NYCLU & ACLU to Honor Author, Actor, Activist Busy Philipps at Annual Benefit Concert

WITH PERFORMANCES AND APPEARANCES BY
TWO-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER SARA BAREILLES
TONY WINNER J. HARRISON GHEE
TONY NOMINEE EDEN ESPINOSA
AND MORE!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

New York, NY (September 24, 2024) – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) are pleased to announce the honoree, performers, and host of “No Matter What…we Sing Out For Freedom” a benefit concert taking place on Monday, October 28 at 7:30pm at the NYU Skirball Center (566 LaGuardia Place). The annual “Sing Out For Freedom” event was established to shine a light on social injustices and civil rights issues through an unforgettable, curated night, featuring song, spoken word, and other performing arts. This year’s event will take place just one week before Election Day and rally for the fights ahead, no matter what happens at the ballot box.

This 22nd edition of this annual concert event will honor New York Times best-selling author, actor, activist, writer, and host of the new series, “Busy This Week,” Busy Philipps, who will receive The Michael Friedman Freedom Award.

Performers and presenters at this year’s event include Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, and author, Sara Bareilles, Tony Award-winning actor and singer, J. Harrison Ghee, Tony Award-nominee, Eden Espinosa, the critically acclaimed star of the upcoming BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical on Broadway, Jasmine Amy Rogers, celebrated vocalist and co-creator of Sing Out For Freedom, Liana Stampur, and members of the cast of the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, SUFFS. Additional performers and guests will be announced later.

“This year’s theme for our Sing Out for Freedom concert, No Matter What, is a rallying cry for New Yorkers — featuring song, dance, and so much more — to fight for a brighter future heading into Election Day and each and every day that comes after,” said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “This year we’ll sing out to make sure New Yorkers know to flip their ballots and vote YES on Prop 1, enshrining abortion rights and other crucial freedoms in our state constitution. We’ll sing out to celebrate our wins, showcase the fights ahead, and inspire action in the face of a concerted, nationwide movement to roll-back our rights. Because no matter the threats we face, no matter how far back they want to take us, we’ll always sing out for freedom.”

Tickets are on sale now at https://tickets.nyu.edu/singout2024

The “Sing Out For Freedom” concert event was created to highlight social injustices and civil rights issues through song, spoken word, and other performing arts. Each year, artists illuminate the NYCLU and the ACLU’s wins for civil rights and liberties and the struggles that must continue. Past participants have included Tom Hanks, Patti Smith, Padma Lakshmi, Ariana DeBose, Peppermint, Hayley Kiyoko, Cheyenne Jackson, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony Kushner, Laura Benanti, Kelli O’Hara, Phillipa Soo, Ben Platt, and more.

“Sing Out For Freedom” was co-founded by Liana Stampur and Erich Bergen along with NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the work of the NYCLU and the ACLU to promote and protect civil rights and liberties in New York and across the country. For more information, visit www.singoutforfreedom.com.

The 22ndt Annual “Sing Out for Freedom” benefit concert will be Produced & Directed by Erich Bergen and Executive Produced by Ari Conte. Michael J. Moritz Jr. will serve as Music Director.

ABOUT THE MICHAEL FRIEDMAN FREEDOM AWARD
The NYCLU inaugurated the Freedom Award in 2017 to recognize an individual(s) and/or organizations for exceptional contributions as humanitarians, artists and activists. In 2019, the award was renamed the Michael Friedman Freedom Award in memory of the brilliant theater composer who was deeply committed to civil liberties and civil rights. Past recipients include Harry Belafonte, Alan Cumming, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Broadway For Racial Justice

ABOUT THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION AND SING OUT FOR FREEDOM
The New York Civil Liberties Union is one of the nation’s foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. Founded in 1951 as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization with nine offices, including seven regional offices and members across the state. We work to ensure that the core values and principles of equality, liberty and due process are more fully and consistently realized in the lives of all New Yorkers. In pursuit of these principles we fight for the dignity of all people, with particular attention to the pervasive and persistent harms of racism.