Much has changed in the 55 years since the The Stonewall Uprising — and Cynthia Erivo is ready to celebrate the progress we’ve made.
In an announcement on Tuesday (May 21), LGBTQ+ advocacy group Pride Live announced Erivo as the official headliner for the Stonewall Day 2024 benefit concert, taking place Friday, June 28. The celebration, which is set to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 protests at New York’s Stonewall Inn that galvanized the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the U.S., will be hosted by E! News‘ Justin Sylvester, and will feature performances from DJ Lina Bradford, singer Conchita Wurst, pop group BETTY and singer Loren Allred.
In a statement released with the news, Erivo expressed her gratitude for being included in the lineup. “I’m honored to perform at Stonewall Day and commemorate the legacy of Stonewall: In the face of hate and discrimination, the queer community rose up together and fought for the spaces where we could be free through music and dance,” she wrote. “I want my performance to inspire and uplift the audience to celebrate this meaningful moment.”
Proceeds from the benefit concert will go toward the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (SNMVC), which is also set to open on June 28. A first-of-its-kind attraction within the National Park System, the SNMVC will aim to “preserve, advance and celebrate the legacy of the Stonewall Rebellion,” per the center’s official website.
Meanwhile, Erivo is currently promoting her upcoming role as Elphaba in the long-awaited film adaptation of Wicked. Last week, fans got a first full-length glimpse of Erivo’s character in the film’s official trailer, in which the actress delivered snippets from the beloved Act I closing number “Defying Gravity” alongside co-star Ariana Grande.
Stonewall Day 2024 will take place Friday, June 28, at Hudson Yards’ Public Square & Gardens in Manhattan. Tickets are currently available through Eventbrite.