Ted Firth, Brian Stokes Mitchell (Photo: Richard Termine)
An Evening with Brian Stokes Mitchell
By Deirdre Donovan
Spring was in the air at the 92nd Street Y, New York, as the legendary Brian Stokes Mitchell sauntered onstage for his one-night-only concert, An Evening With Brian Stokes Mitchell. Presented as part of the Tisch 2025/26 season—and marking his debut at the landmark institution—the program drew from Broadway, jazz, and the American Songbook, showcasing not only his expansive repertoire but also his gift for storytelling.
The evening opened with a video of Mitchell performing Jason Robert Brown’s “Hope,” recorded in 2024 with the composer at the piano. The song, now part of Mitchell’s active repertoire, set a tone of resilience and uplift, its lyrics drifting through the hall like a welcome breeze: “When life is crazy and impossible to bear / It must be there / Fear never wins / That’s what I hope.”
As the final notes faded, Mitchell entered to enthusiastic applause, dressed in a royal blue suit with an open-necked lavender shirt. Greeting the audience warmly, he shared his aim for the evening: to send everyone home in better spirits. With a glint in his eye, he promised “some fun” and an “oasis away from the craziness.”
From there, Mitchell launched into a buoyant “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” playfully reshaping its familiar rhythms as he strutted across the stage. That theatrical ease carried into “I, Don Quixote,” where he transformed the microphone stand into a lance, cheekily evoking his award-winning turn in Man of La Mancha. The gesture was emblematic of his charm—part virtuosity, part mischief, entirely engaging.
Throughout the evening, Mitchell wove songs together with personal anecdotes, allowing each number to emerge as part of a larger narrative rather than a standalone showcase. A romantic turn arrived with “How to Handle a Woman” from Camelot, which he delivered with warmth and ease, recalling a 2014 gala performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
He then reflected on his evolving relationship with Les Misérables, admitting he hadn’t always connected with the material until he was cast as Javert in the 2008 Hollywood Bowl concert. That experience, he explained, revealed the musical’s emotional depth—an insight borne out in his commanding rendition of “Stars,” which transported the audience with its moral gravity.
Elsewhere, Mitchell moved fluidly across styles, from the sly wit of “It Ain’t Necessarily So” (Porgy and Bess) to the smoky introspection of Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” and the breathless dexterity of “Getting Married” (Company). Yet even amid these familiar highlights, he made room for surprise, introducing a contemporary song by Nikko Benson and Liz Suggs about an indignant trick-or-treater. Drawn to its message of finding magic in the everyday, Mitchell—born on Halloween in Seattle—spoke of the necessity of imagination, especially in the face of life’s harsher realities.
Brian Stokes Mitchell (Photo: Richard Termine)
At the show’s midpoint, Mitchell paused to acknowledge his longtime collaborator, pianist and musical director Ted Firth, whose elegant, responsive playing anchored the evening. Later, he welcomed his son Ellington to the stage, proudly noting his role in the show’s technical design—a touching reminder that artistry, for Mitchell, is both personal and generational.
Perhaps the evening’s most affecting moment came with Mitchell’s recollection of contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic. In gratitude for his recovery, he shared, he had sung “The Impossible Dream” nightly from his apartment window as a tribute to essential workers. Reprising the song here, he delivered it with quiet conviction, prompting more than a few audience members to reach for tissues.
Ted Firth, Brian Stokes Mitchell (Photo: Richard Termine)
All in all, Mitchell’s appearance at the 92nd Street Y proved a resounding success. It is not only his rich baritone that captivates, but his generosity of spirit—an artist who transforms performance into connection and reminds us why live theater still matters.
An Evening with Brian Stokes Mitchell
One-night-only event on March 19, 2026
At the 92 Street Y, New York
1395 Lexington Ave.
Running time: 70 minutes, no intermission
For more information on future programs, please visit www.92NY.org
