Tony Winner Brian Stokes Mitchell Will Make Carnegie Hall Debut “Oct. 15

By Adam Hetrick
Playbill.com
30 Jul 2007

photo by Joan Marcus

Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will take to the stage of Carnegie Hall for his solo debut on Oct. 15, in a benefit for the Actors Fund of America.

Veteran producer and director Richard Jay-Alexander, who most recently directed Barbra Streisand's North American and European tours, as well as the Carnegie Hall debuts of both Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, will direct Mitchell's turn.

Mitchell will perform highlights from his career as one of Broadway's foremost leading men, as well as music he has always wanted to perform. Joining Mitchell for his Carnegie Hall debut will be a few of his past leading ladies including Reba McEntire and Phylicia Rashad, plus some names not available at press time.

Tony winning conductor Paul Gemignani, who previously worked with Mitchell conducting the acclaimed Carnegie Hall concert of South Pacific co-starring Reba McEntire, will lead the orchestra.

The Actors Fund will also be honoring John Breglio with "The Actors Fund Medal of Honor" on stage at Carnegie Hall prior to the concert. This milestone is in recognition of "his tremendous contribution to not only The Actors Fund, but to the performing arts community as a whole."

A Tony nominee for each of his original Broadway outings, Mitchell is known for his starring roles in Ragtime, his Tony-winning performance in Kiss Me Kate, as well as King Hedley II and Man of La Mancha. In addition to his numerous cast recordings, Mitchell released his solo album "Brian Stokes Mitchell" on the Playbill Label in 2006.

In anticipation of his Carnegie Hall debut, Mitchell said in a statement, "It is hard to put into words how incredibly honored and excited I am to be making my solo debut on one of the most celebrated stages in the world. I have been a part of some very special shows at Carnegie Hall with other great artists, but to now have a performance that is all my own is going to be an all together different experience. The Actors Fund is a critical organization for everyone in the entertainment industry and I am proud that this important night in my career can also benefit this wonderful organization."

Tickets for the Oct. 15 concert are available by calling the Carnegie Hall box office at (212) 247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org

Further information is available by visiting www .actorsfund.org or www.Brianstokes.com