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greaterstokesawareness · 6 months

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My RECAP: Brian Stokes Mitchell at Perelman Performing Arts Center in NYC, October 5, 2023

Autumn in New York when it still feels like summer

It was so warm out on this early October day that I didn't even get to wear my Richard Gere pea coat trench, maybe next time. We spent a bunch of time wandering around St. Paul's Chapel and graveyard and visiting the September 11 memorial reflecting pools. The performing arts center is just across the street. This isn't a part of New York City that we've ever visited so we did a lot of exploring. Our next stop was the Tin Building and the Pier 17 waterfront area overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a really cool spot with lots of built-in outdoor seating and restaurants.

Not a library

The new Perelman Performing Arts Center is a big marble cube of a building with spaces that are designed to be flexible to accommodate all kinds of different performing arts needs. There's also a restaurant and lounge, an outdoor balcony and a giant staircase leading up. I work at Yale and it reminded me of the Beinecke Library because the there are no windows and the marble is designed so the light filters through. It was a pretty cool spot and I would love to see another show there sometime. You can read more about the building in this New York Times article (x).

Songs of Hope and Life

The show was Brian Stokes Mitchell accompanied by Ted Firth on piano and was titled Songs of Hope and Life. It lasted for a good two hours and Stokes did 18 songs including several that I personally hadn't heard him perform live before. You can find the setlist below. Highlights were pretty much all the songs I've never heard live before which were "Hope," "The Best Is Yet to Come," and "Being Alive." And I'll give a goofy honorable mention to "It's Not Easy Being Green" and "Hooray for Tom" mostly because of the surprise green spotlight which honestly cracked me up. When Stokes did "Odds on Favorite" and "Over the Moon" he was in full excitable-boy-mode. He literally sat at the piano and played an instrumental song from the E.T. soundtrack with Ted Firth playing his part standing up. I mean it was objectively adorable.

[side note: I was surprised to hear the Bruce Hornsby cover and it made me think that the Jackson Browne songs on my wishlist (x) might not be too far off the mark :)) Brian Stokes Mitchell "Sky Blue and Black" when?].

Twice in a lifetime opportunity?

Did I mention we were sitting in the front row center? Yeah, in a repeat of good fortune just like at the Town Hall show last April, we were lucky enough to sit in the front row. Which means we were lucky enough to witness the absolute artistry of Stokes singing "This Nearly Was Mine" with no microphone. I will never get tired of seeing him do this. What made this time especially cool was that he moved right up to the edge of the stage, right in front of us, to sing. Honestly, I was frozen in my seat, literally holding my breath at times. Like I can't properly explain how captivating it is to watch someone that talented and professional at their craft sing that close up and to be able to catch every mannerism, every dramatic choice, all of the breaths and swallows, all those small decisions during a performance. Just stunning. Here's audio of the song from that night (x), I know it can't truly capture the actual performance but you can get an idea of how cool it was to have Stokes basically sing this really special song right into your face.

Next up for us is Ridgefield, CT on October 29th. Super excited, can't wait to see Stokes sing again! You can find a link to his upcoming concert dates and other goodies in my pinned post (x).

Links: setlist.fm (x), event page on NYCPAC (x), Playbill article about Downtown Sessions series (x)

Set list:

Feeling Good

Hope (Jason Robert Reynolds song)

I, Don Quixote

The Best Is Yet to Come

Getting Married Today

Being Alive

Waters of March

Lush Life

This Nearly Was Mine (no microphone) (x)

A Wizard Every Day

It's Not Easy Being Green

Hooray for Tom (Bruce Hornsby song)

New Words

Make Them Hear You

The Impossible Dream

Odds on Favorite (Pete Seeger song)

Over the Moon [instrumental on piano with Ted Firth] (from E.T., John Williams)

Grateful

#brian stokes mitchell #greater stokes awareness: my recap #greater stokes awareness: author's note #brian stokes mitchell: concert #broadway #musical theater #greater stokes awareness

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cjkendricksmusicblog · 7 years

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Self Discovery: the journey of the Artist

What's good, good people?!? In recent blog posts I've given you guys lots of entertainment, plenty of shameless self-promotion and a little bit of music along the way. Well, now its time to get real. Now it's time to strip away parts of the persona to find out what encapsulates me so much about music. It's time to get a little vulnerable, time to atone for wrongdoings, to make amends in life with distant and past relationships. So lets get to it, shall we...

