400th Reading of "8" the Play to be held in Fremont
FREMONT, OHIO: PERFORMANCE OF DUSTIN LANCE BLACK’S NEW PLAY “8”
Fremont Community Theatre to Produce Landmark Marriage Equality Play by Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter of "Milk" & "J. Edgar"
Fremont Community Theatre, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, is proud to announce a two-night-only reading of “8,” a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. Written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black, “8” had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere in September 2011 and its star-studded Los Angeles premiere in March 2012.
The production is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (later Hollingsworth v. Perry), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.
Members of Fremont Community Theatre and recognizable members of the nearby theatre community, including Fremont, Gibsonburg, Toledo, Tiffin, Huron, Clyde, Bellevue, Sandusky, Rossford, and even as far away as Findlay, will be performing in this dramatic reading. Scott Ciolek, a nationally recognized Toledo attorney, will also be performing at FCT for the first time portraying Ted Olson – one of the co-counsels for the plaintiffs.
After the production, a talkback will directly follow the performance: a 20 minute conversation that will engage the cast, the audience and expert panelists including representatives from local LGBT organizations, campus and political leaders, and marriage equality advocates to discuss the play, learn ways to get involved locally and spark a dialogue among the community. Those participating include:
Friday Night -
Gwen Andrix - Freedom Ohio
Aliya Rahman- Equality Ohio
Sean Nestor - Toledo City Council Candidate/ community activist
David Donofrio- Freedom Ohio
Saturday night -
Lily Briggs- Owens GSA
Autumn Leaf- Get Equal
Tom Morgan- Get Equal
Gwen Andrix- Freedom Ohio
When: 8:00 p.m. September 13 and 14
Where: Fremont Community Theatre, 1551 Dickinson Street, Fremont, Ohio
Fremont Community Theatre is suggesting donations of $10, which will benefit both AFER and Broadway Impact. We encourage reservations, which can be made by calling 419-332-0695 or by visiting www.fremontcommunitytheatre.org
"Fremont, OH is the 400th confirmed reading, which are taking place at a variety of professional, community, college and high school theaters. The 50 year-old Fremont Community Theatre will stage readings on September 13 and 14 in their [188] seat performance space located an hour and a half outside Cleveland [and an hour outside of Toledo].
Over 55,000 estimated people have already experienced a staged reading of “8” live at more than 350 readings performed to date. This is in addition to over 900,000 views online of the play’s Los Angeles premiere staring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Martin Sheen.
Based on the actual court transcripts of the 2010 Prop. 8 trial, the play has a profound effect on everyone who sees it, and has proved to be a useful tool to spark dialogue and understanding about marriage equality"
[For full article, please visit www.AFER.org]
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of Hollingsworth v. Perry, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. After bringing together Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry case through Federal District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality for all Americans.
www.AFER.org
ABOUT BROADWAY IMPACT
Broadway Impact is the only grassroots organization of the theatre community and its fans mobilized in support of marriage equality. Tony Award-nominees Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon) and Gavin Creel (HAIR) and Production Coordinator Jenny Kanelos founded the organization in direct response to the passage of California’s Proposition 8 in November 2008. Currently, Broadway Impact, in partnership with AFER, licenses and coordinates readings of Dustin Lance Black's "8" at regional, community and university theaters around the world. Broadway Impact was the recipient of the 2009 Human Rights Campaign Community Award and proudly operates under the fiscal sponsorship of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
www.broadwayimpact.com
Press Release Contact Name: Cynthia Hineline
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-332-0775
Organization Name: Fremont Community Theatre
Website or Link: www.fremontcommunitytheatre.org
Organization Address: 1551 Dickinson Street, Fremont, OH, 43420