Many free words will be spoken:

Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, Shawn Colvin, and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D are among the artists set to appear at the Creative Coalition's Seconding The First Gala Concert at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom October 29. The event celebrates freedom of artistic expression.

Others appearing include Bob Costas, Carl Bernstein, Bebe Neuwirth, Caroline Rhea, Cynthia Nixon, Danny Glover, Hector Elizondo, James Gandolfini, Liev Schreiber, Marlo Thomas, Peter Boyle, Giancarlo Esposito, and Afghan musician Quraishi. Paul Shaffer will serve as the musical director.

As well, late-Billboard Editor-in-Chief Timothy White will be honored with the Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award. Previous recipients have included Walter Cronkite, National Endowment For The Arts chairperson Jane Alexander, and Playboy publisher Christine Hefner.