Recently announced to appear with Mitchell are Tony winner Heather Headley, legendary soprano Harolyn Blackwell and the Broadway Inspirational Voices. As previously reported, Mitchell's South Pacific co-star, Reba McEntire, and Phylicia Rashad, with whom he co-starred in Jelly's Last Jam, will join Mitchell for his solo debut on the famed stage.
Patti LuPone will also be on hand to award John Breglio with "The Actors Fund Medal of Honor" prior to the concert. This milestone is in recognition of Breglio's "tremendous contribution to not only The Actors Fund, but to the performing arts community as a whole."
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 offer highlights from his career as one of Broadway's foremost leading men, as well as music he has always wanted to perform. Tony-winning conductor Paul Gemignani, who previously worked with Mitchell conducting the acclaimed Carnegie Hall concert of South Pacific, will lead the orchestra.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, who was seen in the City Center Encores! presentation of Kismet, earned a Tony nomination for his performance in the title role of Man of La Mancha. He won the 2000 Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards for his performance as Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate, and his other Broadway credits include lead roles in King Hedley II; Ragtime; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Jelly's Last Jam; Oh, Kay!; Mail; and the City Center Encores! mountings of Do Re Mi and Carnival. Television audiences will be familiar with Mitchell's work from his roles on "Trapper John, M.D.," "Roots" and "Frasier." Mitchell was elected the 12th president of the Actors' Fund of America, and he has performed in concert halls and cabarets around the country. His Playbill Records CD is entitled "Brian Stokes Mitchell." 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.
