Celebrating 35 spectacular years on air, "A Capitol Fourth" will kick off the country’s 239th birthday with an all-star musical extravaganza that puts viewers front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation.
Music legend Barry Manilow will headline the gala anniversary celebration, opening and closing the concert broadcast with a special patriotic medley.
Broadcast live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the star spangled party will also feature performances by the most successful country music group of all time, Alabama; Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, with more than 70 million album sales, Nicole Scherzinger; five-time Grammy nominee, CMA Award winner and multi-instrumentalist Hunter Hayes; vocal powerhouse Meghan Linsey (THE VOICE); Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum selling band, fronted by the Founder of the Dance Revolution, KC and the Sunshine Band; renowned piano virtuoso Lang Lang; and inspirational classical cross-over global star and Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.
In celebration of American icon Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday, the award-winning actor and jazz vocalist Robert Davi will pay tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
American History Quiz: The history of America’s Independence Day is filled with fun facts and fascinating events. Test your knowledge of American history with this short, playful quiz!
Concert History Quiz: "A Capitol Fourth" is a star-spangled annual tradition with a storied history. Challenge yourself and test your knowledge of our nation’s July Fourth celebration over the years!
Just for Kids Quiz: Calling all American history and "A Capitol Fourth" history geniuses! Sharpen your red, white and blue pencils, test your patriotic wits and earn your Independence Day gold stars!
FOURTH OF JULY COLORING PAGES
Now you can put your own celebratory mark on "A Capitol Fourth!" Paint or color the images and share your personalized July Fourth artwork. Renowned "A Capitol Fourth" production designer Rene Lagler has created these coloring pages just for our viewers.
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF 'A CAPITOL FOURTH'
Thirty-seven years ago the National Symphony Orchestra began performing on the Fourth of July on the Capitol lawn, and executive producer Jerry Colbert felt the event had the makings of a great television show. He had no idea that it would evolve into an annual July Fourth tradition for so many people throughout the country and become one of the highest-rated programs on PBS.
The 35th annual broadcast of "A Capitol Fourth" airs on PBS Saturday, July 4, 2015, 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 top-rated, award-winning extravaganza features 20 cameras positioned around the city, including the U.S. Capitol, the White House and the Washington Monument.
Capping off the show will be a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and "A Capitol Fourth" tradition.
Also participating in the event will be the Choral Arts Society of Washington, Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, 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.
CONNECT:
"A Capitol Fourth" is on Facebook, Pinterest, and you can follow @July4thPBS on Twitter.
CREDITS:
The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.
