960 		1x35 The House of Bernarda Alba
[30] 		Federico García Lorca

translated by James Graham-Lujan
and
Richard L. O'Connell 		David Susskind Keve Hjelm
and
Wes Kenney 		Directed by Boris Tumarin and Robert Breen, The House of Bernarda Alba opened on Broadway at the ANTA Playhouse on January 7, 1951 and closed on January 20, after 17 performances.[31]

Season 2 (1960–61)

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References

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  1. ^ Time writers (14 December 1959). "Waking Them Up at Night". Time. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  2. ^ Pace, Eric. "Ely Landau, Producer, 73, Dies; Filmed Plays for TV and Theaters" (The New York Times, November 8, 1993)
  3. ^ Shepard, Richard F. "4 Dramas Listed by Play of the Week" (The New York Times, January 15, 1960)
  4. ^ Shepard, Richard F. "Allen to Give Up Regular TV Show / To Appear on Time-to-Time Basis in the Fall—Susskind Drops 'Play of the Week' Post / Miner Replaces Susskind" (The New York Times, April 6, 1960)
  5. ^ Colleen Dewhurst—Her Autobiography—Written with and Completed by Tom Viola. Simon and Schuster, 2002, pp. 141–143
  6. ^ Harron, Don. My Double Life—Sexty Yeers of Farquharson Around With Don Harn. Google eBook, 2012, p. 228.
  7. ^ Fox, Margalit. "Jack Kuney, 88, Producer of Notable Early TV Shows, Is Dead" (The New York Times, November 17, 2007)
  8. ^ Shanley, John P. "Rope Dancers Bows" (The New York Times, March 15, 1960)
  9. ^ Gould, Jack. "TV: The Master Builder; Ibsen Work Begins on Play of the Week" (The New York Times, March 22, 1960)
  10. ^ Gould, Jack. "Television: Grass Harp; Capote's Work on Free Human Spirit Begins on The Play of the Week" (The New York Times, March 29, 1960)
  11. ^ Peck, Seymour. "Then and Now: Lillian Gish" (The New York Times, April 17, 1960)
  12. ^ Shanley, John P. "TV Review; Meade Roberts Work Is Play of Week" (The New York Times, April 5, 1960)
  13. ^ Gould, Jack. "TV: Giraudoux Comedy; His The Enchanted Gallicizes Art of Confusion on The Play of the Week" (The New York Times, April 12, 1960)
  14. ^ The Enchanted at IBDb
  15. ^ Gould, Jack. "TV Review: Girls in 509 starts on Play of Week" (The New York Times, April 19, 1960)
  16. ^ The Girls in 509 at IBDb
  17. ^ Shepard, Richard F. "Night of the Auk on Play of the Week" (The New York Times, May 3, 1960)
  18. ^ Night of the Auk at IBDb
  19. ^ Night of the Auk at the Internet Off-Broadway Database Archived 2015-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Gould, Jack."TV: A Piece of Blue Sky" (The New York Times, May 10, 1960)
  21. ^ Calta, Louis. "Play Role Taken by Ruth Gordon; Actress Will Appear in La Bonne Soupe—Shelley Winters in Comedy; Julien Plans Production" (The New York Times, November 6, 1958)
  22. ^ Zolotow, Sam."Corsaro to Direct" (The New York Times, April 21, 1960)
  23. ^ "Miss Winters 'Typed' as Mother; Cast in 4 Varied Roles in Films" (The New York Times, May 4, 1960)
  24. ^ Shanley, John P. "archy and mehitabel" (The New York Times, May 17, 1960)
  25. ^ Shinbone Alley at IBDb
  26. ^ Gould, Jack. "TV: Clash of Royalty" — Eva LeGallienne and Signe Hasso Star in Mary Stuart on Play of the Week
  27. ^ Mary Stuart at IBDb
  28. ^ Shanley, John P. "TV: A Teacher Abroad — Grand Tour, with Audrey Meadows and Scott McKay", on Play of the Week
  29. ^ The Grand Tour at IBDb
  30. ^ Shanley, John P. Garcia Lorca Work on Play of the Week (The New York Times, June 7, 1960)
  31. ^ The House of Bernarda Alba at IBDb
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