SAN DIEGO — A one-night only reading of Dustin Lance Black’s play “8” will be staged in San Diego on Monday, Nov. 19, at the Birch North Park Theatre, and include a number of high-profile cast members, including Black, Lance Bass, Bruce Vilanch, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and City Councilmember Todd Gloria.

Production & Celebrity Entertainment, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, will present the reading of “8,” which is a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8.

“8” shares an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.

Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film “Milk” and the film “J. Edgar,” based “8” on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

The San Diego reading of “8” will begin at 7:30 pm on Monday, Nov. 19, and net proceeds will benefit AFER.

Cast members scheduled to appear include: Lance Bass (NSYNC), Richard Dreyfuss (Academy Award winner), Annette O’Toole (Academy Award nominee, TV’s “Smallville”), Bruce Vilanch (Emmy Award-winning comic, “Hollywood Squares”), as well as San Diego’s best local talent.

Well-known San Diegans such as City Councilmember Todd Gloria will read the part of Judge Vaughn Walker and Lisa Sanders will read the part of Court Clerk.

The play will be directed by San Diego Theatre Critics Circle award winner Brian Wells.

Immediately following the reading, there will be a short talk back session featuring marriage equality advocates including Black, Sanders and other special guests.

Tickets start at $19.50 and are available through the Birch North Park Theatre box office at 619-239-8836 or online.

A limited amount of VIP tickets will be available for $75 each, and include preferred seating and access to a 6 pm “Meet and Greet” with the cast and special guests.

More information about “8” is HERE.

The post Reminder: Bruce Vilanch, Richard Dreyfuss, Dustin Lance Black, Lance Bass to appear in San Diego reading of “8” first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

THEATER NEWS
Hamish Linklater, Camryn Manheim, Kathy Najimy, Jason Ritter, Jean Smart et al. to Perform Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays
By: Dan Bacalzo · Dec 1, 2010 · Los Angeles

Jillian Armenante, Richard Gilliland, Hamish Linklater, Camryn Manheim, Kathy Najimy, Jason Ritter and Jean Smart will perform in Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays at Largo at the Coronet on Monday, December 6 at 8pm.

As previously reported, Bruce Vilanch will host the theatrical launch event to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Equality California.

Standing on Ceremony is comprised of short plays that look at the institution of marriage and relationships, written by Jordan Harrison, Jeffrey Hatcher, Moisés Kaufman, Neil LaBute, Wendy McLeod, Kathy Najimy, José Rivera, Paul Rudnick, and Doug Wright. Conceived and directed by Brian Shnipper, these new provocative plays were created in response to the on-going battle for marriage equality throughout the United States.

At the opening event for the production, Bruce Cohen will provide comments about the first day of the AFER’s case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the performance will be followed by a reception that will take place in the courtyard at Largo with a special surprise by Vilanch.

Standing on Ceremony will continue the special limited engagement for five consecutive Mondays beginning January 10, 2011. Plays and casting for the remaining run will be announced at a later date.

The post Bruce Vilanch To Host “The Gay Marriage Plays” first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Bruce Vilanch will host a special performance of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays at Largo at the Coronet on Monday, December 6. The event will raise funds for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Equality California. The show, conceived and directed by Brian Shnipper, will then play a limited engagement at the theater, running Mondays, January 10 – February 7.

Standing on Ceremony is comprised of short plays that look at the institution of marriage and relationships, written by Jordan Harrison, Jeffrey Hatcher, Moisés Kaufman, Neil LaBute, Wendy McLeod, Kathy Najimy, José Rivera, Paul Rudnick, and Doug Wright. Casting will be announced shortly

At the opening event for the production, Bruce Cohen will provide comments about the first day of the AFER’s case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the performance will be followed by a reception that will take place in the courtyard at Largo with a special surprise by Vilanch.

The post Vilanch To Host “Standing On Ceremony” Dec. 6th, 2010 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.