Brian Stokes Mitchell is a Tony-winning actor, singer and music producer. A veteran of 11 Broadway shows and a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, he received worldwide attention singing "The Impossible Dream" from his New York City apartment window every night during the first months of the COVID pandemic. His 50 years of iconic screen performances include Frasier's snarky upstairs neighbor Cam, Hilary's bungie-jumping boyfriend on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Prince of Egypt (singing "Through Heaven's Eyes") and, most recently, Stanley Townsend in the 2024 feature film Shirley with Regina King. He has performed twice at the White House, serves on the board of Americans for the Arts and is a founding member of Black Theatre United. Stokes is a vociferous proponent of art's ability to inspire connection, hope and positive change. His new video HOPE, performed with the composer Jason Robert Brown has just been released on YouTube.
Why you should listen
Brian Stokes Mitchell’s TED Talk
Lear deBessonet, Brian Stokes Mitchell
What's possible when the arts belong to everybody
15 minutes 1 secondWith huge, city-wide casts from an array of communities, theater director Lear deBessonet's productions illuminate the unique power of the arts to transform our lives through collective expression. She explores the power of spectacle to inspire awe, connect individuals and heal loneliness with tangible, life-changing results. In a dramatic moment, deBessonet's message comes to life when Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell takes the stage for a dazzling performance of "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," accompanied by pianist Todd Almond, the MEI Screaming Eagles Marching Band and some surprise vocalists.Posted Jul 2024
