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!.

Admit it, at 45 years old, the Advocate looks good. Over those years, the LGBT magazine has seen the same challenges as any other print publication but has forged ahead with its watchdog duties in human rights as well as being a pop culture compass.

The glossy will celebrate the big 4-5 at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, welcoming a host of celebs and activists, as well as fashion and social types. Not to mention inductees to the Heroes Hall of Fame, a list of notables that includes Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Cynthia Nixon and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Macy Gray will perform for the crowd, with “Tonight Show” correspondent Ross Mathews as emcee, in a night that boasts “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Drew Droege, Sean Maher and Oscar show writer Bruce Vilanch as well as Dustin Lance Black, Donna Deitch and Pat Rocca.

Founded in 1967 as a vehicle for education at a time when gay and lesbian bars were being raided and unlawful arrests made, the mag’s legacy will be toasted in the Hilton’s International Ballroom, with a DJ set from Beau Dasher.

The Advocate partners with Lexus for the event, also serving as benefit for the Point Foundation, which works to provide academic scholarships to LGBT youth.

—Matt Donnelly

The post Advocate magazine turns 45: Party To Include Bruce Vilanch, Ellen Degeneres, Rosie, And More first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

In honor of what would have been Harvey Milkâ€s 80th birthday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared tomorrow to be the first ever “Harvey Milk Day”. The day will be celebrated with special appearances, demonstrations, BBQâ€s, and events all over Los Angeles County.

The official celebration will take place at Madame Tussauds with special appearances from Stuart Milk, Harvey Milkâ€s nephew, and comedian Bruce Vilanch.

Starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow volunteers will also gather at the East Los Angeles Service Center to hear speakers such as screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who wrote popular film Milk, and United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The volunteers will then go door-to-door gaining support for marriage equality. Later in the afternoon Sharon and Kelly Osbourne will host a celebration and fundraiser at their home in Hidden Hills. Tickets start at $150 and all proceeds will go to Equality California.

Then at noon over in West Hollywood, Mayor Pro Tempore John Duran will honor Harvey Milk with the introduction of the “Harvey Milk Schools Project” that seeks to promote anti-LGBT bullying. West Hollywood will end their day with a performance from the Gay Menâ€s Chorus of Los Angeles starting at 7 p.m. at Fairfax High School Auditorium.

But the celebration continues on to Sunday afternoon for Los Angelians. In Brentwood from about 1 p.m to 4 p.m a family BBQ and picnic will launch the creation of EQCAâ€s Families Advisory Council, a faction of LGBT dedicated to reaching parents and children.

The post Vilanch Helps Ring In First Ever “Harvey Milk Day” Tomorrow In Los Angeles first appeared on We Got Bruce!.