Arts & Entertainment

Celebrate Independence Day at 'A Capitol Fourth' on the Mall

Actor Jimmy Smits will host from West Lawn of the Capitol.

"A Capitol Fourth," the annual mega 4th of July celebration on the Mall, promises an all-star line-up, including Steve Martin, Josh Groban, Matthew Morrison, Jordin Sparks and Little Richard.
 
Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits will host the festivities, which will also include Mark Ballas, Chelsie Hightower, Kelli O'Hara, the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Everly, and the Broadway cast of "Million Dollar Quartet," performing with Little Richard.

If you can't get there in person, the event, topped off with a massive fireworks display, will air live on PBS in high definition (HD) from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol on Monday, July 4, from 8-9:30 p.m. The event will air live to a national audience, as well as to service members around the world on the American Forces Network. "A Capitol Fourth" can also be heard live in stereo over NPR-member stations nationwide.

“It’s a tremendously uplifting feeling as hundreds of thousands of Americans join together on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, singing the National Anthem as the National Symphony Orchestra plays,’” said executive producer Jerry Colbert.  “As we watch the nation’s capital light up with fireworks, it helps us forget our differences and remember that we are all Americans.  I can’t think of a better place to celebrate our freedom and the nation’s birthday.”    

Offering viewers extended coverage of the fireworks display, "A Capitol Fourth" will capture the pyrotechnics from every vantage point with 20 TV cameras stationed around the city – including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and across the Potomac River.  

In celebration of America’s 235th birthday, the show will be capped off with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with live cannon fire provided by The U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now  'A Capitol Fourth' tradition.  

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Also participating in the event will be The Choral Arts Society of Washington, along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, the U.S. Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass, Members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.  

Underwriters of "A Capitol Fourth" are: The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, the National Endowment for the Arts, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.


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