CJ LIVE @ VINYL - JULY 22nd!!!

I'm hella stoked to be returning to the Vinyl stage soon. Get your discount tickets while you still can... and get ready for a wild summer ride!!! Bringing you songs from FAME vs INFAMY, a few covers and some #NEWMUSIC... I've put my everything I have into this next performance. I hope you will join me there, and thanks to AFTON yet another performance opportunity!!! Get your tickets NOW and support indie music!!! Early ticket purchases are a great way to support my music, because in addition to saving you money on the cost of each ticket... it also gives me a few perks as well that I can share with the fans!!! Perks like, LOCKING IN MY PERFORMANCE TIME, EARNING EXTRA PAY, and even getting to PLAY A LONGER SET! So don't delay, get your tickets now and I'll see you there!!! First 25 Tickets purchased get a FREE DOWNLOAD of FAME vs INFAMY EP!

KICKSTARTER UPDATE #2: Coming Soon

I'll be updating my backers this week with the latest progress on the Kickstarter project. So far, I've managed to raise about $1100... but I've still got a long, long way to go. With just over 30 days or so left in the campaign, I really need YOUR help spreading the word about the project. Let's create a sense of urgency, getting as many people behind us as possible. I know I can do this with YOU!! I'm not just asking for your money and/or support. My team and I are also putting in long hours of hard work, learning and implementing marketing techniques to get more exposure and create more buzz. We've started pre-production for the music videos, compiled email lists, scouted filming locations and begun the task of finding producers/engineers to record with. Just last week I had a great phone conference with an awesome guy, Jeff "fuzzy" Wenzel, that has given my team and I some excellent tools for Kickstarter success. (Insert info from CALL). I highly recommend a consultation with Jeff to any and all indie artist thinking of crowdfunding their next project!! And be sure to check my Kickstarter for complete detailed update next week!

SELF-DISCOVERY: Part One - What I have to stop hiding behind...

I have quite a few defense mechanisms that I've been recently made aware of. On this journey that I've set out on, to become something more, something greater than I am now... I've hit a roadblock that is ME. I have never been vulnerable and that scares the shit out of me! I've built these walls and this persona. I've used my EGO masquerading as my intelligence, to pretend I'm never wrong. I'm far more intelligent than most people realize, but not nearly as smart as I'd like to think I am. I hate losing, I hate being wrong, and I've spent far too much of my life arguing my points so that I don't have to accept failure, error or loss. Only to ironically lose more opportunities to be great by pretending to be greater than... (Let’s reflect on that statement for a moment...)

I have to stop intoxicating, inebriation, and self-medicating, and face the problems in my life and fears I've long suppressed. I have to accept all of my emotions for the first time in life... I'm not sure what that entails yet, but I'm sure I'll find out soon.

Each week I'll give you guy a little more insight into the transformation, but their will be a lot I have to face alone. I'll see you on the other side of this journey.

MOTOWN MONDAY Recap: Kicking off the MONTH OF MARVIN!!!

I couldn't make this week's blog completely serious... Not without bringing you a little of why we're here in first place, of course... some damned good music! Well, if you're one of my YouTube subscribers, then you know that this past Monday was the start of THE MONTH OF MARVIN!! That's right, JUNE on my YouTube channel is dedicated to Marvin Gaye, and my weekly MOTOWN MONDAY series kicked off this month with GOT TO GIVE IT UP!! Check out the full video clip below...

youtube

Be sure to check me out next week when I bring some SEXUAL HEALING to YouTube, and until then, stay tuned to Instagram all weekend for quick acapella covers.

MEDITATION for next week...

Join me back here next Friday night for Part Two of SELF DISCOVERY, another Kickstarter Update preview, Motown Monday recap, and some more Instagram acoustic and acapella jams, tumbling clips and maybe even a little parkour!!! Don’t miss it!!!

