The Play of the Week

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
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. 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.

Season 2 (1960–61)

 * Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare; in the cast: Donald Davis as Henry IV, Stephen Joyce as Prince Hal, Donald Madden as Hotspur, Eric Berry as Falstaff, John Frid as The Earl of Worcester, and Nan Martin as Lady Percy (September 26, 1960)
 * The Dybbuk adapted by Joseph Liss; directed by Sidney Lumet; in the cast: Ludwig Donath, Carol Lawrence, Michael Tolan, Theodore Bikel and Vincent Gardenia (October 3, 1960)
 * Legend of Lovers by Jean Anouilh; adapted by Kitty Black; directed by Ralph Nelson; cast: Piper Laurie, Robert Loggia, Sam Jaffe, Michael Constantine and Polly Rowles (October 10, 1960)
 * The Velvet Glove by Rosemary Casey; in the cast: Helen Hayes, Robert Morse, Arthur Shields, Larry Gates and Collin Wilcox (October 17, 1960)
 * Duet for Two Hands by Mary Hayley Bell; cast: Signe Hasso, Eric Portman, Patrick Horgan and Lois Nettleton (October 24, 1960)
 * Seven Times Monday by Ernest Pendrell; directed by Wes Kenney; in the cast: Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Rosetta LeNoire, William Windom and Warren Berlinger (October 31, 1960)
 * Two by Saroyan&mdash;"Once Around the Block" and "My Heart's in the Highlands" by William Saroyan; in the cast: Walter Matthau, Orson Bean, Myron McCormick, Larry Hagman and Eddie Hodges (November 7, 1960)
 * The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill; directed by Sidney Lumet; introduced by Brooks Atkinson; in the cast: Jason Robards as Hickey, Farrell Pelly as Harry Hope, Robert Redford as Don Parritt, Myron McCormick as Larry Slade and Julie Bovasso as Pearl (Part I&mdash;November 14, 1960)
 * The Iceman Cometh (Part II&mdash;November 21, 1960)
 * Highlights of New Faces by Leonard Sillman; in the cast: Robert Clary, Alice Ghostley, Ronny Graham, Paul Lynde and Inga Swenson (November 28, 1960)
 * Uncle Harry by Thomas Job; in the cast: Ray Walston, Betty Field, Jeff Donnell, Sylvia Miles and John Zacherle (December 5, 1960)
 * Rashomon – December 12, 1960; directed by Sidney Lumet
 * Emmanuel – December 19, 1960
 * A Clearing in the Woods – January 2, 1961
 * The Potting Shed – January 9, 1961
 * Black Monday – January 16, 1961
 * New York Scrapbook – January 23, 1961
 * He Who Gets Slapped – January 20, 1961
 * Four by Tennessee – February 6, 1961
 * The Sound of Murder – February 13, 1961
 * Night of the Auk – February 20, 1961
 * No Exit and The Indifferent Lover – February 27, 1961
 * The Old Foolishness – March 6, 1961
 * Thérèse Raquin – March 13, 1961
 * The Wooden Dish – March 20, 1961
 * A Cool Wind Over the Living – March 27, 1961
 * Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett; in the cast: Zero Mostel as Estragon and Burgess Meredith as Vladimir (April 3, 1961)
 * In a Garden – April 10, 1961
 * The Wingless Victory – April 17, 1961
 * Close Quarters – April 24, 1961
 * All Summer Long – May 1, 1961