Episode 1
Episode 1
Episode credits
Guest stars Donald Buka, Catherine Burns, J.D. Cannon, George Grizzard, Earl Hindman, Barnard Hughes, Harvey Keitel, Tony Lo Bianco
TV series
Great Performances
1971TV-1453 seasons6.1 / 10
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Sep 1, 2026
Great Performances is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand and YouTube TV in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Synopsis
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Great Performances
Episode 2
Episode 2
Episode credits
Guest stars Gundula Janowitz, Hertha Töpper, Horst Laubenthal, Hermann Prey, Karl Richter
Episode 3
Episode 3
Episode credits
Guest stars Sam Groom, Fred Gwynne, David Hurst, Dorrie Kavanaugh, Mike Kellin, Ric Mancini, Biff McGuire, Bernadette Peters
Episode 7
Paradise Lost
2h 40m
Paradise Lost is a drama by Clifford Odets that takes place during the Depression. The play was originally produced on Broadway by the Group Theatre in 1935. It was also filmed for television broadcast in 1971. The play takes place in an unnamed American city during the Depression: act one on Armistice Day in 1932, act two in March 1934, and act three in April 1935. Odets said of Paradise Lost that he'd hoped that after people see it, "they're going to be glad they're alive."
Where to watch Great PerformancesEpisode 18
Hogan's Goat
finale
A young Irish ward boss has a chance to be elected mayor, but the disgraced current mayor makes sure the candidate's wife learns about his affair with a just-deceased rich girl.
Episode credits
Guest stars Philip Bosco, Kevin Conway, Faye Dunaway, Robert Foxworth, Rue McClanahan, Patrick McVey, George Rose, Margaret Trudeau
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
More about Great Performances
Cast
Bray PoorNarrator (voice)
Rue McClanahanFaye PreciousJoyce EbertMrs. Holroyd
Frederick CoffinSecond Guard
Geraldine FitzgeraldMrs.Atkins
Frank LangellaKonstantin Treplev
Charles KimbroughDr.Spiga
Stephen SondheimSelfProduction details
- Status
- Returning Series
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 717
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States
ThirteenUnited States
Themes
anthologybased on novel or bookbased on play or musicalfilmed theaterliterary adaptation
