Playbill.com - 07/Oct/2012

[Source]

San Francisco Reading of 8, With Dustin Lance Black, Holland Taylor and Luke Macfarlane, Presented Oct. 7

By Adam Hetrick
07 Oct 2012

Holland Taylor

Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black takes part in a San Francisco reading of his stage drama 8, chronicling California's anti-gay marriage legislation Prop 8, Oct. 7 at the American Conservatory Theatre.

Black, who earned an Oscar for the screenplay to "Milk," is joined by Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor ("The Practice," "Two and a Half Men"), Luke Macfarlane ("Brothers & Sisters"), Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez, California Shakespeare Theater artistic director Jonathan Moscone, San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Neil Giuliano, and LGBTQ activist Cleve Jones.


8, which premiered on Broadway in 2011 with an all-star cast, utilizes the original transcripts from the 2010 Perry v. Schwarzenegger case, which sought to overturn the 2008 voter-approved Prop. 8 legislation that denied same-sex couples the right to marry. The trial ultimately led to a California federal judge's ruling that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional and unfairly discriminated against homosexuals.

8 continues to roll out in productions across the country, at colleges, universities and theatre organizations. The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact administer the rights to 8, which is licensed royalty-free.

Proceeds from the reading benefit AFER and LGBTQ youth participating in A.C.T.'s ACTsmart program, which offers free student matinee tickets and theatre-based workshops at no cost to 23 public high schools in the Bay Area.

Tickets range in price from $50 to $100. A limited number of $250 seats are available and include premium seating and access to a post-performance reception with the cast. For tickets visit act-sf.org or phone (415) 749-2228.