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Brian Stokes Mitchell makes Carnegie Hall debut

By Matt Windman

6:28 PM EDT, October 11, 2007

Tony-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, who serves as the president of the Actors' Fund, will mark the group's 125th anniversary with his first solo concert at Carnegie Hall on Monday night.

How will this compare with your other recent concerts? It's totally different. Paul Gemignani is conducting and we have a 42-piece orchestra. I think that's the largest orchestra anyone's ever had there for a solo performance. And my guests are amazing Reba McEntire, Harolyn Blackwell, Heather Headley, Phylicia Rashad and the Broadway Inspirational Voices.

Will it be recorded? We're looking into that right now. It hasn't been confirmed. We're trying to see if we can make it happen. You only have one first solo concert at Carnegie Hall, plus have an orchestra of this size with so many great guests.

What style of songs will you perform? What I'm trying to do is give people a mixture the comfortable stuff they want to hear, plus some of the things I've done in my cabaret shows. It's not just jazz, not just musical theater. It's an expression of who I am and what I like to do.

It's been five years since you've been on Broadway. What made you switch to the concert world? My son is almost four years old, and it's a little easier to manage my life this way. There's less work in the long run than doing eight shows a week. But I keep my eye out for the next show to do, along with the right timing.

What are you looking for in your next show? I don't know exactly. I'll know it when I see it. Hopefully, it would be a new work rather than a revival. Could be a play or musical that's exciting and new, with a wonderful director, great story.

Carnegie Hall, 57th St and Seventh Ave, 212-247-7800, $50-150. Mon 8pm.