“Keep Marching On”- the closing number’s titular command that beautifully presented the recurring theme of the evening at the “No Matter What We Sing Out For Freedom” concert on October 28 at the NYU Skirball Center.
Presented by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union, the production featured an uplifting setlist sung by a who’s who of Broadway greats. The event also celebrated this year’s recipient of the Michael Friedman Freedom Award: Busy Philipps.
As the house lights went down to begin the concert, the NYCLU and ACLU sought to conjure the positive energy and love that was synonymous with Gavin Creel, the Broadway actor and civil rights advocate who passed away in September at the age of 48. Creel opened the show via a video of his 2011 “Sing Out For Freedom” performance of his original song “Noise”. The cautious optimism and hope expressed in his act would continue throughout the evening.
As the show went on, host Katie Couric introduced musical performances from Jasmine Amy Rogers, Jenna Bainbridge, Sara Bareilles, Ally Bonino, Nadia Dandashi, Eden Espinosa, J Harrison Ghee, The Good Liars, Hawley Gould, Christine Heesun Huang, Alex Newell, Liana Stamper, and Monica Nulia Ramirez. Following Bareilles’ stirring rendition of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work”, she introduced her close friend and Girls 5eva costar Busy Philipps to receive the Michael Friedman Freedom Award.
The Freedom Award, inaugurated in 2017 to recognize the work of people or organizations as humanitarians and activists, was presented to Busy Philipps on behalf of her advocacy and support for women’s rights. For all of her work in the civil rights realm, Busy Philipps joined an impressive roster of Freedom Award recipients including Shaina Taub, Harry Belafonte, and Alan Cumming.
Busy is the definition of ‘put your money where your mouth Is
Sara Bareilles
As the United States rapidly approaches Election Day, the speakers and musicians of the NYCLU and ACLU “No Matter What We Sing Out For Freedom” concert shared a message of simultaneous hope and urgency to make their voices heard.
Through music and speeches, audiences were motivated to take full advantage of their right to vote and make change. However, the organizations’ work will not end on November 5th. Katie Couric summarized the mission best when she exclaimed “whatever happens, we stand for freedom”. Regardless of what the next chapter holds, these organizations will in fact keep marching on.
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