Fall of Freedom is both a national call to action and a celebration - here, joy becomes an act of defiance, tenderness becomes truth, and art becomes our response to fear. 

On Friday, November 21, National Sawdust hosts the official launch of the movement, bringing together a constellation of extraordinary artists whose work embodies resistance through beauty, spirit, liberation, and truth. The evening features Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins, Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, Tony Award nominee Daniel J. Watts,  visionary theatre artist Qween Jean, Grammy-nominated composer and trumpeter Amir ElSaffar, Obie Award winner Carl Hancock Rux,  Grammy-nominated vocalist J Hoard, Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader David Murray, multi-instrumentalist and composer Michael Thurber, award-winning composer and performer Tamar-kali, soul collective Britton & The Sting, indie-folk trio Bandits on the Run, the Resistance Revival Chorus, tap and percussive trio Soles of Duende, classical Indian dancer and choreographer Barkha Patel, singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Paul Beaubrun and more.

Launching November 21 - 22, 2025, Fall of Freedom will unfold across the United States in a national weekend of art and action. The initiative is hosted in theaters, museums, libraries, concert halls, and community spaces, featuring performances, exhibitions, readings, and gatherings that highlight the power of free expression. For participating venues, artist lineups, and ways to get involved, visit falloffreedom.com.

This is a seated event. If you require accessibility accommodations, please email boxoffice@nationalsawdust.org.

ABOUT TONYA PINKINS

Tonya Pinkins is a Tony Award–winning artist, filmmaker, and activist whose work confronts the intersections of race, gender, and power in America. Her acclaimed feature film ‍—which she wrote, directed, and starred in—boldly predicted the unraveling of U.S. democracy and the rise of authoritarian movements. A fearless voice for justice and liberation, Pinkins uses art as political praxis, merging performance with activism to expose systems of oppression and imagine radical futures. Her upcoming works with The Apollo and the International Black Theatre Festival continue her mission to tell stories of truth, resistance, and collective freedom.

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ABOUT THE RESISTANCE REVIVAL CHORUS

The Resistance Revival Chorus (RRC) is a collective of more than 60 women, and non-binary singers, who join together to breathe joy and song into the resistance, and to uplift and center women’s voice. Chorus members are touring musicians, film and television actors, Broadway performers, solo recording artists, gospel singers, political activists, educators, filmmakers, artists, and more, representing a multitude of identities, professions, creative backgrounds, and activist causes. The RRC centers women in music, and addresses how historically marginalized women have been in the music industry.

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ABOUT BRITTON & THE STING

Britton Smith is an artist-activist, musician, and founder of Britton & The Sting, an alternative soul band fueling NYC’s music scene. Their fusion of funk, gospel, rock, and testimony creates journey-driven music that resonates deeply. Their anthem LET’S GET DRUNK AND GO TO CHURCH has streamed in 44+ countries and was a Paper Magazine “Bops Only” pick. Named a 2020 NPR Tiny Desk Top Pick, the band has sold out The Apollo, Gramercy Theatre, Joe’s Pub, and more. Britton also created MAMA, a theatrical concert merging music, storytelling, and water justice with the U.S. Water Alliance. @brittonsmithworld 

ABOUT LYNN NOTTAGE

Lynn Nottage is a playwright and a screenwriter, and the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Her recent work includes the libretto for Intimate Apparel the Opera  [LCT] , the book for MJ The Musical [Broadway] and Clyde’s [Broadway, 2st]. Other work includes The Watering Hole (Signature), Floyd’s (Guthrie) the book for the musical The Secret Life of Bees (Atlantic Theater), Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Award), which moved to Broadway after a sold out run at The Public Theater, Mlima's Tale (Lortel Award Nomination, Outer Critics Circle Nomination), By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Drama Desk Nomination, Lilly Award), Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, Lortel Award), Intimate Apparel (American Theatre Critics and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Play), Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine (Lortel Award Nomination, Drama Desk Nomination, Obie Award), Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Las Meninas, Mud, River, Stone, Por’knockers and POOF!. She has also developed This is Reading, a performance installation at the Franklin Street, Reading Railroad Station in Reading, PA. She was a writer and producer on the first season of Netflix series She's Gotta Have It, directed by Spike Lee. Nottage is a Professor at Columbia University School of the Arts, and the recipient of a MacArthur "Genius Grant'' Fellowship, Steinberg "Mimi" Distinguished Playwright Award, Doris Duke Artists Award and PEN/Laura Pels Master Playwright Award, among others. She is also a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Theater Hall of Fame.

