Like so much this past year, the inaugural celebration will be like no other: pared down, distanced, much of it virtual. But for actor Christopher Jackson 鈥� the original George Washington in Broadway's 鈥淗amilton" 鈥� performing in a virtual 鈥渂all鈥� is a way of participating in an essential rite of American democracy.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad to play a part in it,鈥� says Jackson, who will perform at the quadrennial ball for the Creative Coalition, a fundraiser for arts education and one of the more prominent unofficial events surrounding Joe Biden鈥檚 inauguration. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great
Jackson -- not to mention former co-star and 鈥淗amilton鈥� creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda -- joins a slew of celebrities descending on Washington, virtually or in person, for entertainment surrounding the inauguration of Biden and Kamala Harris. Although the festivities have been radically scaled down due to the raging coronavirus pandemic and security threats, a steady stream of A-list names have signed on, headlined by Lady Gaga singing the national anthem on the West Front of the Capitol, with Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks also performing.
Other top-tier performers will be part of 鈥淐elebrating America,鈥� a 90-minute, multi-network evening broadcast hosted by Tom Hanks that officially takes the place of the usual multiple inaugural balls. Miranda will contribute a classical recitation, joining musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Katy Perry, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake and Bon Jovi. Hosts Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria will be joined by basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, chef Jose Andres,
The inaugural committee has made sure to blend this high-powered list with ordinary Americans and inspiring stories. Segments will include tributes to a UPS driver, a kindergarten teacher and Sandra Lindsay, the first in New York to receive the COVID-19 vaccine outside a clinical trial. The show will be carried by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and PBS as well as the committee鈥檚 social media channels and streaming partners.
Beyond that event, there鈥檚 also a virtual 鈥淧arade Across America鈥� on inauguration afternoon, hosted by actor Tony Goldwyn with appearances by Jon Stewart, Earth Wind & Fire and the New Radicals 鈥� reuniting after more than two decades 鈥� among many others.
There鈥檚 was also star power on display Tuesday evening at the virtual 鈥淟atino Inaugural 2021,鈥� hosted by Longoria and scheduled to include Broadway and screen star (and EGOT winner) Rita Moreno, Edward James Olmos, and Miranda again, saluting Puerto Rico with his father, Luis Miranda. The show
Also scheduled Tuesday was 鈥淲e Are One,鈥� celebrating the Black community and African Diaspora with performances by Tobe Nwigwe, DJ D-Nice, The O鈥橨ays, Rapsody, Step Afrika!, the String Queens and others. And the 鈥淎API Inaugural Ball: Breaking Barriers鈥� celebrated the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with planned participants including actors Kal Penn, John Cho, Kumail Nanjiani and Chloe Bennet.
In a normal year, there would be a wealth of sideline events, parties and concerts around Washington. One of the higher-profile events is the Creative Coalition's ball, going all virtual this year, Along with Jackson, KT Tunstall will perform. Host Judy Gold will kick off with a comedy set, also featuring comedians Randy Rainbow, Michael Ian Black and Wendi McLendon-Covey. More than two dozen members of Congress are set to join celebrity guests like Ted Danson, Lea DeLaria, Jason Alexander, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ellen Burstyn, Alyssa Milano and others.
Jackson, who spoke in an interview late last week while planning his performance, said he would not be appearing as George Washington -- but history was on the actor鈥檚 mind nonetheless, given the unique circumstances of this inauguration.
鈥淲e put ourselves in a perilous position,鈥� he said of recent events roiling the country. 鈥淪o the idea that this inauguration is happening is testament to the resolute dedication that our public servants have to making this thing work.鈥� He said he was also eager to shine a spotlight on arts education, the coalition鈥檚 core mission, noting that as a kid growing up in southern Illinois, he depended on resources like an early-morning band class at school, where he鈥檇 begin each day playing the trumpet.
鈥淭here was a time when I went through a lot of bad emotional passages as a kid,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淗ad it not been for the outlet the arts created for me, I don鈥檛 know where I would be today." He noted that support for the arts is ever more urgent given how the pandemic has decimated the arts industry.
Actor Tim Daly, the coalition鈥檚 president, said that despite optimism for the new administration鈥檚 approach to arts funding, it鈥檚 still an uphill battle in the United States.
鈥淚 feel there鈥檚 going to have to be a really long and powerful effort by the Creative Coalition and other organizations to finally try and make federal, local and state governments understand the importance of the arts," he said, adding that the arts, besides being a driver of the economy, "is part of our spirit. It鈥檚 how we teach empathy and kindness.鈥�
Daly said he has mixed feelings as he approaches this very unique inauguration.
鈥淭his is going to be the strangest (celebration) ever,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 virtual, and the celebration will in some ways be very muted. But in some ways, very meaningful. In a way this year is more important than any other, because our democracy has been under threat.鈥�
The coalition鈥檚 ball will include breakout rooms where guests can mingle, and even simultaneous hand-delivered meals in multiple cities. But there鈥檚 still no way to replace an in-person experience, Daly acknowledged.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing that takes the place of human interaction,鈥� the actor said. 鈥淚鈥檇 be lying or dishonest if I said this was better. But we鈥檙e doing the best we can 鈥� and it鈥檚 better than nothing.鈥�
___
This story has been corrected to accurately spell the name of Sandra Lindsay.
Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press
