Fifty percent of the proceeds from each of the concerts at the five non-profit theatres will be shared between the theatres and The Actors Fund. Concert dates for the remainder of the tour will be announced shortly.
Each performance, according to press notes, is "designed to promote cooperation and giving, emphasizing the importance of the arts in the lives of people everywhere. Stokes intends for this series to encourage people in all occupations and professions to partner in this manner to help sustain the national philanthropic spirit."
The concert tour will celebrate the release of the Tony winner's second solo recording, "Simply Broadway," which will be available Oct. 30 on Amazon.com and iTunes and through CD Baby, where pre-orders will be available starting in mid-October.
The new recording, featuring Broadway classics, was created without the benefit of overdubs or audio separation. The songs are performed in the tone and spirit of the original versions, but "are unique thanks to the exciting new arrangements and the live interaction with Stokes and his remarkable pianist of five years, Tedd Firth." The disc features tunes from Camelot, Porgy and Bess, Company, Sunday in the Park with George and Les Miserables, among others.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, most recently on Broadway in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, earned 2000 Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards for his performance as Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate. His other Broadway credits include lead roles in Man of La Mancha (Tony nomination); King Hedley II (Tony nomination); Ragtime (Tony nomination) ; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Jelly's Last Jam; Oh, Kay!; Mail; and the City Center Encores! mountings of Kismet, Do Re Mi and Carnival. Television and film audiences will be familiar with Mitchell's work from his roles on "Jumping the Broom," "Glee," "Trapper John, M.D.," "Roots" and "Frasier." Mitchell has performed in concert halls around the country. He has appeared on over a dozen albums, and his Playbill Records CD is entitled "Brian Stokes Mitchell." He is serving his 10th year as Chairman of the Board of The Actors Fund. For additional information on "Simply Broadway," visit Brian Stokes Mitchell’s website at www.brianstokes.com.
For tickets and information on the Oct. 31 concert at Lincoln Center, visit www.actorsfund.org.
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The Actors Fund is the national human services organization that helps everyone – performers and those behind the scenes – who works in performing arts and entertainment, helping more than 12,800 people directly each year, and hundreds of thousands online.
