Wicked star Justin Guarini will take part in the NYCLU's annual Broadway Stands Up for Freedom benefit, to be held on July 21.
(© David Gordon)
(© David Gordon)
The New York Civil Liberties Union, the New York State affiliate of the ACLU, today announced additions to the company of award-winning performers for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit concert to be held on Monday, July 21 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, NYC).
"We are elated at the range and breadth of talent that will appear onstage at the Skirball to celebrate the vital ties that bind the arts and civil liberties," said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. "This one-time-only concert promises inspiration along with great music and laughs, all to support the NYCLU's youth programs."
Adam Chanler-Berat, Justin Guarini, Zach Unger, and Barrett Foa will add their estimable talents to a distinguished company that includes Tony Award winner Lena Hall, Drama Desk winner and Tony Award nominees Celia Keenan-Bolger,Condola Rashad and Robin de Jesus, radio personality and raconteur extraordinaire Seth Rudetsky, television star Telly Leung, as well as Broadway Stands Up for Freedom founding performer Liana Stampur, with the Clinton Curtis band.
National Medal of Arts recipient and Pulitzer-, Tony-, Emmy-, Olivier- and Drama Desk award-winning playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner serves as the evening's honorary chair. Playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes, winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for drama, will be the keynote speaker.
The benefit will also feature an original video by Broadway's Andrew Keenan-Bolger (see his 2013 videohere) and new music by Broadway composer Michael Friedman. Susan Blackwell returns as the evening's host, with Daniel Goldstein returning as director. Paul Staroba will make his NYCLU debut as music director.
In addition to some of Broadway's brightest rising stars, Broadway Stands Up For Freedom will showcase the teenage winners of the NYCLU's Freedom of Expression contest, which invites New York City public schools students to speak their minds on important civil liberties issues in their lives.
Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, now in its 12th year, was founded by Liana Stampur, Dana Steingoldand Erich Bergen. The planning committee also includes Todd Buonopane, Kait Kerrigan, and Zachary Prince. Previous companies have featured notable talents Michael Cerveris, Cheyenne Jackson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Gavin Creel, Randy Graff, Tonya Pinkins, Dennis O'Hare and John Tartaglia.
Proceeds from the show benefit the NYCLU's youth programs, including its work with LGBT teenagers; its Teen Activist Project, which engages New York City youth as organizers and peer educators on bullying, reproductive rights and other civil rights issues; and its work to stop the "school to prison pipeline."
VIP tickets and sponsorship packages, now on sale starting at $100, can be purchased here. Individual tickets for $60 can be purchased by visiting http://nyuskirball.org/calendar/nyclu2014, by calling 212-352-3101, or in person at the Shagan Box Office located in the NYU Skirball Center lobby at 566 LaGuardia Place. For more information about the show, including a complete list of performers, visitwww.nyclu.org/broadway.
