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Brian Stokes Mitchell

Dubbed “The Last Leading Man” by the New York Times, Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a rich and varied career on Broadway, television and film, along with appearances in the great American concert halls.

His musical versatility has kept him in demand by some of the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. He has performed: selections from “Porgy and Bess” with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony at Carnegie Hall, works by Aaron Copland and various contemporary composers at the Hollywood Bowl with the L.A. Philharmonic under the batons of Leonard Slatkin and John Mauceri; Broadway tunes at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. under the baton of Marvin Hamlisch; and jazz standards with Maestro John Williams at Disney Hall and with the Boston Pops. In 2005, he debuted Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Del Tredici’s “Rip Van Winkle” with the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Slatkin. He has been invited to the White House and has performed for Presidents Clinton and Obama.

He reprised his Tanglewood performance in John Williams’ jazz version of “My Fair Lady” at Disney Hall singing opposite Dianne Reeves. In 2005, he made his cabaret debut as both singer and musical arranger in New York at Feinstein’s at the Regency in his critically acclaimed one-man show “Love/Life,” which then moved to the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. He received both the New York Bistro and Nightlife awards for his cabaret debut. He returned there in November 2008 with a critically acclaimed concert where he was accompanied by a guitarist, a bassist and a percussionist.

He headlined the Carnegie Hall concert presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's “South Pacific” with Reba McEntire, which aired on PBS in spring 2006. It also was released on DVD and CD. He reprised his role along with Reba McEntire in July 2007 at the Hollywood Bowl and then returned to The Hollywood Bowl in August 2008 starring as Javert in “Les Miserables.”

His Broadway career includes performances in “Man of La Mancha” (Tony nomination and Helen Hayes Award); “Kiss Me Kate” (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards); “Ragtime” (Tony nomination); August Wilson’s “King Hedley II” (Tony nomination); “Kiss of the Spider Woman;” “Jelly’s Last Jam;” and David Merrick’s “Oh, Kay!” and “Mail,” which earned him a Theatre World award for outstanding Broadway Debut.

His long television career began with a seven-year stint on “Trapper John, M.D.” Numerous film and TV appearances more recently include his role on “Glee” as one of Rachel Berry’s (Lea Michele) two dads, alongside Jeff Goldblum; “One Last Thing” which debuted at Toronto’s 2005 Film Festival, recurring roles on “Crossing Jordan” and “Frasier,” PBS’ “Great Performances,” DreamWorks’ “The Prince of Egypt”; and his “Presidential Debut” in “The Singer and the Song” from the White House.

In May 2011, he appeared in the film “Jumping the Broom” playing opposite Angela Bassett for the second time (The first being “Ruby’s Bucket of Blood” for Showtime). The film was a family wedding dramedy and featured Loretta Devine, Paula Patton and Laz Alonso. Stokes played Mr. Watson, the well-to do father of the bride.

In 2006, he released his self-titled album as the inaugural artist on the newly-formed Playbill Records label. In addition to singing, Stokes produced the album and also wrote many of the arrangements and orchestrations.

He continues to perform at concerts all over the United States. In December 2008, he performed as the musical guest artist at “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.” The concert was aired on PBS during Christmas 2009. Stokes has enjoys working with numerous charitable organizations from the March of Dimes to the USO and is the nine-year Chairman of the Board of the Actors’ Fund.

Stokes’ true love is spending time with his wife, actress Allyson Tucker, and his son, Ellington.