Eight states and Washington, D.C. now allow same-sex marriage, but the issue continues to roil. Two of the states, Washington and Maryland, imposed a test to their laws with fall voter referendums.
Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has taken the opposite course by considering a proposal to ban such unions.
With this backdrop, Open Stage of Harrisburg intends to bring light to the issue, teaming up with American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact for a one-night-only reading of the play “8,” at 7 p.m., Sunday, May 6.
The play chronicles the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, written by AFER Founding board member and Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black.
“8” is an account of the federal district court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger – now Perry v. Brown (following Jerry Brown’s election as governor, replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger). AFER filed the case to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental right to marry.
Black, who wrote the film scripts to “Milk” and “J. Edgar,” based his play on the Aug. 4, 2010 trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional.
Black used the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama, and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. On Feb. 7, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld Walker’s ruling.
“8” had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on Sept. 19, 2011 and the production brought in more than $1 million to support AFER’s efforts to achieve full federal marriage equality.
Overseeing the production is Open Stage Executive Artistic Director Don Alsedek, who has directed many important lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plays at Open Stage including “Angels in America” and “The Laramie Project.”
“Open Stage is dedicated to opening minds,” Alsedek said. “This is the kind of theatre we are passionate about.”
A select group, about 40 theatres nationwide, was chosen to produce the reading, which will feature many professional actors from the region and beyond, said Stuart Landon, the theatre’s marketing and sales operations manager.
With the LGBT Community Center Coalition of Central PA’s Executive Director Louie Marven, Open Stage Education Director Anne Alsedek has organized a talkback and a question-and-answer period following the reading.
“People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter,” Black said. “The goal of “8” is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right.”
“8” plays 7 p.m., Sunday, May 6, in the Angino Family Theatre at Open Stage of Harrisburg, 223 Walnut St. Admission is $15. For advanced ticket purchase, call Open Stage Box Office at 717-232-6736 or visit openstagehbg.com.
