Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation. In response, artists are rising together - not in silence, but in music, movement, and creation - to remind us that art makes us free.
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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, 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 J HOARD
J. Hoard is an NYC artist with gospel roots that inspired his tremendous love of all genres. His eclecticism yielded songwriting collaborations on Black Coffee’s Grammy-winning "Subconsciously" album and Chance the Rapper’s multiple Grammy-winning “Coloring Book” album. J. Hoard’s musical versatility is demonstrated on albums by Brasstracks, Kassa Overall, Meshell Ndegeocello, Cultura Profetica, José James and Endea Owens. From hip hop to Hammerstein, onstage is where J. Hoard shines best. In one performance his jazz harmony informed, gospel raised, rock influenced, classically instructed - sincerely one of a kind- voice makes clear J.’s intent to connect to the audience and ensure whatever story is sung sounds tailor made.
“J. Hoard, an exuberantly gifted young vocalist and songwriter who treats affirmation as an art form, has lately been leaving bread crumbs all over the New York City scene, collaborating with artists in jazz, rock, soul and electronic music.” Giovanni Russonello New York Times
ABOUT AJ JAGANNATH
AJ plays guitar.
ABOUT QWEEN JEAN
Qween Jean is a proud Haitian Storyteller and human rights activist committed to protecting all humanity. Recently Qween’s designed costumes for Liberation(Broadway), Cats The Jellicle Ball!(Broadway) Oh Happy Day, Saturday Church, Swamp Dwellers, Wedding Band, Macbeth In Stride, Walden and Donja R. Love’s new film Home.
Jean founded Black Trans Liberation, an organization that provides weekly fellowship, food, groceries and housing resources for the TGNC community. She is the author of Revolution is Love(Aperture). Obie Award. Qween recently won the Audelco Award and Henry Hewes Award for Cats The Jellicle Ball! Jean was a finalist for NYC David Prize. She was the cover of American Theatre Magazine entitled; A New Era!
MFA from NYU Tisch. “NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL”
Learn more at blacktransliberation.com
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.
ABOUT BARKHA PATEL
Barkha Patel is a touring artist, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director of Barkha Dance Company (BDC) based in New York City. Her work has been presented at venues such as Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Little Island, 92Y, and Chelsea Factory among others. She has been the recipient of the awards like the ‘23 Juried Bessie Artist Award and ‘24 Princess Grace Dance Award.
Barkha currently is a recipient of the Special Projects Grant from the Princess Grace Foundation through which she is developing a new evening-length work set to premiere in 2026.
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.
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.
ABOUT SOLES OF DUENDE
Soles of Duende (est. 2016) is a Bessie-nominated group (2023) that has graced the stages of The Joyce Theater, Joe’s Pub, Reg Lenna Arts Center, Yale Schwarzman Center, Barnes Foundation, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, NYU Skirball Center, Danspace Project and more. Soles has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine (March 2024), received Critics’ Pick in the New York Times (2022) and was listed as one of NYT’s Best Dance Performances of 2022, with subsequent Sunday Arts features in the New York Times in 2024. Soles has lit floors on fire since their inception showcasing the power of three women conversing in distinct percussive dance traditions. solesofduende.com. Tonight's performance features resident flamenca, Arielle Rosales, resident kathaka, Brinda Guha, and guest tap artist, Asha "Dahomey" Griffith.
ABOUT SMIF N WESSUN
Smif N Wessun, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Dah Shinin’, pull up to the Fall of Freedom stage with three decades of grit, truth, and Brooklyn-born liberation music. This is rebel energy—Boot Camp Clik style.
