Mitchell, Vereen, Fields, Etc. Join 'Bway Meets Country'

More stars have signed on to the upcoming "Broadway Meets Country" benefit concert, which will be presented by the Country Music Association (CMA), on Monday, October 30 at 7:30pm/CST.  It will be held at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center-James K. Polk Theater in Nashville.

The event will feature, in addition to previously announced stars, Tony Award-nominees Felicia P. Fields (The Color Purple), Peter Gallagher (Guys and Dolls, "The O.C.") and Tony Award-winners Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me, Kate) and Ben Vereen (Pippin), along with Country Music's Joe Nichols ("Man With a Memory"), singer-songwriter Phil Vassar (#1 single "Last Day Of My Life") and 2006 "Nashville Star" winner Chris Young (debut single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely").

"Broadway Meets Country" will be co-hosted by Tony Award-winner Jane Krakowski (Nine), star of the NBC primetime comedy "30 Rock," and two-time CMA "Entertainer of the Year," superstar Barbara Mandrell.  The evening will raise funds for both TPAC Education and The Actors' Fund of America, and is presented in partnership with CMT and American Airlines – the official airline of "Broadway Meets Country." 

"In celebration of  the universality and crossover appeal of these two popular musical genres, those attending the event will have the opportunity to hear Broadway show tunes reinterpreted by Country Music artists and classic Country songs performed by Broadway talent," state press notes.

Theline-up of artists scheduled to share the stage with Krakowski and Mandrell also includes Country Music's Josh Gracin, Raul Malo, Lorrie Morgan, Jamie O'Neal, SHeDAISY, Lee Ann Womack, and Trisha Yearwood along with Broadway's Laura Bell Bundy, Michael Cerveris,Renée Elise Goldsberry, Brian d'Arcy James, Julia Murney, and company members from Disney's The Lion King national tour. 

"Broadway Meets Country" is a kick-off to "Nashville Celebrates Country," a week of activities leading up to "The 40th Annual CMA Awards."  The 2006 CMA Awards will be broadcast live Monday, November 6 (8:00pm-11:00pm/EST) on the ABC Television Network from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. 

Stephen Oremus, music supervisor for Wicked and Avenue Q both on Broadway and London's West End, returns as the evening's musical director and arranger.  The event is co-executive produced by Jed Bernstein/Above the Title Entertainment in conjunction with CMA.  Bernstein executive produced the 2005 "Broadway Meets Country" event while serving as President of the League of American Theatres and Producers.

The show will take place in Nashville on Monday, October 30 (7:30pm/CST) at TPAC's James K. Polk Theater (505 Deaderick Street). Ticket prices are $500 ($500.00 ticket includes VIP pass to post-concert reception with the performers), $150, $75 and $35.  Tickets are available online through www.tpac.org; in-person at the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in the Mall at Green Hills); at all Ticketmaster outlets; or by calling Ticketmaster at (615) 255-ARTS (x2787).  For additional concert information, please call (615) 244-2840 or visit www.CMAawards.com.