#Atlanta Music #summerofcj #come at me bro #cjkendricksmusic #cjkendricks #atlmusicartist #music is my life #making moves #mogulmindset #self care #self discovery #motown #marvin gaye #kickstarter

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greaterstokesawareness · 1 year

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My RECAP: Brian Stokes Mitchell at Lincoln Center Open House weekend, October 29, 2022

[Brian Stokes Mitchell performs at Lincoln Center's Open House Weekend in celebration of the re-opening of David Geffen Hall after renovations. All events during the open house were free and open to the public. Stokes performed a six-song set in the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade. October 29, 2022.]

Links: Lincoln Center Open House website (x), YouTube playlist with my videos of the show (x)

Every new show is my favorite, that's okay right?

Every time I've seen Brian Stokes Mitchell perform in person it has been really special in a new and different way, which seems so unlikely, but I swear it happens every time. This time, the setting was Lincoln Center's Open House in honor of the re-opening of the newly renovated David Geffen Hall. There were free events and performances all weekend long in all of the different performance areas of the new building. Stokes was set to perform in the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade, which is a fancy way to say he was on a little stage in the lobby outside the new Wu Tsai theater on the second floor of the building. Side note: We had already bought tickets to an upcoming performance on November 4th in Worcester, Mass when this free opportunity popped up, but honestly, there was no way I was going to miss a chance to see Stokes sing and I'm so glad I didn't.

A pretty perfect day

It was a gorgeous fall day on the Connecticut shoreline and my best friend and fellow Stokes aficionado and I ate some sandwiches as we waited for the train in the afternoon sun. New York City was slightly warmer; sunny and 65 and perfect. We emerged from the dark and closeness of the subway into the warmth of the autumn sun and smack in the middle of a little farmer's market. 10/10 experience folks. We managed to get into David Geffen Hall at around 3:15 for Stokes's 5:00pm show. There was a fun 3-piece strings band called Time for Three playing in the Grand Promenade when we walked in, they closed their set with a cover of "Stand By Me" that had some seriously cool pizzicato.

When the Time for Three crowd dispersed, we made our way to two chairs right in front of center stage. We had drinks and chatted with the folks around us for about an hour before it was time for the show to start. Stokes was joined by pianist Joseph Thalken and went right into a 6-song set, that lasted just under an hour.

Set list:

I, Don Quixote

Feeling Good

A Wizard Every Day

Wheels of a Dream

I Was Here

Impossible Dream

Some highlights of the highlights

I don't know how this short 6-song set ended up being one of my favorite shows I've ever attended, but it was truly a special little moment in time. A few highlights: first of all, we both felt a bit unhinged about being perceived by Stokes. I don't know if he remembered us from being in the audience (and literally right in the front) at three other shows this year, but it was really fun to get little nods and points during one of our faves "A Wizard Every Day" (x) and during "Impossible Dream." (x) Like please roll the tape, because I took videos of every song and I will be using these moments as meditation and therapy on days when I feel down. They were just pure light. As I've said on here before, Stokes just has a way of making you feel like singing songs at 1,000% just for you is the most important work he'll ever do, you can just feel that and it's really beautiful. Another cool moment was getting to hear him sing "I Was Here." (x) I hadn't heard this song live before and it was so good.

"Well I will not flicker and die like an ember / Too many men flicker and die / I will leave something behind to remember / Somehow I must.."

When Stokes sang these lines with his whole chest it was, oh I don’t even know how to express it, immediate! soaring! towering! I definitely have a new appreciation for that song now. I usually listen to the re-written version that was included in the Lights on Broadway children's book (x), but from now on I'll be giving the original equal listening time.

These were just a few highlights, but I can honestly say every new show I've been fortunate enough to go to has been my favorite including this one. I say this with zero hyperbole, it's been the joy of my life to attend these Stokes shows this year and as I find myself sitting in each different audience, I can feel my mind wrestling with itself, between paying as close attention as possible and wandering off picturing the whole scene from above in sheer awe that I'm even there at all.

