You Are There at Broadway Stands Up For Freedom MY BODY MY BUSINESS!

Broadway Stands Up For Freedom is the largest single fundraising event for the NYCLU and the ACLU theme this year was MY BODY MY BUSINESS! celebrated reproductive freedom and progress toward gender equality. Directed by Rachel Chavkin and music directed by Rona Siddiqui. Host Laura Benanti (My Fair Lady), managed to get the audience in the mood with her well written and performed monologues. First she entered as a vagina pissed off at others having their say with her body.

Starr Busby (Octet), Jeannette Bayardelle (Hair), Mili Diaz (Wicked), L Morgan Lee (A Strange Loop), Bianca Leigh, Julia Murney (Wicked), Shoba Narayan (The Great Comet) and Alysha Umphress (On The Town) opened the night with “My Body” from The Life.

Judy Kuhn brought back “Ring of Keys” from Fun Home.

Wé McDonald (NBC’s The Voice) sang “Look Up Child” by Laura Daigle

“She Persisted” Shaina Taub, Jo Lampert, Kim Blanck and Liana Stampur

“Things My Grandma Taught Me” by Liana Stampur

Melody by Laura Benanti and Guests

Montego Glover recreated “Ain’t Nothing But A Kiss” from Memphis

And closing out the night was “Huddled Masses” with Eva Noblezada (Hadestown) and Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

In other posts Phillipa Soo and Carrie Manolakos performed. To see part 1 with Phillipa Soo click here; for part 2 with click here and look for part 4 coming up!