Lincoln Center to Present Brian Stokes Mitchell in Concert Sundays and Mondays Beginning May 1

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) will present Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell in his critically acclaimed concert, LOVE/LIFE, A Life in Song, on Sunday and Monday nights in the Vivian Beaumont Theater, beginning Sunday, May 1 during the run of LCT's production of the new musical The Light In The Piazza.. LOVE/LIVE will be performed for eight performances only through Monday, Monday May 23. All performances begin at 7:30pm.

In LOVE/LIFE, Brian Stokes Mitchell, sings for the first time as himself rather than in the voice of the famed characters he's portrayed, a jazz-infused, romantic evening of classic love songs by such composers and lyricists as Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Duke Ellington, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, George & Ira Gershwin, Joe Raposo, Bruce Hornsby and Leonard Bernstein, many to new musical arrangements by Mr Mitchell, himself. He will be accompanied by musical director Mike Renzi on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, Lou Marini on woodwinds and Buddy Williams on drums.

Brian Stokes Mitchell garnered critical acclaim when he made his nightclub debut with LOVE/LIFE at Feinstein's at the Regency earlier this year. Stephen Holden in The New York Times noted: "The magnificent Broadway baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell's vocal command is such that you wonder if the impossible might actually be within his grasp. The lesson he teaches is that you can blow the roof off if the size of your voice is matched by the range and depth of your feeling."

Dubbed "the last leading man" by The New York Times, Brian Stokes Mitchell won the Tony, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Kiss Me Kate. He was nominated for the Tony Award for as well for his performances in the musicals Man of La Mancha and Ragtime and for his dramatic performance in August Wilson's King Hedley II. Mr. Mitchell also starred in the Broadway productions of Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jelly's Last Jam, in David Merrick's production of Oh,Kay! and in the City Center Encores! productions of Do Re Mi and Carnival. He won a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut in the musical Mail. He was introduced to TV audiences by a seven- year stint on the series Trapper John, M.D. His subsequent TV and film credits include recurring roles on the TV series Frasier and Crossing Jordan, and in Dreamworks' The Prince of Egypt, Too Rich with Lauren Bacall, Call Me Claus with Whoopi Goldberg, Ruby's Bucket of Blood with Angela Bassett, Double Platinum with Diana Ross and PBS' Great Performances.

Currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary season, Lincoln Center Theater is currently presenting two new musicals: the New York premiere of The Light in the Piazza, with book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and direction by Bartlett Sher in the Vivian Beaumont Theater and the world premiere of Dessa Rose? with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and direction and choreography by Graciela Daniele in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. In addition to a number of memorable New York, U.S. and world premieres presented during LCT's 20-year history, the Theater also develops new works and encourages emerging artists through play readings, workshops and an annual Directors' Lab. Open Stages, LCT's education program, reaches thousands of NYC public school students with curriculum-related projects, tickets to LCT productions and a Shakespeare collaboration with The Juilliard School.

Tickets to LOVE/LIFE, priced from $45 to $60, are available at the Lincoln Center Theatre box office (150 West 65 Street), by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.lct.org.