When the show ended, we drifted out to the balcony on cloud nine, taking in the early evening city views and further absorbing the show. We decided to forego the subway and walk to a cool restaurant we read about some blocks away. On the way, we happened to pass by the Winter Garden and ended up buying last minute tickets to The Music Man. We got to see Sutton and Hugh in one of my favorite musicals ever, which was just the best possible way to cap off a pretty amazing day. This is honestly what I always hoped being a grownup would be like ♥️

-- DL, 11/8/22, @itslucyhenley

#brian stokes mitchell #lincoln center #broadway #musical theater #greater stokes awareness #greater stokes awareness: my recap #greater stokes awareness: author's note

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greaterstokesawareness · 2 years

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My RECAP: Brian Stokes Mitchell at The Town Hall NYC with Seth Rudetsky, April 4, 2022

[Seth Rudetsky's Broadway featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell at The Town Hall NYC, Monday, April 4, 2022]. (x) (x) (x) (x) (x)

On February 22, 2021 I listened to Brian Stokes Mitchell for the very first time. Then I listened to him all year long, through lockdown and isolation, on my way to get my first vaccine shot, on the way back into the office for the first time in almost two years. I listened to interviews he gave about the importance of art and artists, about the uplifting power of music and performance, and about the inherent spiritually of art. Stokes was both professor and syllabus. I started looking for these glimmers in other aspects of life: in nature, in solitude, in the smallest of moments throughout the day. Finding and researching his works was a life-saver and a life-enricher in a really dark time. It brought a new and exciting way to look at and navigate the world.

On April 9, 2021 I bought tickets to his show at Town Hall in NYC, wondering as my mouse hovered over the front row whether I was worthy of those seats since I’d only been listening to him for a few months. Gatekeeping myself as if I needed to be an expert to know the joy his works were adding to my life. Just the act of buying those tickets made me so happy, the promise of a fun night out in NYC, in a near future beyond whatever dystopian sci-fi novel we were living in.

On July 23, 2021 I got to see him at his free outdoor concert at Lincoln Center, we were way in the back, but just seeing him from afar and hearing him in person was uplifting. His voice floated up into the New York City night air combining with the hum of the city. It was right before Delta, when there was a tiny bit of hope that the pandemic was actually coming to an end.

On April 4, 2022 we sat in the front row at the Town Hall, one entire year on from buying the tickets, still in this pandemic, cases rising again, two more variants on from Delta. More learning to live with this reality than imagining it will ever truly come to an end.

Last January, Stokes gave an interview on the “Just for Variety” podcast talking about how he couldn’t wait to be part of an audience again; sharing an arm rest with a stranger, no masks, and just ugly crying over a show together. No exaggeration, this was me the entire show – except masks were required. Every time he started to sing, tears welled in my eyes. It was honestly quite spiritual, by the end of the night I felt like I went to church.

The show was Brian Stokes Mitchell in conversation and in concert with Seth Rudetsky. Everything was perfect: the format, the song choices, the banter, the conversation. Seth expertly steered the discussion and the performances without stepping on Stokes’s natural enthusiasm. I loved every moment of it. I won’t recap the whole entire show, although you will find links above to other posts about the show as well as the set list below, but please do allow me to be an emotional nerd for the next few paragraphs because this show was one of the most meaningful live music performances I’ve ever attended.

Face-acting is something that can be so special

I love watching people’s faces tell a story, it’s why I love tv and movies so much, it’s why I love watching the actor that’s not speaking in a scene, that’s just listening and helping to tell the story with their face and movements, it’s why something I can connect with in this way is so rewatchable, and it’s why I love watching Stokes sing so much. He's singing, beautifully, expertly, but it's also almost like he's listening too; listening to the song, to the character, to the songwriter and composer. I mean, musical theater songs have that story built in, so watching someone sing a song from a show isn’t just seeing and hearing that one song or performer, it’s everything about that character and the story they’re living in, and when the perfect person is playing that character it’s just something that can be so special.

Towards the latter part of the show, Stokes sang "How to Handle a Woman" from Camelot, which appears on his 2012 album Simply Broadway. He's kind of playing three different characters in this song: Arthur, Merlin, and then himself. And this was so much more pronounced in person than it is on the album, as Stokes sang the Merlin portion of the song walking as if he had a cane as he made his way over to the chairs where they sat for the conversation parts of the show. He sat down in Seth's chair and sang the rest of the song from there. It was like he acted the first part of the song, sat down and absorbed the quiet piano part, and then turned back into himself for the last part of the song. Seth's chair was directly across from where I was sitting and so being in the right place at the right time, I got to receive this part of the song. To be quite honest, I was genuinely sobbing under my mask, it was like an otherworldly feeling to see that he was actually looking at me while he was singing. It's almost indescribable.

