This year's concert pays homage to all the Americans who have served our country with a special tribute to our troops in Iraq. Ossie Davis and Tom Hanks co-host the annual concert, set to air on most PBS stations 8-9:30 PM ET; check local listings. In addition to Broadway's Mitchell and Mazzie, other guest artists include Joe Mantegna, Charles Durning, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Jason Ritter and Joshua Bell. The broadcast will also feature the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Erich Kunzel as well as the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and the color guards from each of the armed forces.
Brian Stokes Mitchell was most recently on Broadway in the revival of Man of La Mancha, earning a Tony nomination for his performance in the title role. 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! presentations 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."
A three-time Tony Award nominee for her performances in Kiss Me, Kate; Ragtime; and Passion, Marin Mazzie's other theatrical credits include Into the Woods, Big River, The World Goes 'Round, the City Center Encores! production of Out of this World and Off-Broadway's The Trojan Women: A love Story, where she met husband Danieley. Mazzie also played a run in the London production of Kiss Me, Kate, where she earned an Olivier Award nomination for her work.