John Leguizamo has reason to dust off his mantle.
The multi-hyphenate performer, who already won an Emmy Award, has been selected to receive the Michael Friedman Freedom Award during Sing Out For Freedom: Songs of Sanctuary. The 23rd installment of the concert event — a joint collaboration of the New York Civil Liberties Union and American Civil Liberties Union — is set to take place at New York’s NYU Skirball on Oct. 27. The event was designed to “shine a light on social injustices and civil rights issues through an unforgettable, curated night featuring song, spoken word and other performing arts.”
The freedom honor was created in 2017 to “recognize individuals and organizations for exceptional contributions as humanitarians, artists and activists.” The orgs renamed it two years later in memory of the theater composer who was committed to the causes. Leguizamo joins a roster of recipients that includes Harry Belafonte, Alan Cumming, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Broadway for Racial Justice. In feting Leguizamo, Tony Award-winning musicians from Broadway’s Buena Vista Social Club will perform. Other participants are expected to be revealed in coming weeks.
“I’m incredibly honored to be recognized by the ACLU and NYCLU, two organizations that make me proud to be an American and, specifically, a New Yorker,” Leguizamo said. “I stand with them in their fight to defend and preserve the civil liberties guaranteed in the constitution, and will continue to use my work as an artist in that quest.”
Added NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman: “Amid [Donald Trump] regime’s ceaseless campaign of destruction and demonization, the NYCLU and ACLU’s Songs of Sanctuary will be a night of creativity, solidarity, performance and resolve to demand a New York and a country for all. In our darkest times, the arts have always reminded us of our shared humanity and inspired us to speak out and stand up for the future we deserve. At this year’s Sing Out for Freedom concert, we will sing out to fight for our communities, for immigrants’ rights, for our democracy and for our freedom.”
Sing Out For Freedom was co-founded by Liana Stampur and Erich Bergen along with Lieberman. The benefit concert will be produced and directed by Bergen and executive produced by Ari Conte. Michael J. Moritz Jr. is serving as music director. Tickets are now on sale. Proceeds benefit the work of the NYCLU and the ACLU.