The only comparable moment that comes to mind is when I took a music appreciation elective in college and in this small little room with just a handful of non-musical people, the teacher sat down at the piano and played “Adagio: Pathetique” by Beethoven, the one Billy Joel uses in his song “This Night.” Up to that point in my life, I’d heard a lot of Billy Joel and not a lot of Beethoven, but I’d also never heard a live piano performance that was so close and personal, almost like it was just for me. I’d never been in a room with just a piano, ever. The creaking of the piano bench as his weight shifted, the physical thump of the keys being played, the deep breath of the pedals. I think about that moment all the time, how in the middle of the school day with thoughts about papers and weekend plans and changing my major, I could be moved by something so deeply that I’d remember it years and years later.

A song is alive as long as people still sing it and listen to it. And if it’s alive, it can grow and change and shift meanings

He introduced “Feeling Good” by saying it never used to be his favorite song. Same Stokes, same. This one also appeared on his 2012 Simply Broadway album so I have to assume his opinion of it changed back then. But the way he introduced the song this night was to talk about the way the meaning of the song shifted for him once again as he emerged from his bout with Covid-19. He spoke about noticing the vibrancy of the world, of nature, of a simple walk through the park.

The thing it most reminds me of in my personal memory bank is the evolution of Bruce Springsteen’s “My City of Ruins.” He wrote that song for Asbury Park, NJ in the early 2000s, then he played it on the America: A Tribute to Heroes concert after 9/11 and it took on a new meaning. By the time I attended his concert at the Hartford Civic Center in early October 2012 he was introducing it as a song “from my ghosts to your ghosts” after recently losing Clarence Clemons. The song was almost a spiritual hymn that night as Bruce spoke about the ghosts that walk alongside you to “remind you of the preciousness of life, the sweetness of this evening, the goodness of love.” It was a special and deeply spiritual moment that I’ll never forget, to be there in attendance when a song you’ve lived with shifts meanings. A few weeks later Hurricane Sandy hit and it became a song for New Jersey once again.

But I digress..

Stokes then proceeded to sing “Feeling Good” with so much depth and consequence changing the way I will experience this song forever. It’s always been this playful jazz tune in my mind, but the way Stokes sang it this night with all the emotional weight of the pandemic behind and ahead of us all, it was hymn-like. Like I truly do not know how to explain in human words how this went from a song that I feel just ok about to a moment of intense spirituality. Was it being part of an actual audience again, in a quiet, darkened room with people that lived a thousand different days that day, but ended up sitting together in the same place? Was it wandering around New York City with my best friend on a breezy, spring day after months of cold? Was it being in the front row seeing someone take a moment to close their eyes tightly and give everything to the song? I honestly don’t know what makes some nights at a concert so transcendently special, I guess it’s a combination of so many things that are personal to those particular members of the audience that are spiritually freaking out inside, that feeling where you’re just experiencing a performer who can make you feel like he’s singing just for you in a single moment, but also for the stardust at the beginning of the universe. Sorry I know that is an insane sentence but truthfully, I have never felt so moved at a concert. The spirit of the song felt like it was in the room, swirling around us all. An actual presence.

I’ve read about this exact thing in other reviews of Stokes’s shows, which devastatingly, are sometimes the only record that the show happened. Most recently, I read this sentence in a review of one of his shows in Cincinnati: “He exuded a genuine spirit every time he was onstage, and communicated every lyric to every seat in the house.”

Every single song was my favorite. The little kid lisp in "Wizard Every Day," the sign language he did during the song from Godspell, the power and the softness of "So In Love," the funny little comedy bits in "Ain't Necessarily So," the absolute jaw-dropping gravitas of hearing him sing "This Nearly Was Mine" with no microphone. It was a perfect night of stories and songs.

