This production of "Our Town" was originally staged off-Broadway in 1959 by the Circle in the Square company, and directed by José Quintero. John Beal, who played the Stage Manager in the off-Broadway version, was replaced by Art Carney in the TV production.
The original Broadway production of "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder opened at Henry Miller's Theater on February 4, 1938, ran for 338 performances and won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1938.