Laurence Fishburne, Laura Benanti, Esai Morales And Jason Dolley Join All-Star Line-Up For PBS' National Memorial Day Concert, Honoring Our American Heroes Live From The U.S. Capitol, Featuring Special Performance Of National Anthem By American Idol Season 14 Winner

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne, Tony Award-winning actress and singer Laura Benanti, actor/producer/director Esai Morales and actor/musician Jason Dolley have joined an all-star line-up for the multi award-winning NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

In what has become an annual tradition, the newly crowned winner of AMERICAN IDOL Season 14 will perform the "National Anthem" to open the 26th annual live concert event.  The winner will be announced on the AMERICAN IDOL finale on May 13.  Co-hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, the inspiring night of remembrance is dedicated to our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. 

The previously announced all-star line-up includes: distinguished American leader General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); seven-time Grammy Award-winner, and international superstar Gloria Estefan; THE VOICE season five winner Tessanne Chin; acclaimed film and television actress Stefanie Scott (INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3;  JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS); the world's most prolific classical cross-over star Katherine Jenkins; and world renowned tenor Russell Watson in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.  The 26th annual broadcast airs live on PBS Sunday, May 24, 2015, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.

The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT will showcase our courageous American heroes who have been disabled for life; shine a spotlight on Gold Star Children who have lost a parent to war; and commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Also participating in the event are the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the Armed Forces Color Guard and Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.  

The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.  Executive producer Jerry Colbert and producer Michael Colbert have assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment awards shows.  The team includes: Emmy award-winning producer Walter C. Miller, whose credits include the GRAMMY AWARDS and COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS; and award-winning director Paul Miller whose credits include THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. 

About Capital Concerts
Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television's longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America's most important holidays. THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, the nation's tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH, our country's biggest birthday party, have become American traditions that have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade. The holiday specials have been honored with over 70 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator's Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer's Guild of America Award.

Underwriters
The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is made possible by grants from the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the Department of the Army, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, General Dynamics, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines. 

For images and additional information, visit PBS Pressroom at www.pbs.org/pressroom
Connect on Twitter: #MemDayPBS

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150512/215578 

SOURCE Capital Concerts