THE PRODUCTION TEAM
A Capitol Fourth is brought to the screen by hundreds of dedicated professionals working to create a meaningful and celebratory experience for performers, audience members and viewers at home.
MICHAEL COLBERT
Executive Producer
Michael Colbert is the Executive Producer of two of television’s longest-running and multi-award-winning programs that commemorate America’s freedom and independence, live from the U.S. Capitol.
A Capitol Fourth, America’s national Independence Day celebration, will commemorate its 44th anniversary in 2024. The National Memorial Day Concert, which marks its 35th anniversary this year, has become the nation’s premier tribute to our men and women in uniform, their families at home, and all those who have given their lives for our country.
As head of Capital Concerts, Inc., Colbert manages the business year-round, and serves as the primary liaison with over twenty government and non-governmental Washington agencies and organizations involved with the live televised events. Colbert supervises all aspects of both concert productions, including creative content, publicity and promotion, and oversees the hundreds of television professionals who participate annually.
In addition to his annual work on these patriotic events, Colbert’s credits include major national television specials on CBS, Fox, PBS and Comedy Central in locations ranging from Washington, DC, New York and Los Angeles to Nashville, and a wide range of major corporate events.
PAUL MILLER
Director
Four-time Emmy Award winning producer-director Paul Miller returns for his 24th year as director of The National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth television specials on PBS. Miller’s additional credits include The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special on CBS, The Country Music Awards, The Tony Awards, Saturday Night Live, Star-Spangled Spectacular: A Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of our National Anthem, In Living Color, Media Access Awards for PBS, A CMA Country Christmas, which he directed for the eleventh year in 2021, plus many specials and series for all the major broadcast and cable television networks. He executive produced and directed a two-hour special for NBC, Carol Burnett 90 Years of Laughter and Love, that aired April 26, 2023, winning his fourth Emmy and a second Director’s Guild of America Award.
He won a 2016 Emmy Award as Executive Producer of It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown and won for directing The Tony Awards and the ABC News coverage of the inauguration of President Barrack Obama. He won his first Directors Guild of America Award in the Musical/Variety category for directing The Tony Awards.
He is a partner in RickMill Productions, a Hollywood based entertainment company that has produced numerous series for Comedy Central as well as specials for HBO and Showtime.
BARR WEISSMAN
Documentary Sequence Producer
Barr Weissman has produced and edited the documentary segments for The National Memorial Day Concert since 1998. Mr. Weissman edited and helped produce several independent documentaries; including the Academy Award-winning film, The Stonecarvers and Mr. Justice Brennan.
He has directed and edited biographical films for The Kennedy Center Honors (including films on The Who, Mel Brooks, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Hanks). In addition, he has produced and edited documentaries for the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, NBC, PBS, and others.
His work has been recognized by The Emmys, received awards at film festivals worldwide, and screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Weissman’s most recent feature film, The Secret To A Happy Ending has screened at film festivals and theaters world-wide and received 4 stars from Rolling Stone. In 2016, Mr. Weissman produced and edited 10 films for the Musical Crossroads gallery at the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
A native Washingtonian, Mr. Weissman produced and independently distributed two critically acclaimed documentaries about the city – Home: The Langston Terrace Dwellings and A View From The Street: The Art Of Lily Spandorf. In 2020 he premiered Go Grassfed for Future Harvest about the virtues of sustainable agricultural practices, and A Meaningful Life celebrating 25 years of the Interfaith Family Project. His newest film OUTSIDER: William H. Whyte’s Street Life Project & The Future of Human Places is in development.
JON MACKS
Writer / Co-Producer
Jon Macks has written for Hollywood’s top television programs, including the most prestigious award shows, late night programs and television specials.
From 1992 through February 2014 he was a staff writer for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Macks has written for the Academy Awards a record twenty-six times, writing the presenter copy for the show and for hosts Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Hugh Jackman, Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock. He was also head writer for the 76th, 80th, 81st and 82nd and 90th through 94th Annual Academy Awards.
Macks has written on twenty-six Emmy Awards, seven American Latino Media Awards, two Country Music Association Awards, two Kennedy Center Honors, fifteen Academy of Country Music Awards and twelve Golden Globe Awards.
He’s been nominated for nine Emmy Awards for writing the Academy Awards, the Carol Burnett 90th Birthday Special, the Golden Globes and for writing and producing the Betty White 90th Birthday Special. In 2006, he received a Writers Guild Award nomination for his work on the 59th Annual Tony Awards and in 2014 he won the Writers Guild award for his work on the Golden Globes.
He was also a creator and consulting producer for the HBO series K Street and is executive producer and writer of the Universal movie Little Leaguers.
His television credits include ABC’s 50th Anniversary Special, Hollywood Squares, and CBS’s 75th Anniversary Special. He also serves as co-producer of the National Memorial Day Concert. This is Macks’ twentieth time writing for A Capitol Fourth.
JERRY COLBERT
Founder and Executive Producer
2017 marked the passing of Jerry Colbert, Founder and Executive Producer of A Capitol Fourth. Jerry believed deeply in supporting America’s troops, and felt that his lifelong calling was to use the medium of television to make a difference and encourage personal and national healing. When Jerry established the National Memorial Day Concert, he set out to do just that, and create a memorial service for the nation. His energy, creativity and determination led to moving concerts of gratitude year after year featuring uplifiting musical performances, documentary footage and dramatic readings.
Jerry’s compelling way of sharing stories of war and its aftermath has helped Americans understand the hardships faced by our service men and women, and their families. Jerry Colbert’s enduring legacy of patriotism and faith will continue to inspire this patriotic event at the U.S. Capitol for many years to come.
“Tell those you love, that you love them every day.”
-Jerry Colbert