Taking a moment to acknowledge the power of a song, the power of a performance

Anyway, in case it wasn't clear, this show was very special to me. When the lights came up, I got out of my seat, walked up the aisle, out the door, and stood outside the venue as an absolute husk of myself. Not to be the most dramatic person on the planet, but yeah, that. It’s true though, I didn’t even wipe the tears from my eyes until the night air hit my face. With no last-minute train to catch, we stood outside the Town Hall just taking in the essence of the show, talking about the really special moments, watching everyone shuffle out and meet up with old friends, get into their Ubers, or just walk down the sidewalk and disappear into the New York City night for more adventures. We decided we might as well wait to see if Stokes would come out of the stage door and sign stuff or take pictures. It’s still Covid times, so it’s hard to know what’s appropriate, but just standing out there in the chilly air looking up at the lights of the city against the darkness of the sky was a really great way to end the night, I've never gotten to mentally sit with a show for that long without having to worry about finding the car, driving out of after-show traffic, finding out what train to catch and how fast we have to run to make it. Just to be out there and be able to experience and sit with joy; marinate in it, examine it, deconstruct it and to know that’s what you’re doing. Epiphanal, as Stokes would say.

He did eventually come out and I was able to say “hi” and “will you take a picture” and “thanks” because I was an actual starry-eyed mess, thinking all these huge thoughts, but not able to speak them out loud. I was not okay, lol, but it was a great way to end a really fun, moving, amazing day.

I’ve been to tons of concerts, have seen really personally meaningful artists and music, experienced performances that have brought tears to my eyes. To hear songs sung by an artist that holds a special place for you, in the same room as you, there’s no comparison to how affecting that is, but Stokes makes you feel like it’s also the most important moment for him too, which is kind of a rare thing. Like I don’t know how to explain it, and I don’t even want to speculate on this particular talent, I just choose to believe he goes 1000% on every song, every time and is having the time of his life.

-- DL, 5/8/22, @itslucyhenley

Set list:

No Business Like Show Business

So In Love

All Good Gifts (with ASL)

Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)

Impossible Dream

Feelin’ Good

Wizard Every Day

Ain’t Necessarily So

Stars

How to Handle a Woman

Wheels of a Dream

This Nearly Was Mine (no mic)

#brian stokes mitchell #seth rudetsky #broadway #musical theater #town hall nyc #greater stokes awareness #greater stokes awareness: my recap #greater stokes awareness: author's note

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greaterstokesawareness · 2 years

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My RECAP: Brian Stokes Mitchell joins the New Haven Symphony Orchestra as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, June 11, 2022

[Brian Stokes Mitchell joins the New Haven Symphony Orchestra as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. The program also included performances by Harolyn Blackwell, Albert R. Lee, Johnathan Moore, Anton Kot, and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alasdair Neale; June 11, 2022.]

It was such a fun experience seeing Stokes in my hometown. The concerts on the green in New Haven are always something special and it was beyond cool to see one of my faves play right down the street from where I grew up and just a couple of blocks away from my office.

It was a beautiful, breezy early summer night and everyone that performed did a great job. I will never take seeing live, in-person music for granted ever again, it really is special. Check out the video for "The Impossible Dream" on my YouTube playlist below for a fun little treat as an audience member joined in on one of Stokes's stories.

Stokes setlist: "Feelin' Good," "So In Love" with Harolyn Blackwell, "Ain't Necessarily So," "The Impossible Dream," "Wheels of a Dream" with Harolyn Blackwell, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" singalong.

playlist of my videos from the show (x)

program listing on NHSO and Arts & Ideas websites (x) (x) (x)

#brian stokes mitchell #harolyn blackwell #broadway #musical theater #new haven symphony orchestra #orchestra #greater stokes awareness #greater stokes awareness: my recap #greater stokes awareness: author's note

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greaterstokesawareness · 1 year

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My RECAP: Brian Stokes Mitchell and Seth Rudetsky with South Shore Orchestra at Madison Theatre at Molloy University, March 31, 2023

[Brian Stokes Mitchell performs with Seth Rudetsky and the South Shore Orchestra at Madison Theatre at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York on Friday, March 31, 2023.]

Road trip to Long Island

This was our first Stokes show of 2023 (and hopefully not our last). We were hoping that a miracle would happen and that some tickets to the Ragtime Reunion Concert would materialize for us, but alas it was not in the cards. Not to worry though, because we had this Stokes show lined up for just a few days later. So, me and my bestie hopped in the car for the 2-hour drive to Long Island soundtracked by Little Steven's Underground Garage on SiriusXM because our tastes are eclectic even when driving towards musical theater royalty.

