Stokes Mitchell and McDonald Pay Tribute to Gershwin in 2006 Ravinia Concert

By: Oct. 28, 2005
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Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald, who first played opposite each other in Ragtime, will pair up once again to sing the songs of George Gershwin for a concert at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago on July 15th, 2006.

The concert, entitled Gershwin at Ravinia: Who Could Ask for Anything More?, is timed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of George Gershwin's only concert appearance at the theatre.  Gershwin performed his music at Ravinia in 1936, a year before his death.  Andrew Litton will accompany McDonald and Stokes Mitchell at the piano, as well as conduct.  The evening, which will be emceed by Hershey Felder (George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin), will feature selections from the operatic masterpiece Porgy and Bess (with lyrics by George's brother Ira and DuBose Heyward), as well as from Gershwin's symphonic piece "Rhapsody in Blue."  Tickets have yet to go on sale.

Stokes Mitchell made his Broadway debut in the musical Mail in 1988. Ten years later, he skyrocketed to fame as the martyred pianist Coalhouse in Ragtime. He was nominated for a Best Actor Tony, but won for his work in the 1999 Kiss Me Kate revival. He also received a Tony nomination for his last Broadway outing, the 2002 revival of Man of La Mancha. Other Broadway credits include Oh, Kay!, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and August Wilson's drama King Hedley II; he also appeared in Do Re Mi and Carnival at Encores! He is best-known to TV audiences for having starred on "Trapper John, M.D.," and he has also been seen on "Frasier" and in "Roots." Stokes Mitchell appeared at Carnegie Hall this year in a concert version of South Pacific.

McDonald is a four-time Tony Award winner for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime and most recently, A Raisin in the Sun.  She has also appeared on Broadway in Henry IV and Marie Christine.  Way Back to Paradise, How Glory Goes and Happy Songs are her solo albums, and she is also acclaimed as a concert artist.  McDonald's film and television credits include It Runs in the Family, the network drama "Mister Sterling," the television musical version of Annie, and the HBO movie Wit.

For more information, visit www.ravinia.org.



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