PBS Arts Fall Festival Kicks Off October 14 With Classic Gilbert And Sullivan Romp

Guthrie Theater's "H.M.S. Pinafore" leads nine-part series that includes Pearl Jam, Bill T. Jones and six more dance, music and opera performances

PBS announced that Gilbert and Sullivan's comic nautical romp "H.M.S. Pinafore," a production of Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater and Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), will open the nine-part PBS Arts Fall Festival of performing arts programming on Friday, October 14, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET on PBS. 

"Pinafore" kicks off an exciting line-up of performances that will be broadcast every Friday night at 9 p.m. ET on PBS into mid-December, including the broadcast debut of Cameron Crowe's documentary music film "Pearl Jam Twenty," dance performance films from Bill T. Jones, Miami City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, rock and Americana music programs from Cleveland and North Carolina, and a major new opera from LA Opera.

"PBS brings the best of the arts to America. From ballet to banjos and rock stars, the PBS Arts Fall Festival takes viewers on a nine-week journey exploring the local arts stories that help shape our culture," said John F. Wilson, Chief TV Programming Executive, PBS.

The broadcast programs, which originate from cities around the country, will be introduced by well-known hosts who are connected to the region and theme of the programs.  Short films ("mini-documentaries") produced by local PBS member stations that highlight each city's unique arts and cultural scenes will accompany the national broadcasts.  Details about the hosts and short films will be announced later.

The PBS Arts Fall Festival broadcast schedule is below.

PBS Arts from Minnesota: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN'S HMS PINAFORE
Broadcast date: Friday, October 14, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
Produced by PBS member station Twin Cities Public Television (tpt)

PBS Arts from Seattle: AMERICAN MASTERS "Pearl Jam Twenty"
Broadcast date: Friday, October 21, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
AMERICAN MASTERS is a production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media. The evening's presentation is in collaboration with PBS member station KCTS.

PBS Arts from Miami: GREAT PERFORMANCES "Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine & Tharp"
Broadcast date: Friday, October 28, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
A production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media, in collaboration with PBS member station WPBT

PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains: GIVE ME THE BANJO (w.t.)
Broadcast date: Friday, November 4, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
In collaboration with PBS member station UNC-TV (North Carolina)

PBS Arts from Chicago: AMERICAN MASTERS "Bill T. Jones: A Good Man"
Broadcast date: Friday, November 11, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
A co-production of A Good Man Film LLC, Kartemquin Films, Independent Television Service (ITVS), THIRTEEN's American Masters for WNET, and Media Process Group, with the cooperation of the Ravinia Festival, in collaboration with PBS member station WTTW

PBS Arts from Cleveland: WOMEN WHO ROCK
Broadcast date: Friday, November 18, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
Produced by Susan Wittenberg and Carol Stein with assistance from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in collaboration with PBS member station WVIZ/PBS ideastream

PBS Arts from Los Angeles: GREAT PERFORMANCES "Il Postino from LA Opera" with Plácido Domingo
Broadcast date: Friday, November 25, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
A production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media, in cooperation with PBS SoCal (Southern California)

PBS Arts from San Francisco: GREAT PERFORMANCES "The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet"
Broadcast date: Friday, December 16, 2011, 9:00 p.m. ET
A production of Thirteen for WNET New York Public Media, in collaboration with PBS member station KQED

The previously announced musical theater film TOMMY TUNE - STEPS IN TIME has been removed from the fall schedule.  A replacement show is expected to be announced soon.

Funding for the launch of PBS Arts has been provided by Anne Ray Charitable Trust, public television viewers and PBS.