‘Stokes’ Sings ‘Noel’
Until I witnessed his Broadway (1998) performance as Coalhouse Walker in “Ragtime” – one of the great musicals of the last century – I had only heard of Seattle native Brian Stokes Mitchell. He was raised in San Diego from age 14, graduated from Patrick Henry High, and who came up, briefly, at San Diego Junior Theatre, the Old Globe and Starlight Musicals before being swept up into a career that spans film, television and stage. Those who write about his life and career sometimes neglect “Ragtime,” and yet I always think of Stokes (that’s how he refers to himself) as Coalhouse. It was one of the most affecting, incendiary performances I’ve ever seen. Several summers ago, I heard Mitchell with San Diego Symphony Summer Pops. His appearance was so human, intimate and thrilling – surely he possesses the most beautiful musical theater baritone on the contemporary stage – and by the time he sang “Bring Him Home” from “Les Miserables,” he had the audience eating out of his hands. After being inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame this month, Mitchell will spend some time making the holidays bright in San Diego, so you, and your family will have an opportunity to hear him as well as help enrich the coffers of local arts organizations. Hurry if you want tickets and a huge thrill. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Mitchell performs a Playhouse benefit concert titled “Simply Broadway,” named after his last album. Proceeds benefit Playhouse’s new play and education programs. Tickets range from $75 (concert only) to $250 for this one, depending on how many frills you want. www.lajollaplayhouse.org. Dec. 16, 17 and 18 Mitchell headlines San Diego Symphony’s (SDS) “Noel Noel” program at Copley Symphony Hall, appearing alongside San Diego Master Chorale and San Diego Children’s Chorus in favorite music of the season. It’s always a warm, wonderful event. Take the entire family. Tickets range from $20-$80. Sameer Patel, one of only 11 young conductors to receive a 2016 Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award, and recently named associate conductor of SDS, is on the podium. When you go the website www.sandiegosymphony.org (scroll down for “Noel” tickets) you may hear Stokes sing “This Nearly Was Mine” from “South Pacific.” La Jolla Symphony changes
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (lajollasymphony.com) has signed music director Steven Schick for another five years through 2022. Dr. David Chase is set to retire at the end of this season after 42 years as choral director (his final concert program is June 10-11, 2017). Dr. Patrick Walders was chosen from a recently concluded national search to take his place in July 2017. Walders, a native of Buffalo, NY, arrived in San Diego in 2011 to join the SDSU faculty. He and his wife, Katie, are founders of the Pro Arte Voices, a professional chamber choir in San Diego. In New York
David Yazbek (“The Full Monty,” premiered in 2000 at the Old Globe) has a new musical titled “The Band’s Visit.” It opened in previews Nov. 11 at the Off-Broadway Atlantic Theater Company. Based by book writer Itamar Moses on a film, it concerns an Egyptian band that gets stranded in a remote village in Israel. In La Jolla
Quiara Alegria Hudes and Erin McKeown’s wildly unique musical, “Miss You Like Hell,” opened at La Jolla Playhouse Nov. 6 and continues through Dec. 4 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. Hudes practices her own brand of magical realism. If you love words, quirky characters and dynamite performances, this mother/daughter road trip is your meat. www.lajollaplayhouse.com