Finding a New York Home for 'Liberty'

Back in the 1880s, more than 120,000 people contributed less than $1 each to raise enough funds to bring the Statue of Liberty from France to New York’s harbor.

So it’s apropos that “Liberty: A Monumental New Musical,” a play co-written by Farmingdale State College Creative Director Jon Goldstein about the immigrant struggle, would turn to the masses to raise funds in order to find a home base in lower Manhattan.

“The goal is to have Liberty be part of the New York City experience, to have a long-term residence at a space near Battery park, ideally it would run forever,” said Goldstein, a Glen Cove resident, who co-wrote the play with his sister Dana. “The planned stage set would also make the show able to travel, allowing the possibility of one, or several, national touring companies.”

The musical tells the story of Liberty, a young French daughter of the statue’s sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi who has sent her to New York to “become the embodiment of the American dream.” Along the way, she meets prominent artists, business leaders, slaves, Native Americans, dockworkers, immigrants and more.

Already, the show is on the radar of Sigourney Weaver and Michael Feinstein, who “were part of the 125th celebration of the Statue's dedication,” Goldstein said. “Our show was invited to perform at the event.”

Filmmaker Ken Burns introduced the show at a July 4, 2009, celebration, where members of the show also performed. 

In 2012, the musical had its world premiere in Connecticut, setting its sites on New York.

The show aims to open in a home near Battery Park by Oct. 28 – the Statue of Liberty’s 127th birthday.

And if the show raises more than $1 million?

No problem, Goldstein said. 

"Of course, if bigger investors wanted to take the show uptown to Broadway we would absolutely welcome that option," he said.