BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL FEB 10 & 11 / 7:30 PM

Brian Stokes Mitchell, vocals Tedd Firth, piano

Theatre at The Broad Stage made possible in part by generous gifts from Laurie & Bill Benenson and Susan Stockel.

Brian Stokes Mitchell at The Broad Stage made possible in part by a generous gift from Linda & Michael Keston.

Tonight’s program will be announced from the stage.

There will be no intermission.

4 FEB 2018 BIOS 6. His musical curiosity lead him to an interest in orchestration, arranging and Dubbed “the last leading man” by film scoring which he first started studying The New York Times, Tony® Award-winner on his own in his late teens. He later BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL has enjoyed a studied film scoring, orchestration and career that spans Broadway, television, conducting through UCLA and privately, film and concert appearances with and scored and conducted a number of the country’s finest conductors and Trapper John, MD episodes, a series on orchestras. He received Tony®, Drama which he was also a regular cast member. Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards His musical talent has extended to the for his star turn in Kiss Me, Kate. He also present day as producer, arranger and gave Tony®-nominated performances orchestrator on his own albums, including in Man of La Mancha, August Wilson’s his latest recording, Simply Broadway. King Hedley II and Ragtime. Other notable Simply Broadway is an album of classic Broadway shows include Kiss of the Spider Broadway tunes that have been musically Woman, Jelly’s Last Jam and Women on reimagined but still retain the spirit of the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. the original. It features the Tony®-winning In April of 2016, he made a long-awaited singer accompanied by a solo piano return to Broadway starring once again and was released in the fall of 2012. It with Audra McDonald in Shuffle Along, was recorded in the “old-school” style, a new musical written and directed by without overdubs or audio separation — George C. Wolfe with choreography by Stokes and his pianist, Tedd Firth, were in Savion Glover. the same room at the same time as they An extremely versatile and in-demand recorded the tracks. The song selection singer, Stokes has performed at venues includes works from Camelot, Porgy and spanning the jazz, opera, pops, country Bess, Company, Sunday in the Park with and musical theatre worlds. He has George, Les Misérables and other classics. worked with John Williams, Marvin Stokes has appeared on more than 20 Hamlisch, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson albums. Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, The Smithsonian His extensive screen credits began with a Jazz Masterworks Big Band, The Mormon 7-year stint on Trapper John, MD and have Tabernacle Choir and the Muppets. continued with memorable appearances on Stokes has made multiple appearances everything from PBS’ Great Performances at Carnegie Hall, beginning with his debut to Frasier, Glee, Jumping the Broom and with the San Francisco Symphony through his most recent recurring roles on Madam his televised performance in South Pacific Secretary, Mr. Robot and the Hulu series, opposite Reba McEntire, to his sold-out The Path. As a voice-over artist he has solo concert, which he continues to played dozens of characters on animated perform throughout the U.S. He has been TV episodes. NPR aired his narration of invited twice to perform at the White Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait with the House and has performed for Presidents U.S. Marine band. Clinton and Obama. As a writer, Stokes has contributed to Stokes has delved deeply into various the book Hirschfeld’s Harlem, wrote music disciplines. In addition to singing, the preface to At This Theatre, and co- he began piano studies at the age of authored the children’s book Lights on

FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 5 Broadway. For fun he has been known to Bob Stewart, Marlene VerPlanck, Nancy fly planes and jump out of them (usually Marano, KT Sullivan, Claiborne Cary and not at the same time), and he can ride a many others. Among the jazz musicians bicycle on a high wire. he has performed or recorded with are Stokes has enjoyed working with numerous John Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Frank charitable organizations from the March Wess, Mark Whitfield, Red Holloway, of Dimes to the USO, and is in his 14th Benny Golson and Joe Morello. New York term as Chairman of the Board of The appearances include Carnegie Hall, the Actors Fund. Blue Note, Birdland, the Iridium, the Algonquin, the Cafe Carlyle, Feinstein’s at In 2016, Stokes was inducted into the the Regency, the Rainbow Room, Town Theatre Hall of Fame. Hall, the Russian Tea Room and Gracie Stokes is a great proponent of arts Mansion. Numerous national appearances education and speaks passionately about include a performance at the White the importance of art in all of our lives. House. As an arranger/orchestrator, He resides in New York City with his wife, Tedd’s work has been performed by Peter son and rescued mutt, Diggidy. For more Nero and the Philly Pops, the Detroit, information go to brianstokes.com. Indianapolis and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, the Ocean City (NJ) Pops, the TEDD FIRTH, piano, is a New York City- Stamford (CT) Symphony and the Spokane based accompanist, jazz pianist and Jazz Orchestra. Television appearances arranger. As an accompanist he has include The Today Show, All My Children worked with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lee and The Caroline Rhea Show. Ann Womack, Tom Wopat, Faith Prince, Marilyn Maye, Hilary Kole, Linda Lavin, James Naughton, Lucie Arnaz, Jane Olivor, Karen Akers, Darius DeHaas, Mary Cleere Haran, Margaret Whiting, Carol Sloane,

6 FEB 2018