Great Performances Announces 2023 Broadway’s Best Lineup

The programming this year will include the star-studded concert celebrating Broadway from the early 1970s to the present day, showcasing music from classic and modern musicals, such as Chicago and Waitress.

Danai Gurira (Black Panther, The Walking Dead) stars in the filmed live capture of the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III, directed by Robert O’Hara.

For the series finale, Sutton Foster will return in an encore broadcast of Anything Goes from London’s West End directed by Kathleen Marshall.

"Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best", filmed live in March, will premiere Friday, May 12 at 9 PM ET. The program will be streaming through the Great Performances website shortly following the broadcast.

The musical revue will feature songs by legendary composers Stephen Schwartz, Kander & Ebb, Fats Waller, Stephen Sondheim, Duke Ellington, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and many more.

Hosted by Sutton Foster, the setlist includes a special tap number from Jelly’s Last Jam by Corbin Bleu, a tribute to “A Chorus Line” featuring Donna McKechnie, the original “Wiz” André De Shields performing “So You Wanted To See The Wizard”, “She Used to Be Mine” performed by Sara Bareilles, and Chita Rivera performing “All That Jazz” from Chicago.

Additional stars joining the celebration include Shoshana Bean, Raúl Esparza, Ledisi, Norm Lewis, Rob McClure, Patina Miller, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Mamie Parris, Solea Pfeiffer, Britton Smith, Jessica Vosk and Vanessa Williams. 

"Great Performances: Richard III" will premiere the following week on Friday, May 19 at 9 PM ET. The program will be streaming through the Great Performances website shortly following the broadcast.

The play features Danai Gurira (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Walking Dead) in the title role with Tony Award winner Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!) as Lady Anne.

Portraying the title character’s lust for power and the throne, Danai Gurira gives a performance The New York Times called “unflaggingly energetic” and “vocally thrilling.”

The season will end with an encore presentation of "Great Performances: Anything Goes", which will begin airing Friday, May 26 at 9PM ET.  The musical revival stars Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney in Cole Porter’s golden age musical.

The musical was restaged in London’s West End and also starred three-time Olivier Award and Tony Award winner Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot.

Telling the tale of romance on the high seas aboard the SS American, Tony-winning choreographer Kathleen Marshall directs the London revival production featuring Porter’s timeless hits, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top” and the title song “Anything Goes.”