Kravis Center and Palm Beach Symphony to Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary in Concert
August 4, 2026 | Press ReleaseAn Afternoon Honoring America’s History through
Music and Celebration
Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 7
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 4, 2026) – The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and Palm Beach Symphony will present a special matinee concert on Sunday, November 8 at 3 p.m. celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Golden Globe® winner George Hamilton will serve as host, while Tony Award® winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will appear throughout the concert as narrator and featured vocalist. Under the baton of renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz, Palm Beach Symphony will be joined by members of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts for a side-by-side performance, creating a memorable celebration of America’s history, heritage and the next generation of artistic talent.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 7, at 10 a.m. and may be purchased online at kravis.org, at the Box Office Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. or by calling 561.832.7469.
The program will include a wide-ranging selection of patriotic, orchestral and theatrical works, with Brian Stokes Mitchell appearing in both acts. The first half will open with music by John Stafford Smith, Valerie Coleman, Leroy Anderson and Charles Ives, culminating with Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” narrated by Mitchell.
Following intermission, members of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Orchestra will join Palm Beach Symphony for a side-by-side performance. Mitchell will return to perform “Wheels of a Dream” from “Ragtime” and “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.”
The program includes:
Act I
John Stafford Smith
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
Valerie Coleman
“Seven O’Clock Shout”
Leroy Anderson
“Bugler’s Holiday”
Charles Ives, arranged by William Schuman
“Variations on ‘America'”
Aaron Copland
“Lincoln Portrait”
Brian Stokes Mitchell, narrator
Intermission
Side-by-side performance with the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Orchestra
Act II
John Philip Sousa
“Semper Fidelis”
Morton Gould
“Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Stephen Flaherty
“Wheels of a Dream” from “Ragtime”
Brian Stokes Mitchell
John Williams
Excerpts from “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Mitch Leigh
“The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha”
Brian Stokes Mitchell
John Philip Sousa
“The Stars and Stripes Forever”
Bios
Golden Globe®-winning actor, producer and bestselling author George Hamilton is celebrated for a career in Hollywood spanning more than six decades. Following his acclaimed debut in “Crime and Punishment,” he became an international star with memorable performances in “Where the Boys Are,” “Light in the Piazza,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “The Godfather Part III.” Hamilton also produced and starred in the hit comedies “Love at First Bite” and “Zorro, The Gay Blade,” portrayed legendary daredevil Evel Knievel and starred on Broadway in “La Cage aux Folles.” He is also the author of two New York Times bestselling memoirs and remains one of America’s most recognizable entertainers.
Dubbed “the last leading man” by The New York Times, two-time Tony Award® winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a career that spans Broadway, television, film and concert appearances with the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. He received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for his star turn in “Kiss Me, Kate.” In 2016 he was awarded his second Tony Award, the prestigious Isabelle Stevenson Tony for his charitable work with The Actors Fund. That same year Stokes was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame. Stokes has enjoyed working with numerous charitable organizations from the March of Dimes to the USO. He is on the board of Americans For the Arts and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund).
Gerard Schwarz is internationally recognized for his performances, innovative programming and dedication to music education. He is Music Director of Palm Beach Symphony, the All-Star Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival and The Frost Symphony Orchestra, and serves as Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In 2025-2026, his seventh season with Palm Beach Symphony, he conducted works by Brahms, Gershwin, Holst, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Shostakovich and Strauss, and the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s “Lullaby.” Schwarz has commissioned and performed more than 300 world premieres and recorded over 350 albums. Over his career, he has received nine Emmy Awards, 14 Grammy® nominations, eight ASCAP Awards and numerous Stereo Review and Ovation Awards.
About Palm Beach Symphony
Founded in 1974, Palm Beach Symphony, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, adheres to a mission of engaging, educating and entertaining the greater community of the Palm Beaches through live performances of inspiring orchestral music. The orchestra is celebrated for delivering spirited performances by first-rate musicians and distinguished guest artists. Recognized by The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County with a 2020 Muse Award for Outstanding Community Engagement, Palm Beach Symphony continues to expand its education and community outreach programs with children’s concerts, student coaching sessions and master classes, instrument donations and free public concerts that have reached more than 100,000 students in recent years.
Calendar Listing:
America 250 in Concert
Saturday, November 8 at 3 p.m.
The Kravis Center and Palm Beach Symphony will present a special matinee concert celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Golden Globe® winner George Hamilton will serve as host, while Tony Award® winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will appear throughout the concert as narrator and featured vocalist. The performance will feature Palm Beach Symphony under the baton of renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz. Members of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts will join the Symphony for a side-by-side performance, creating a memorable celebration of America’s history, ideals and the next generation of artistic talent.
Dreyfoos Hall
Tickets start at $40.25, including fees
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL 33401
For tickets visit kravis.org or call 561.832.7469
*All programs, artists, dates, prices and details are subject to change
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About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization and one of South Florida’s premier cultural destinations, located in downtown West Palm Beach. Since 1992, the Kravis Center has presented the finest in live entertainment, showcasing internationally acclaimed artists in music, comedy, dance, Broadway and more. As part of its nonprofit mission, the Kravis Center has welcomed millions of students to its comprehensive arts education programs. Students of all ages can participate in workshops, classes and special events, as well as access free and reduced-price tickets for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live performances.
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