The Play of the Week

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The Play of the Week
Genre
Syndication
(NTA Film Network)
ReleaseOctober 12, 1959 (1959-10-12) –
May 1, 1961 (1961-05-01)

The Play of the Week is an American

syndication
from October 12, 1959 to May 1, 1961.

Ambitious undertaking

The series presented 67 (35 in the first season, 32 in the second) videotaped

Peabody Award.[2][3][4]

Episodes

Season 1 (1959–60)

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]
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
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
Jeane Marsh
as Caroline
Nov
9
1959
1x04 A Month in the Country Ivan Turgenev

translated by
Emlyn Williams
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
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
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
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
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
Sholom Aleichem
Dec
21
1959
1x11 Thieves' Carnival Jean Anouilh

translated by
Lucienne Hill
Lewis Freedman Warren Enters
and
Richard Dunlap
[in alphabetical order]
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
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
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
Henry Weinstein
Paul Almond
and
Harold Clurman
Directed by
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
Wes Kenney
Directed by
ANTA Playhouse on January 7, 1951 and closed on January 20, after 17 performances.[31]
  • García Lorca
    's poetry after the play's conclusion

Season 2 (1960–61)

References

  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

External links