PBS revives the original casts

Musical theater buffs who feel the poorer for never having glimpsed Zero Mostel’s Tevye, Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Lovett or Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly -- or who wish they could behold them again -- will have the opportunity if they catch “Broadway’s Lost Treasures,” a new PBS television special that compiles 17 performances by mere stars and bona fide legends culled from Tony Awards broadcasts taped between 1967 and 1986.

Mostel’s number is “If I Were a Rich Man” from “Fiddler on the Roof,” Lansbury renders “Worst Pies in London” from “Sweeney Todd,” and Verdon and Rivera razzle dazzle ‘em with “All That Jazz” and “Nowadays” from “Chicago.” The musical wayback machine also alights on, among others, Carol Channing in “Hello, Dolly!,” John Raitt in “The Pajama Game,” Yul Brynner in “The King and I” and Richard Kiley belting “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”

PBS stations around the country are showing the program during their August pledge drives. In Southern California, KOCE (Huntington Beach) will run “Broadway’s Lost Treasures” on Saturday at 9 p.m. and San Diego’s KPBS on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m.

-- Mike Boehm