New York, NY (Top40 Charts / The Actors Fund) Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell today announced the release of his second self-produced solo album SIMPLY BROADWAY, and, to inaugurate his 2012-2013 concert year, a five city charitable tour. Demonstrating his love and dedication to the performing arts, Stokes, who is Chairman of the Board of The Actors Fund, is choosing five non-profit theatres across the country to perform in concert with at least 50% of the proceeds to be shared between The Actors Fund and each theatre. Each performance 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. SIMPLY BROADWAY will be available as of October 30th, 2012 on Amazon.com and iTunes through CD Baby where pre-orders will be available starting in mid-October. The five city tour will commence at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on October 31st.
SIMPLY BROADWAY is the album that Brian Stokes Mitchell fans have been anticipating to follow-up Stokes' 2006 debut solo album Brian Stokes Mitchell. A recording of Broadway classics, SIMPLY BROADWAY was originally inspired by the legendary duo album by Tony
Bennett and Bill Evans performing standards from the American Songbook. Respecting the simplicity of the music by using the model of recordings from the mid-20th century, SIMPLY BROADWAY was created without the benefit of overdubs or audio separation—Stokes and his pianist in the same room at the same time. 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. Songs were chosen from Broadway hits including: Camelot, Porgy and Bess, Company, Sunday in the Park with Georgeand Les Miserables, among others.
In the concert series, audiences can expect an imaginative, unusual performance, displaying Stokes' own remarkable Broadway baritone style and only a piano on stage. Stokes creates characters from various shows with simple movement, evocative lighting and a few ambient sound effects setting the stage - keeping it - simply Broadway. At every performance throughout the tour, in addition to entertaining, Stokes will pay homage to all who carry the message of caring for one another in the arts and every other area of endeavor.
Dubbed "the last leading man" by The New York Times, Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a successful career that spans Broadway, television, film and concert appearances with the country's finest conductors and orchestras. He has received Tony,
Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his performances on Broadway in shows such as Kiss Me Kate, Man of La Mancha,August Wilson'sKing
Hedley IIand Ragtime. Other notable Broadway shows include Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jelly's Last Jam, and most recently, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. His television and film credits include: Trapper John M.D., Frasier, Glee, PBS' Great Performances and Jumping the Broom, among others. Brian Stokes Mitchell is represented by Paradigm.
For additional information on the album SIMPLY BROADWAY, please visit Brian Stokes Mitchell's website at: www.brianstokes.com, follow him @bstokesmitchell, or "like" his Facebook page at Facebook.com/bstokesmitchell.
For tickets and information on the October 31st concert at Lincoln Center, visit www.actorsfund.org. Concert dates for the remainder of the tour will be announced soon.
About The Actors Fund
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. Serving professionals in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance. The Fund's programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has - for 130 years -been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition. For more information, please visit: www.actorsfund.org.
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