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‍ABOUT PAUL BEAUBRUN

Paul Beaubrun is a Haitian singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, son of the Grammy nominated band Boukman Eksperyans and the grandson of legendary Haitian comedian Languichatte.

Paul has gained recognition locally and internationally for his unique art; at the heart of his music is a captivating sound, a masterful blend of his exceptional guitar playing skill, soulful vocals, and innovative arrangements. Drawing on his rich cultural heritage, he seamlessly weaves together elements of Haitian Creole, French, and English, creating a musical tapestry that reflects the diverse influences that have shaped his artistic vision.

Paul's talents and versatility as a musician have led him to collaborate and perform with a diverse array of renowned artists. Through these collaborations and performances, Paul has achieved worldwide success and established himself as one of Haiti's most accomplished and celebrated musical exports.

Paul has been a touring member of the world-renowned band Arcade Fire since 2022, joining them for their "WE" tour. As part of Arcade Fire, Paul has made several high- profile appearances on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as at major music festivals around the globe. His role in the band has allowed him to showcase his musical talents to a wider audience and further cement his reputation as a versatile and accomplished musician.

Paul’s latest album 'LIMYÈ A LA' is set to be released on June 7th, 2024 on Ropeadope Record.

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ABOUT GORDON CHAMBERS

Gordon Chambers has written Grammy-winning and Grammy-nomimated songs for the likes of pop and soul royalty Anita Baker "(I Apologize"), Brownstone ("If You Love Me'), Brandy, Tamia, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight ("MIssing You", The Isley Brothers ("Just Came Here to Chill"). He also wrote and produced the late legends Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. His four solo albums include duets with Grammy winners Ledisi and Lalah Hathaway.  He has toured internationally and has performed locally at Carngie Hall, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Sony Hall, Sob's and the now-closed BB Kings. He dedicates tonight's performance to the late Daniel Jones (MD to Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige).

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ABOUT CARL HANCOCK RUX

Carl Hancock Rux is an award-winning poet, playwright, novelist, performer, director, and recording artist whose multidisciplinary artistry bridges theater, literature, and music. From his OBIE Award–winning play Talk to his postmodern performance pieces presented at institutions such as Lincoln Center and Park Avenue Armory, and his acclaimed albums Rux Revue, Good Bread Alley, and Apothecary Rx, Rux’s work examines the intersections of identity, memory, and cultural inheritance. He has received numerous honors, including the NYFA Prize, the Bessie Award, and the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts. A former Associate Artistic Director of Harlem Stage, Rux currently serves as Co–Artistic Director of Mabou Mines and Artist in Residence at Lincoln Center.

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ABOUT TREYA LAM

treya lam is a composer, performing and recording artist whose intersecting identities ignites their work. lam’s voice culminates in liberation-oriented songwriting throughout solo and collaborative work that “ captures the mixture of love, loss and hope” (Smithsonian Magazine). they’re currently recording their sophomore album “otherland” which features Allison Russell and Valerie June. 

treya’s debut Good News was released via Kaki King’s label. Their song “Dawn” was featured on the RRC’s album "This Joy" released on Righteous Babe Records. They’ve been a OneBeat Fellow and Joe’s Pub resident. lam has shared stages with Ani DiFranco, and headlined at Lincoln Center and MASS MoCA.