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July 4th Boston Pops Concert To Feature The Beach Boys & First Ever Webcast

BOSTON (CBS) - When the Boston Pops take to the Hatch Shell stage this July 4 it will be a true summer celebration, as they share the stage with legendary rockers The Beach Boys. WBZ-TV announced Monday that the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will feature The Beach Boys, as well as Broadway & TV's Megan Hilty, the cast of Phantom of the Opera, and the Boston Children's Chorus.

In another first, the complete concert will be made available to a worldwide audience via live streaming video here on CBSBoston.com and bostonpopsjuly4th.org.

This is the twelfth year that WBZ-TV will carry the program, which recently won a New England Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Event Coverage. The broadcast , anchored by Lisa Hughes and Jonathan Elias, will run from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., culminating in the launching of an always-impressive fireworks display over the Charles River.

The July 4th concert can also be heard live on WBZ NewsRadio 1030, hosted by Jordan Rich and Joe Mathieu. Radio coverage begins at 7 p.m.

This year's Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will keep alive several crowd favorite traditions, including the Pops' now-classic Independence Day rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which features real cannons and fireworks.

Related: Find A Fireworks Display Near You

"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!"

"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."

The Beach Boys
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.

The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys (Photo Credit: David McClister)

Megan Hilty
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.

Megan Hilty
Megan Hilty (Courtesy Photo)

Phantom of the Opera
From the cast of the spectacular new production of The Phantom of the Opera are Julia Udine, who plays Christine Daaé, 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.

Phantom of the Opera principals
Ben Jacoby and Julia Udine of the Phantom of the Opera cast. (Courtesty photo)

Boston Children's Chorus
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.

Boston Children's Choir
Boston Children's Choir (Courtesy photo)
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