Episode 1
Episode 1
9.0 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars George Pentecost, Will Lee, Ellis Rabb, Jane Rose, Stefan Gierasch, Daniel J. Sullivan, Frances Sternhagen, Josef Sommer
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 3 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Great Performances
Episode 2
June Moon
In a nod to the days of classic American comedy, a 1929's Tin Pan Alley lyricist meets a composer who has a big hit: "Paprika... the Spice of My Life."
Episode credits
Directed by Kirk Browning, Burt SheveloveWritten by Ring Lardner, George S. KaufmanGuest stars Jack Cassidy, Beatrice Colen, Barbara Dana, Marshall Efron, Tom Fitzsimmons, Kevin McCarthy, Lee Meredith, Estelle Parsons
Episode 3
The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd
Mr. Holroyd is an alcoholic, abusive miner in pre-WWI England who terrorizes his family. Mrs. Holroyd plans to run away with her would-be lover when Mr. Holroyd dies in a mining accident, leaving the family torn with guilt over their hatred of the dead man. Geraldine Page and Rex Robins star.
Episode credits
Directed by Arvin Brown, John J. Desmond
Episode 4
Antigone
Episode credits
Guest stars Geneviève Bujold, Stacy Keach, James Naughton, Fritz Weaver, Peter Brandon, Betty Miller, Aline MacMahon, Louis Zorich
Episode 5
King Lear
2h 55m
King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.
Episode credits
Guest stars Douglass Watson, Paul Sorvino, Raúl Juliá, James Earl Jones, Rosalind Cash, Lee Chamberlin, Ellen Holly, Jean-Pierre Stewart
Episode 6
Episode 6
7.0 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars Daniel Davis, Ken Jenkins, Charlotte Rae, Patrick Tovatt, Max Wright
Episode 7
Episode 7
4.8 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars Richard Jenkins, Richard Kneeland, George Martin, Daniel von Bargen
Episode 8
Episode 8
8.0 / 10
Episode credits
Guest stars Veronica Castang, Frank Converse, Joyce Ebert, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Roberta Maxwell, Rex Robbins, William Swetland
Episode 9
Episode 9
Episode credits
Guest stars Rosemary De Angelis, Jean De Baer
Episode 10
Episode 10
finale
Episode credits
Guest stars Leonard Bernstein
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
