The American Pops Orchestra announces Broadway’s Leading Men: A Musical Celebration – a concert special to be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in Washington DC at Howard University, featuring performances of iconic male characters and popular songs that have left a lasting impact on the legacy of musical theater. Bringing together renowned performers and a 29-piece ensemble of The American Pops Orchestra, this evening will inspire the next generation of musical theater stars.
Artists include Tony Award winner Christian Borle (Some Like it Hot!; Smash), current star of Aladdin on Broadway – Jacob Gutierrez (Aladdin; Dear Edward), Tony Award nominee and Grammy and Emmy Award winner Christopher Jackson (Hamilton; And Just Like That…), recognized TV and Broadway artist Telly Leung (Warrior; Aladdin), Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee, Norm Lewis (Phantom; Les Misérables); star of stage and screen, Alexis Michelle (RuPaul’s Drag Race; Dragnificent), Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony Award nominee Matthew Morrison (Glee; Light in the Piazza), star of Book of Mormon on Broadway – Nic Rouleau (Book of Mormon, Uncoupled), Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winning singer André De Shields (Hadestown; Ain’t Misbehavin’), Tony Award winner and internationally acclaimed artist currently starring in Broadway’s & Juliet Paulo Szot (& Juliet, The Metropolitan Opera), and Founder and Music Director of The American Pops Orchestra, Luke Frazier (Wicked in Concert; United in Song).
Founder and Music Director of The American Pops Orchestra, Luke Frazier, shared: “What an honor it is to celebrate the past, present, and future of Broadway with such an array of diverse and extraordinary artists – The American Pops Orchestra could not be more proud to be a part of such a special evening. It is especially fitting to film this concert at Howard University, which has a long tradition of training the next generation of outstanding performers.”
Broadway’s Leading Men will be filmed in front of a live audience, featuring some of Broadway’s most celebrated music and brand-new arrangements created specifically for National TV Broadcast.
Filming takes place on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium, Childers Hall, 2455 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20059, at 7:30pm.
This performance will be filmed for national broadcast later in the year.
About the American Pops Orchestra
APO was founded in 2015 with a mission to build community through the preservation, promotion, and reimagination of American popular music. Through live and virtual performances, educational initiatives and collaborations, APO makes the highest quality art accessible to the broadest audiences. Seeing an opportunity to challenge the status-quo of the repertoire an orchestra performs, Founder and Music Director, Luke Frazier, created The American Pops with the intent of breaking the mold of the traditional pops orchestra. Since its inception, APO has appeared in over 20 PBS Specials, including Wicked in Concert, Black Broadway, and United in Song. By bringing together versatile musicians, combining classical and reimagined programming, and presenting concerts in theaters and non-traditional orchestral settings, APO aims to engage diverse audiences with an approachable, fresh spin on timeless classics.