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 MICHAEL THURBER
MICHAEL THURBER is a Tony Award Nominated, Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle winning composer, lyricist, producer and bassist. Theater credits include: Broadway - Just In Time. Off-Broadway -Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in the Park),Goddess (The Public Theater), Merry Wives (Shakespeare in the Park). Thurber is the co-founder of CDZA, a viral YouTube collective that amassed over 30million views and performed at TED, Summit and The YouTube Music Awards under the direction of Spike Jones. Michael's orchestral compositions have been performed by orchestras across the country including The Louisville Orchestra, The Indianapolis Symphony and The Interlochen Arts Academy. As a bassist, he has performed around the world with artists including Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma, Jon Batiste, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Cee Lo Green, Moses Sumney, Alissa Wielerstien, Tessa Lark, Louis Cato and many more. He studied at Juilliard and teaches at NYU's Clive Davis Institute.
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.
ABOUT DANIEL J. WATTS
DANIEL J. WATTS is a Tony and Emmy nominated multidisciplinary artist. TV/Film credits include: The Chi; HBO’s The Penguin; Marvel’s Werewolf by Night, and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. 10 Broadway shows including: Tina (Ike Turner, Tony Nominee); Hamilton; and Motown; as well as Co-Lyricist and Co-Choreographer of the new Broadway bound musical 3 Summers of Lincoln. Original work includes Daniel J. Watts’The Jam: Only Child for The Public Theater’s “Under The Radar Festival” as well as his multi-pronged project about the late soccer phenom, Pelé which includes a one-man show, a documentary, and a visual art exhibit.
ABOUT SHAYNA BLASS
Shayna Blass is a Brooklyn-based modern-day Rock Goddess who brings a soulful touch. With a voice that’s both raw and refined, she fuses the warmth of Dusty Springfield, the playful sophistication of Lake Street Dive, and the unstoppable energy of Tina Turner, into a sound that’s wholly her own. Blass's magnetic stage presence and powerhouse vocals transform every show into a celebration of freedom, fun, and connection. She wants you to leave her show feeling like the boldest, sexiest version of yourself. Follow along the journey on Instagram and Tiktok: @shaynablass.
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.
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).
ABOUT AMIR ELSAFFAR
Described as “the celebrated trumpeter and composer who explores vital connections between jazz and Arabic music” (New York Times), Amir ElSaffar is an Iraqi-American composer, trumpeter, santur player, vocalist, and modular synthesist working at the intersections of jazz, Western classical, and Maqam music of Iraq and the Middle East.
ElSaffar’s Two Rivers and 17-piece Rivers of Sound Orchestra, renowned for combining jazz with Maqam, have released seven critically acclaimed albums and have toured at major jazz festivals and venues around the world. ElSaffar has also created works for symphony orchestras, string quartets and small chamber ensembles, large and small jazz ensembles, Middle Eastern music ensembles, as well as hybrid projects with Raga, Flamenco, and Sub-Saharan African trance music, and is now working on an Arabic language Maqam opera.
ElSaffar has been commissioned by the Newport Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Dream City Festival (Tunisia), Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Festival d’Avignon (France), Flamenco Biennale (Netherlands), and the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, among others.
His awards and honors include the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award (2013), United States Artists Fellowship (2018), a Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University (2020-2021) and an IDEA Residency at Opera America (2023-2024), in support of his forthcoming Maqam opera in Arabic. In 2024, he began a new initiative, Maqam Studio, which has a mission of preserving and fostering the development of Iraqi Maqam and related practices in Brooklyn, NY, and in Iraq and the Arab world.
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.
ABOUT TAMAR-KALI
Tamar-kali is a vocalist, performer, award winning composer and Oscar shortlisted composer of Oscar nominated and Emmy award winning films.
A Brooklyn born and bred 2nd generation musician with roots in the coastal Sea Islands of South Carolina; she has defied boundaries to craft her own unique sound.
Whether her alt-rock power quintet or all femme chamber ensemble, as a performer, she speaks her lyrical truth with a supreme passion and a voice that will shake your foundation and shatter your expectations with its soulful intensity.
Tamar-kali’s current artistic landscape includes commissions for Miro Quartet and recent Grammy award winning soprano Karen Slack, a new solo cello work for cellist and multidisciplinary artist Jeff Ziegler as well as her original chamber opera in development ‘The Swann’.