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Arts & Culture

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: Kern & Hammerstein's Show Boat In Concert With The New York Philharmonic

Stage shot from LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER "Kern & Hammerstein's Show Boat In Concert With The New York Philharmonic."
Courtesy of Chris Lee
Stage shot from LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER "Kern & Hammerstein's Show Boat In Concert With The New York Philharmonic."

Airs Friday, October 16, 2015 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

Lauren Worsham and Vanessa Williams in "Show Boat."
Courtesy of Chris Lee
Lauren Worsham and Vanessa Williams in "Show Boat."
All aboard opening night of the New York Philharmonic’s production of Kern & Hammerstein’s "Show Boat!" Emmy-nominated funny man Fred Willard (center stage) portrays Cap’n Andy, overseer of the titular show boat, the Cotton Blossom.
Courtesy of Chris Lee
All aboard opening night of the New York Philharmonic’s production of Kern & Hammerstein’s "Show Boat!" Emmy-nominated funny man Fred Willard (center stage) portrays Cap’n Andy, overseer of the titular show boat, the Cotton Blossom.
“Ol’ Man River,” one of the show’s greatest hits, gets a moving performance from Tony-nominated actor Norm Lewis, whose Broadway credits include Porgy in The Gershwins’ "Porgy & Bess" and, currently, the title role in "The Phantom of the Opera."
Courtesy of Chris Lee
“Ol’ Man River,” one of the show’s greatest hits, gets a moving performance from Tony-nominated actor Norm Lewis, whose Broadway credits include Porgy in The Gershwins’ "Porgy & Bess" and, currently, the title role in "The Phantom of the Opera."

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER is a cornerstone of performing arts broadcasting, presenting the world’s greatest artists and performances in music, dance and theater from Lincoln Center’s renowned stages. Now in its 41st season on PBS, the pioneering series—produced by Lincoln Center—has been seen by hundreds of millions of viewers since its debut and celebrated by 13 Emmy Awards and other honors for its broadcasting excellence.

This groundbreaking musical redefined entertainment and changed the face of American theater. Spanning the years from 1880 to 1927, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s lyrical masterpiece concerns the lives, loves and heartbreaks of three generations of show folk on the Mississippi River, in Chicago and on Broadway. The musical’s impact remains unparalleled, addressing racial prejudice, and introduced a bi-racial cast to Broadway at its premiere while also pointing the way toward a new synthesis between music and spectacle.

This New York Philharmonic production features an all-star cast led by Vanessa Williams and DOWNTON ABBEY’S Julian Ovenden, as well as Norm Lewis, Jane Alexander, Fred Willard and Lauren Worsham. The Philharmonic’s full sound highlights the lush musical score at the center of this epic show. This program is conducted and directed for the stage by Ted Sperling, and directed for television by Andrew C. Wilk.

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Video clips and full episodes from the series are available for online viewing.

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