WBZ Announces Plans for Broadcast of The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

Boston 4 Productions and CBS Boston's WBZ-TV announced on Monday plans to air the exclusive July 4 broadcast of The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, featuring the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under the direction of Keith Lockhart.

 

This year's celebration marks the twelfth year that WBZ-TV has carried the program, which recently won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Event Coverage presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Boston/New England. This year marks the 41st year that B4 has produced the event starring The Boston Pops and featuring the fireworks display broadcast live commercial-free by Liberty Mutual Insurance.

 

In addition, a webcast of The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, a first for the event, will stream live on www.cbsboston.com and www.BostonPopsJuly4th.org to a worldwide audience. The webcast is sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

 

The Beach Boys' vocal harmonies are unmistakable and enduring, and their torrent of hits changed the musical landscape profoundly. The Beach Boys continue to create and perform with the same bold imagination and style that marked their explosive debut over 50 years ago. Captained by Mike Love, The Beach Boys play an astoundingly busy schedule of concerts averaging, 150 shows a year. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnson, who along with Jeffrey Foskett, Randell Kirsch, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill and Scott Totten continue the legacy of the iconic American band. Few, if any, acts can match The Beach Boys' concert presence, spirit and performance.

 

A native of Seattle, Megan Hilty moved to New York City after graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, and quickly made her Broadway debut as Glinda in "Wicked." She went on to perform the role in both the national tour and in Los Angeles. Hilty recently starred alongside Sean Hayes in the comedy "Sean Saves the World" Prior to that, she portrayed the seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in the musical drama "Smash" for two seasons. In March 2013, she released her debut solo album, "It Happens All The Time," which included fresh interpretations of compositions by contemporary songwriters and producers.

 

From the cast of the spectacular new production of The Phantom of the Opera are Julia Udine, who plays Christine Daae, and Ben Jacoby, who plays Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. Julia Udine is honored to be making her touring debut with this new production of The Phantom of the Opera. Theater credits include: Jack's Back (Jenny), West Side Story (Maria). TV: Law and Order SVU, All My Children. Ben Jacoby, has called Chicago his home for the past year and comes to Phantom directly from the Chicago-area Marriott Theatre. Regionally, Ben has appeared at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre and in several productions at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. He holds undergraduate degrees in English Literature and Theatre from Denison University and an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine.

 

The Boston Children's Chorus is a creative social integration organization that unites area children ages 7-18 across differences of race, religion and socioeconomic status. Their focus is not on one specific community, but the energy of the intersection of all our communities. Through intensive choral training and once-in-a-lifetime performing experiences locally, nationally and around the world, BCC enhances the education and social development of youth as future leaders and global citizens in the 21st century.

 

The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will be televised exclusively on CBS Boston's WBZ-TV from 8p.m.-11p.m. This year's program will be hosted by WBZ-TV News anchors Lisa Hughes and Jonathan Elias and will feature members of WBZ-TV News: WBZ-TV morning news anchors Kate Merrill and David Wade, evening anchors Paula Ebben and Jack Williams, Chief Meteorologist Eric Fisher, and Sports Director Steve Burton. It will also air locally on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 AM hosted by Jordan Rich and WBZ's morning news anchor Joe Mathieu beginning at 7p.m. WBZ NewsRadio 1030 will also stream the entire event live on CBSBoston.com. Additionally, the audio of the broadcast can be heard live on the FM dial on 99.5 WCRB, WGBH's listener-supported classical radio station beginning at 8p.m. with Ron Della Chiesa and Laura Carlo.

 

"We're thrilled that WBZ-TV is continuing its commitment to broadcast the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular for its huge fan base in Boston, Massachusetts, and New England," said Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart. "We're grateful for the continued support of Liberty Mutual Insurance, and thanks to the generosity of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, we couldn't be happier to announce the first-ever webcast of the event, giving us the potential of reaching millions of additional music-loving patriots throughout the country and beyond. That's great news for this country's leading Independence Day celebration!"

 

The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is an annual, free outdoor Fourth of July concert at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade and is sponsored by Liberty Mutual Insurance, one of America's leading insurers, offering auto, home and life insurance for individuals and families, as well as a variety of insurance products and services for businesses.

 

The final 20 minutes of the broadcast, featuring the spectacular fireworks display, will be presented commercial-free by Liberty Mutual Insurance.

 

"We are happy to once again partner with WBZ-TV for the broadcast of The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular and give viewers a chance to celebrate at home on the 4th," said Executive Producer David G. Mugar. "In addition, this July 4th in Boston will mark 41 years of visitors coming to the Esplanade to hear great music, see a world-renowned fireworks show and be a part of this historic event in the City of Boston."

 

"For the twelfth consecutive year, WBZ-TV is proud to be the exclusive broadcaster of Boston's 4th of July concert and fireworks," said Mark Lund, President and General Manager of CBS Boston's WBZ-TV and myTV38 (WSBK-TV). "WBZ-TV has a long tradition of partnering with the region's premiere organizations on signature events, and we are especially pleased this year that the program can be enjoyed across CBS Boston's platforms: WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio, and cbsboston.com."

 

Boston 4 Productions thanks the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Department of Conservation and Recreation, Governor Deval Patrick, and Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jack P. Murray, for their support.

 

In addition to Executive Producer David G. Mugar who produces The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular broadcast and live event, Michael Mathis of IMG Media and Sheryl Bourisk for WBZ- TV will produce the telecast seen on WBZ-TV Boston.

 

Rich MacDonald and Pamela Picard serve as Event Producer and Broadcast Supervising Producer respectively. Ro Dooley Webster is Broadcast Supervising Producer for CBS Boston.

 

This year's Spectacular will keep alive several of the Boston holiday traditions including the Pops' now classic Independence Day rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which features real cannons, the live ringing of area church bells and fireworks. Also The Stars & Stripes Forever, which includes the ceremonial American flag drop and confetti shot. The Spectacular will be capped off by a magnificent fireworks array that fills the skies above Boston with a stunning exhibition of color and breathtaking pageantry.