Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > 'Hamilton's America' to kick off PBS Arts Fall Festival on AETN Friday, Oct. 21

'Hamilton's America' to kick off PBS Arts Fall Festival on AETN Friday, Oct. 21

Posted 20 Oct 2016

The sixth annual PBS Arts Fall Festival, a series of eight performing arts specials, will kick off on the Arkansas PBS Friday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. with the premiere of 'Great Performances: Hamilton's America.' Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical 'Hamilton,' hosts.

The festival will air as part of AETN Arts Fridays, which provides Arkansans with world-class arts and culture programming, including locally produced series such as 'AETN Presents' and 'LOUPE' at 6:30 p.m. 

The festival will air Friday nights at 8 p.m. The full lineup includes:

• 'Hamilton's America,' Oct. 21. 'Great Performances' follows the creation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's pop culture Broadway phenomenon 'Hamilton' and the history behind it. Interviews with Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Nas, Questlove, Stephen Sondheim and more. 'Hamilton's America' will repeat Oct. 21 at 9:30 p.m.
• 'Bill Murray: The Mark Twain Prize,' Oct. 28. This special celebrates beloved actor and comedian Bill Murray, the latest recipient of The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. From the stage of The John F. Kennedy Center, a star-studded lineup salutes the achievements of the comedic trailblazer.
• 'Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,' Nov. 4. This episode of 'Lincoln Center at the Movies' features the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre showcasing its spectacular range, diversity and artistry in this special presentation, which includes the company's signature work, 'Revelations,' along with three other pieces.
• 'Gypsy,' Nov. 11. 'Great Performances' presents Imelda Staunton as the indomitable Momma Rose in London's hit revival of Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical 'Gypsy' about stripper Gypsy Rose Lee's rise to fame. With Peter Davison and Lara Pulver.
• 'Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs,' Nov. 18. The New York Times called this special 'an emotional firestorm' as the award-winning television and Broadway star brings down the house with his acclaimed cabaret show.
• 'Lang Lang's New York Rhapsody,' Nov. 25. Internationally acclaimed pianist Lang Lang performs a love letter to New York in this 'Live From Lincoln Center' special, featuring music from Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Danny Elfman, Lou Reed, Alicia Keys, Don Henley and more.
• 'Joshua Bell's Seasons of Cuba,' Dec. 16. World-famous, award-winning violinist Joshua Bell leads a 'Live From Lincoln Center' event with musicians from America and Cuba, building a bridge between cultures and artistry.
• 'Shakespeare Live! From The Royal Shakespeare Company,' Dec. 23. On the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, 'Great Performances' presents the RSC's star-studded gala. With David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Joseph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, David Suchet and many more.

Funding for the 2016 PBS Arts Fall Festival is made possible by generous support from the Anne Ray Charitable Trust.

The PBS Arts Fall Festival, which last year reached more than 9 million viewers, is a cornerstone of the Friday primetime lineup, underscoring PBS' ongoing commitment to give audiences the best seats in the house to watch arts performances on air and online.

The Arkansas PBS is Arkansas's statewide public television network that enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at aetn.org. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro) and KETZ (El Dorado).