An Evening With Brian Stokes Mitchell

An Evening With Brian Stokes Mitchell

SEP 23 | Cobb Great Hall

This performance is sponsored by

Delta Dental
Plante Morgan
Michigan Radio

Program

An Evening With Brian Stokes Mitchell

  • Tedd Firth
    Piano
  • Clint DeGanon
    Drums
  • Paul Beaudry
    Bass

Tonight’s program will be announced from the stage.

This performance will run approximately 90-105 minutes with no intermission.

BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL

Dubbed "the last leading man" by The New York Times, two-time Tony Award® winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a career that spans Broadway, television, film, and concert appearances with the country's finest conductors and orchestras.

He received Tony®, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards for his star turn in Kiss Me, Kate. He also gave Tony® nominated performances in Man of La Mancha, August Wilson's King Hedley II, and Ragtime. Other notable Broadway shows include Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jelly's Last Jam, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Shuffle Along. In 2016 he was awarded his second Tony Award®, the prestigious Isabelle Stevenson Tony for his charitable work with The Actors Fund.  That same year, Stokes was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

An extremely versatile and in-demand singer, Stokes has performed at venues spanning jazz, opera, pops, country, and musical theater worlds. He has worked with John Williams, Marvin Hamlisch, Gustavo Dudamel, Keith Lockhart, Michael Tilson Thomas, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Big Band, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Muppets. Stokes has made multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, beginning with his debut with the San Francisco Symphony through his televised performance in South Pacific opposite Reba McEntire to his sold-out solo concert, which he continues to perform throughout the U.S. He has been invited twice to perform at the White House (both times aired on PBS's Great Performances) and has performed multiple times for Presidents Clinton and Obama.

Stokes has delved deeply into various music disciplines. In addition to singing, he began piano studies at the age of six. A self-professed autodidact, his musical curiosity led him to teach himself composing, arranging, and orchestration, starting in his teens. He later studied film scoring, orchestration, and conducting both privately and through UCLA and subsequently scored and conducted a number of Trapper John, MD episodes, a series on which he was also a regular cast member. His musical talent has extended to the present day as producer, arranger, and orchestrator on his three solo albums including Simply Broadway and his latest recording, Plays With Music. Stokes has appeared on more than 20 albums.

His extensive screen credits began with a guest-starring role on Roots: The Next Generations, followed by a seven-year stint on Trapper John, MD and have continued with memorable appearances on everything from PBS's Great Performances to The Fresh Prince, Frasier, Glee, Jumping the Broom, and his most recent recurring roles on Madam Secretary, Mr. Robot, The Path, Billions, and The Good Fight. Other recent TV appearances include The Blacklist, Elementary, and Bull. As a voice-over artist he has played dozens of characters on animated TV episodes, including performing "Through Heaven's Eyes" in Dreamwork's The Prince of Egypt.

As a writer Stokes has contributed to the book Hirschfeld's Harlem, wrote the preface to At This Theatre, and co-authored the children's book Lights on Broadway.

For fun, he has been known to fly planes and jump out of them (usually not at the same time), and he can ride a bicycle on a high wire.

Stokes has enjoyed working with numerous charitable organizations from the March of Dimes to the USO. He is on the board of Americans for the Arts and is serving his 14th term as chairman of the board of The Actors Fund.

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Personal Responsibility Statement
Wharton Center offers a diverse selection of arts entertainment. Not all productions may appeal to or be appropriate for every person or for all ages. Patrons are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the shows we offer in order to make informed decisions prior to purchasing tickets.

In case of an emergency
Please observe the lighted exit signs located throughout the building and theatre(s). All patrons should note all exits, especially those closest to your seat location. Our staff and ushers are trained to assist patrons through multiple emergency situations.

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See your usher or House Management Room 209 (in Grand Foyer).

Supporters and Staff

Wharton Center gratefully recognizes our Circle Members for their philanthropic contribution, our Legacy donors who have chosen to support with their estate plans, individuals and organizations that have established named endowments to support Wharton Center, and our corporate sponsors.

Wharton Center would like to acknowledge the members of IATSE local 274.