Save the date October 24th 2022, for our Sing Out for Freedom concert at The Town Hall in New York City. For 20 Years, our annual concert has celebrated the achievements of the NYCLU and ACLU with the help of some of Broadway’s biggest stars.

This 20th edition will honor three women for their activism in civil liberties, and their tireless efforts working for a more equitable future for all. These honorees include: Emmy-nominated food expert, television host, executive producer and The New York Times best-selling author, Padma Lakshmi (Taste the Nation, Top Chef, and Tomatoes for Neela); singer, composer, and musician Shaina Taub, who will receive The Michael Friedman Freedom Award; and Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famer, National Book Award-winning author, poet, and music icon Patti Smith. Actor, activist, New York Times best-selling author, and star of the Peacock original, Girls5Eva, Busy Philipps, will host the festivities.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) 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 (ACLU), we are a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with offices across the state and more almost 150,000 supporters.

This is the 20th year for Sing Out for Freedom (previously Broadway Stands Up for Freedom) which is the premiere annual benefit concert for the ACLU and the NYCLU.

BUSY PHILIPPS
HOST
Busy is a New York Times Best-Selling author, actor, activist, writer who can currently be seen in Season 2 of the critically acclaimed Peacock comedy series GIRLS5EVA.

SARAH JONES
HOST
Called “a master of the genre” by The New York Times, Sarah Jones is a Tony® Award-winning solo performer, writer, comedian and activist. She recently made her debut as a director with Sell/Buy/Date, which world premiered at the SXSW film festival.

PADMA LAKSHMI
HONOREE
Padma is an author, host, model, and activist known for hosting the cooking competition, Top Chef, as well as her docuseries Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi exploring America’s immigrant communities' cuisine.

PATTI SMITH
HONOREE
Patti is a world-renowned performer, author, recording and visual artist. She is a four-time Grammy® nominee and a Golden Globe nominee known for her many albums including HORSES, RADIO ETHIOPIA, and EASTER.

SHAINA TAUB
MICHAEL FRIEDMAN FREEDOM AWARD HONOREE
Shaina is an Emmy-nominated songwriter and performer known for her Drama Desk nominated musical SUFFS, her performances in The Public Theater’s TWELFTH NIGHT and AS YOU LIKE IT, and songwriting across stage and TV.

PERFORMERS

Adam Hyndman

Alex Edelmen

Ari Conte

Ashley De La Rosa

Ato Blankson-Wood

Brandon Michael Nase

Cindy Tsai

Desmond Child

Jax Jackson

Jess McLeod

Kayla Davion

Liana Stampur

Maybe Burke

Michael Kushner

November Christine

Shoshana Bean

Siedah Garrett

Sing Harlem

Somah Haaland

The Cast of 1776

The Cast of A Strange Loop

Tomás Matos

Treya Lam

Health & safety: As of July 1, The Town Hall is mask friendly. Masks are encouraged but not required, unless otherwise noted.