OnStage in America

OnStage in America (2015- )

RunningVariety showComedy, Music

PBS and "OnStage In America" a new nonprofit venture, are joining forces to put the greatest theater productions from across America on prime-time national television, in a fresh and exciting new format. This will be the first television series in decades to focus on the network of more than a thousand not-for-profit stages that have originated thirty-six of the last thirty-eight Pulitzer-Prize-winning plays. Every year dozens of new plays are premiered for audiences around the country in what can be spectacular and deeply moving productions that run for a few weeks and then end, often never to be seen again.

Each season this new PBS series will broadcast at least four of the best current productions from across the country. Taking advantage of new technologies, light-weight high-definition cameras will go onstage and move with the actors to capture drama with unprecedented freedom and intimacy. Performances will shift toward the cameras (and television audiences), and cinematographers will capture true close-ups, traveling shots, inserts...the entire vocabulary of cinema. Skilled film directors will plan and shape the visual universe of each program to heighten the drama. The result will be live theater visualized and transformed into exciting television in ways never before possible.

Hundreds of stage productions will be reviewed every season to find the most powerful, the most entertaining, the most unusual and surprising, and the most relevant to issues of contemporary life in this country. Unlike anything now on television, this new theater series will turn a fresh spotlight on the American stage, one of America's most exciting and creative performing arts. Following their broadcast the plays will become part of a digital library, accessible for on-demand, streaming, and other digital distribution. The series will build new audiences for theaters everywhere, and OnStage will promote the programs for use by schools, universities, and community organizations. National educational and community outreach programs will also be developed to assist theaters across the country in their programs of community engagement.

Technology has changed the playing field. Theater companies, theater unions, and theater professionals are eager to have their work shown on national television. PBS has signed on. This is a series whose time has come.

Network
Scheduleevery Friday at 22:00 (120 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S01E01HonkyNov 6, 2015
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did 'OnStage in America' premiere?

The TV show premiered on January 2, 2015.

Who is the host of 'OnStage in America'?

The host of the TV show is Brad Sativa.

What is the genre of 'OnStage in America'?

The genre of the TV show is arts.

What are some of the performing arts featured on the show?

The show features a variety of performing arts, including theatre, dance, music, and comedy.

In which states in America has the show been filmed?

The show has been filmed in several states, including New York, Florida, and California.

What is the show's format?

The show's format is a cultural and performing arts magazine-style series.

How long is each episode of 'OnStage in America'?

Each episode of the TV show is approximately 30 minutes long.

What is the theme of the 27th episode of 'OnStage in America'?

The theme of the 27th episode of the TV show is 'Heroes and Outcasts'.

Which well-known playwright is featured in the 11th episode of 'OnStage in America'?

The 11th episode of the TV show features a profile of well-known playwright Neil Simon.

Has 'OnStage in America' won any awards?

Yes, the show has won several awards, including the 2015 Telly Award for excellence in entertainment programming.

In which episode does the show feature a profile on the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater?

The show features a profile on the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the 15th episode.

What is the name of the play that is featured in the 23rd episode of 'OnStage in America'?

The play featured in the 23rd episode is called 'The Real Thing'.

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