No Book Bans believes in a bigger world – a world where everyone is free to express themselves and read any book with no censorship.

The organization is teaming up with several Broadway productions to celebrate that expression and freedom.

Jody Drezner Alperin of No Books Banned noted, “protecting stories means protecting people. Broadway and libraries both give us a chance to experience stories that let us see ourselves or stretch beyond our own experiences, powering the creation of new stories that will populate library shelves and Broadway stages for years to come. No Book Bans is thrilled to help bring these communities together in this new tradition.”

Actor and activist George Takei will help to kick off Banned Book Week at the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch on October 6 and the film “Unscripted: A Night Against Censorship”.

Takei and librarian and poet Adeeba Rana will enter into a conversation, performers from Broadway and Off-Broadway will be reading form banned books; and Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and No Book Bans will be offering some free giveaways.  Voter registration and arts activities will also be on hand.

Additionally, No Book Bans will have ticket and merchandise giveaways from participating shows including “Beetlejuice”, “Mexodus”, “Maybe Happy Ending”, “The Outsiders”, and the New Victory Theater. 

No Book Bans will be hosting a post-show talkback with the cast from “Mexodus” on October 9.

Banned Book Week runs October 5 – 9 where bookstores and libraries will highlighting books that have been banned.

The Brooklyn Public Library is offering a Digital Public Library car for anyone 13-21 in order to have access the the library’s entire collection.

Takei has been named the honourary chair for Banned Book Week; along with University of California student and youth chair Iris Mogul.

Speaking on censorship Takei said, “I remember all too well the lack of access to books and media that I needed growing up. First as a child in a barbed-wire prison camp, then as a gay young man in the closet, I felt confused and hungry for understanding about myself and the world around me.”  Takei’s family was one of many Japanese-Americans who were interred in camps during World War II.

He added, “please stand with me in opposing censorship, so that we all can find ourselves — and each other — in books.”