LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER Continues in April with Billy Porter & Norm Lewis

Live From Lincoln Center - the pioneering, award-winning performing arts series - continues its 40th anniversary season with two outstanding concerts form Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, featuringBilly Porter (April 3) and Norm Lewis (April 10). Six-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer Audra McDonald will host each broadcast. Details follow below.

"Billy Porter: Broadway and Soul"
Friday, April 3, 2015 (check local listings)

The incredibly talented Pittsburgh-native Billy Porter is a singer, composer, actor, playwright and director. He starred as Lola in the Broadway hit Kinky Boots, a role that won him 2013 Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. His other theater credits include Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease, Smokey Joe's Café, Dreamgirls, Angels in America, The Merchant of Venice, Radiant Baby, Birdie Blue, Songs for a New World, Ghetto Superstar (one-man show), Topdog/Underdogand King Lear. Porter has appeared in films and on television, including Law & Order: SVU, So You Think You Can Dance (as a guest judge) and The Big C among other shows, and will appear in the upcoming film The Humbling, starring Al Pacino. Porter's solo albums include his first CD, Untitled, on A&M records, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul - LIVE on Sh-K-Boom Records and his most recent recording, Billy's Back on Broadway, on Concord Records. Porter's concert credits include opening for Rosie O'Donnell and Aretha Franklin, Carnegie Hall, John McDaniel and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Buffalo Philharmonic, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, soloist for President Bill Clinton and various benefits throughout the United States. This episode, taped on January 28, 2015, features music direction by James Sampliner and directed for television by Andrew C. Wilk. For more information on Billy Porter, please visit: billyporter.com

Song selections include: "But the World Goes 'Round" (Fred Ebb and John Kander); Don't Rain on My Parade" (Bob Merrill and Jule Styne"; Kinky Boots Medley (Cyndi Lauper); and "I'm Not My Father's Son" (Cyndi Lauper).

"Norm Lewis: Who Am I?"
Friday, April 10, 2015 (check local listings)

Last winter, The New York Times called Norm Lewis' performance in Lincoln Center's American Songbook ("Norm Lewis: Who Am I?") series a "high point of the year." Audiences clamoring for a chance to experience this multi-talented singer and actor have another opportunity as LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER presents his reprise in this year's American Songbook season. Lewis holds the distinction of being the first African-American to play the title role in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. For two decades, he has brought his powerful timbre and creamy tone to roles as varied as Porgy opposite Audra McDonald in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (for which he received a 2012 Tony nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical), Javert in the Broadway and 25th anniversary London productions of Les Miserables, the Broadway revue Sondheim on Sondheim, Billy Flynn in Chicago and Valentine in Two Gentlemen of Verona in Shakespeare in the Park. In 2005, he captured particular attention and a Drama Desk Award nomination for his role in the Lincoln Center Theater's production of Dessa Rose. On television, Lewis played Senator Edison Davis on the ABC hit series Scandal, and reprised the role of Javert in the star-studded 25th anniversary O2 Arena Concert of LES MISERABLES. He recently appeared in the New York Philharmonic's production of the iconic musicalShowboat (to be seen on a future Live From Lincoln Center broadcast) and on Live From Lincoln Center's New Year's Eve broadcast singing Gershwin selections with Dianne Reeves and the New York Philharmonic. Lewis also recently released a solo album of Broadway, pop and classical songs entitled This Is the Life. This episode, taped on January 29, 2015, is directed for the stage by Richard Jay-Alexander, with musical direction by Joseph Joubert, and directed for television by Annette Jolles. For more information on Norm Lewis, please visit: normlewis.com

Song selections include: "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" (Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner); "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" (Music by George Gershwin, lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin); "What's Going On" (Renaldo Benson, al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye); and "No One Is Alone" (Stephen Sondheim).

Check out previews of both concerts below!