Brian Stokes Mitchell lends his voice and personality to George Mason University’s annual scholarship fundraiser, Arts, By George!
Broadway’s favorite leading man has chosen a program of baritone showpieces, classic love songs and ballads topped off with his signature number, “The Impossible Dream.”
For both the regular concert and the private benefit post-performance, he will be backed by his quartet, pianist Gerrard D’Angelo, bassist Gary Haase, drummer Paul Pizzuti and Robert Magnuson on woodwinds.
“These guys are veterans of Broadway and masters at putting across standards,” Mitchell says. “Recently I’ve been doing one or two concerts a week and have been fortunate to work with the best orchestras, conductors, big bands and quartets in the business.”
A favorite in Washington, his frequent Kennedy Center appearances include the NSO Pops under Marvin Hamlisch’s baton, narrating David Del Tredici’s “Rip Van Winkle” with Leonard Slatkin conducting the NSO and the ghoulish title role in Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” during the Sondheim Celebration.
“Variety is the key to not being bored,” he says. “I studied arranging and orchestration a number of years ago, so I have a home studio and arrange about three-fourths of my songs on the computer. Since writing orchestration is tedious, I often put an arrangement on the keyboard and let someone better-qualified finish it. The pianist Ted Firth perfected ‘Waters of March,’ which I sing in Portuguese.
“My job as an entertainer is to give a great show,” Mitchell said. “I love rearranging and reimagining tunes, so I want my audience to enjoy hearing songs in a new way and make their own discoveries.”
If you go
Brian Stokes Mitchell in concert, as part of Arts, By George!
Venue: George Mason University Center for the Arts
Performance: 8 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: Concert only, $30 to $60, children half-price, at 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com. Arts, By George! Scholarship benefit evening, $200 — includes food, beverage, student/faculty showcase, concert and private dessert reception with the artists onstage post-performance. Call 703-993-4188 or e-mail [email protected] for information.