The last time we saw Stokes with Seth Rudetsky was almost a year ago to the day, on April 4, 2022 at The Town Hall in NYC (x). At that show, they sang and talked around a single piano with no other accompanists. This time around, Seth and Stokes were joined by a full orchestra, The South Shore Orchestra, so once again, we were treated to a slightly different configuration that made this show another really special night. It's hard to explain how multiple shows with very similar set lists can feel so fresh and alive and different, but this is just always how I feel after going to see Brian Stokes Mitchell - granted I am that goofy nerd that will listen to a song on repeat for days and get goosebumps every time and find an element of it I've never clocked before on like listen number 72. Side note: please consider listening to these two Leonard Cohen songs back-to-back on repeat for like 14 days straight to prove you are a normal functioning adult human person.

Happy birthday to me? And the president plays guitar

The pre-show butterflies were real when we were sitting in the seats in this really beautiful venue and chatting with the retired women in our row, looking out at the stage with all the instruments resting near the chairs and highlighted by that purple glow all venues seem to have. The show was preceded by some remarks by members of the university brass (the people in charge at the fundraisers not the horn players). At one point, the president of the university got up to speak and mentioned that he was going to be filling in on guitar with the orchestra. We saw him in the lobby after the show and told him he did a great job, which was a fun, wholesome little moment!

Another fun moment (also terrifying?!) happened about halfway through the show, when Seth suddenly said "Where's Dana?" and when I tell you the adrenaline rush that went through me was no joke. Now for those of you that don't know, my name is Dana, but Seth was not talking about me, apparently the university president's wife is also named Dana and it was her birthday. Anyway, I got to hear Stokes and a whole auditorium sing "happy birthday" to Dana, so I'll take that as a win for me personally and will play that for myself next January.

Turns out songs sound super cool with a full orchestra

The rest of the show was fun and moving and sounded really amazing with the full orchestra. There were songs we got to hear with the full orchestra for the first time that we had only ever heard with a small band or just piano before. Some full orchestra highlights were "This Nearly Was Mine," "A Wizard Every Day" (apologies to everyone for the unhinged shoutout, but it's like our fave), "Feeling Good," and "Getting Married Today." Stokes did his Methuselah bit in "Ain't Necessarily So," which honestly, I never get tired of seeing because the goofiness of it all. And to cap things off, at the end of the same week of the very emotional Ragtime reunion, Stokes asked Seth to sing Audra's parts on "Wheels of a Dream" and it was everything.

Here's the full set list:

I, Don Quixote

How to Handle a Woman

Stars

Ain't Necessarily So

Happy Birthday (to Dana)

This Nearly Was Mine

A Wizard Every Day

Feeling Good

Getting Married Today

Wheels of a Dream (Seth doing Audra's parts)

Impossible Dream

Who has CDs anymore (hint: it's me)

This show was at a theater on a college campus and it was inside a bigger campus building and so they didn't close down after the show was over. We ended up hanging out for a bit, which is when we got to chat with the guitar-playing-university-president and other Dana of birthday fame, but we also had the opportunity to briefly meet Stokes too. So, one year after being incoherent at the stage door of the Town Hall show, I actually was able to say words this time.

Earlier in the night, Seth opened up the floor for a few questions and people were very interested in what Stokes might be up to next, including my best friend who had the courage to raise their hand and ask about plans for the Plays With Music re-release. Like Stokes has said before, the album will be re-released soon along with both of his other albums. He made a joke about the fact that you can only listen to it right now if you have the CD, and who has CDs anymore. He also mentioned that the Ragtime Reunion concert was filmed and to keep an eye out for information on that by visiting the Entertainment Community Fund website.

So, I managed to say "hi" and ask Stokes to sign something. When he saw the Plays With Music CD in my hand, he enthusiastically said "You had the CD!" and I said "I had the CD!" which honestly made my night. He signed my CD and took a selfie with both of us and that was that. We walked off into the chilly, early spring night feeling that spiritual renewal that only your favorite music can bring you.

#brian stokes mitchell #musical theater #broadway #seth rudetsky #greater stokes awareness #greater stokes awareness: my recap #greater stokes awareness: author's note

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