Arts and Entertainment

Following the Civil War, a group of young ex-slaves in Nashville, Tenn., set out to save their bankrupt school by giving concerts. Throughout the North and in venues across Europe, they introduced audiences to the power of spirituals.

As we salute our veterans and members of the military, four Arizonans reflect on their service and how we can honor veterans in our community.

Delve into the mind of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and poet N. Scott Momaday on “American Masters,” Monday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m.

In the final season the Durrells’ idyllic island life is cut short by the outbreak of World War II – but is that really where the story ends? Viewers will find out in the one-hour documentary “What the Durrells Did Next,” A “Masterpiece” Special airing Sunday, November 10, at 6:30 p.m.

“The Directors,” details the lives of three iconic filmmakers on Thursdays at 8 p.m. Discover how these artists had to survive war and poverty before getting their chance in Hollywood.

Celebrate the power of music to salve the wounds of war for returning veterans and their families in “Songwriting with Soldiers,” a unique collaborative of professional artists working with veterans to tell their stories of war and the return home through song.

One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Mark Rothko’s signature style helped define Abstract Expressionism, the movement that shifted the center of the art world from Paris to New York. “American Masters — Rothko: Pictures Must Be Miraculous” premieres Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. on Arizona PBS.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on the second Monday in October, honoring Native American peoples and celebrating their histories and cultures.

“Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like,” a celebrity-filled hour-long special that celebrates the iconic PBS series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” airs on Arizona PBS on Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. The pioneering PBS series premiered nationally more than 50 years ago and became an iconic and enduring landmark in the world of children’s television and beyond.

“Great Performances” returns with its third annual “Broadway’s Best” lineup of acclaimed theatrical productions on Fridays at 8 p.m. starting Nov. 1 on Arizona PBS.  This fall’s lineup spotlights musicals, comedy and drama throughout the month.