In 2019, the Trump Administration heightened its attacks against civil rights and liberties and flouted our democratic norms and values. The challenges were great, but the NYCLU, ACLU and our supporters stood strong and made progress. In New York, the NYCLU achieved incredible wins on many of its long-time priorities from criminal justice to reproductive rights to voting rights, taking advantage of major shifts in state-level politics. Broadway Stands up for Freedom in 2019 reflected the seriousness of our country’s situation, as well as our movement’s vibrant energy and passion for defending our rights and liberties. Together, as artists and advocates, through speech and song, we celebrated the values and bonds that keep us going.

With the rights of women and those in the trans and LGBTQ communities under seemingly constant attack, our 2019 theme—My Body, My Business—felt singularly powerful and timely. We are proud that the NYCLU and the ACLU saw historic victories in 2019 on this front. The NYCLU celebrated the passage of legislation to protect abortion rights, bar discrimination based on gender expression, provide contraceptive coverage and more. The ACLU has gone to court to challenge abortion bans in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio and Utah. Not a single one has been allowed to go into effect.

This year’s concert marked an acme in star power. Hosted by Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, the cast featured Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara (Kiss Me Kate), and Tony Award nominees Montego Glover (Memphis), Judy Kuhn (Fun Home), Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) and Eva Noblezada (Hadestown). Tony Award-winning director of the 2019 Best Musical Tony winner Hadestown, Rachel Chavkin, directed. A larger-than-life uterus made a guest appearance (thanks to the Hadestown costume department).

NYCLU’s annual Freedom Award, newly named for the late composer and BSUFF contributor Michael Friedman, went to longtime friend of BSUFF and the NYCLU Celia Keenan-Bolger, who won a Tony award in June for her portrayal of Scout in Broadway’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Author Rebecca Traister (Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger) and Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (My Fair Lady) presented the award. We also honored the revolutionary women-led content company Level Forward and that company’s advisor, Maxim Entertainment’s Eva Price (who together were behind What the Constitution Means to Me and the Tony-winning revival of Oklahoma!). Heidi Schreck (What the Constitution Means to Me) and Oscar winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman) presented the honors.

After the show, VIP guests and the performers and creatives celebrated and danced to tunes spun by Rimarkible at The Heartland Brewery Chophouse.

PERFORMERS

Krystina Alabado

Jeannette Bayardelle

Starr Busby

Kim Blanck

Mili Diaz

Montego Glover

Judy Kuhn

Jo Lampert

L Morgan Lee

Wé McDonald

Julia Murney

Shoba Narayan

Eva Noblezada

Kelli O’Hara

Phillipa Soo

Liana Stampur

Shaina Taub

Alysha Umphress

Benefactor

The Richenthal Foundation

SHS Foundation/Richard Feldman

Anonymous

Partner 

Barbara Whitman

Broadway Cares

Shirley Eventinsky

Diana DiMenna

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP

David Mills

Playbill

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

Guardian

1199SEIU

AT&T

Emery Celli Brinkerhoff and Abady LLP

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP 

Stacy Mindich

Outten & Golden LLP

Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC