Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays by Kaufman, LaBute & More to Play Off-Broadway This Fall

Joan Stein and Richard Frankel (Producers) announced today that they will bring the new theatrical event Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays to the New York stage this fall, directed by Stuart Ross. Responding to one of the defining issues of our day -- the on-going battle for marriage equality throughout the United States -- some of America's most illustrious and Award-winning playwrights, including Heideman Award winner Jordan Harrison, Edgar Award winner Jeffrey Hatcher, Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman, Emmy and WGA Award winner Joe Keenan, Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute, Sundance Jury Prize winner Wendy McLeod, Obie Award winner José Rivera, Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Paul Rudnick, and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright, have created a heartfelt, funny and altogether illuminating evening that celebrates the courage to be in a relationship - any relationship.

Preview performances begin Tuesday, October 18, with an official opening night set for Monday, October 24, at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, NYC).

Ms. Stein and Mr. Frankel commented "We are delighted to present this celebration of marital equality that is not only funny, moving and enlightening but also may serve in some way to advance a cause which is so important to all of us."

Conceived by Brian Shnipper, Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays began as a series of benefit events in Los Angeles, taking on a life of their own as an inspiring theatrical evening. As was established in Los Angeles, a portion of each ticket purchased to every performance of Standing On Ceremony will be donated to marriage equality organizations.

Tickets for Standing on Ceremony, priced from $59.oo to $79.00 (plus a $1.00 theatre facility fee), will be on sale via Ticketmaster.com beginning Friday, September 9 and at the Minetta Lane box office beginning October 13. For groups of 10 or more, call 1-800-BROADWAY, ext.2 or visit www.Broadway.com/Groups. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday- Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. (There will be no performance Tuesday, October 25.)

Standing On Ceremony will include a rotating cast of all-star actors to be announced shortly.

The nine short plays that make up Standing On Ceremony include:

- The Revision by Jordan Harrison, an amusing look at how two men might rewrite their vows to more accurately reflect the limited options available to a gay couple.

- This Flight Tonight by Wendy MacLeod, which asks if there is any hope for happiness when a lesbian marriage begins in Iowa.

- On Facebook by Doug Wright, adapted from an actual Facebook thread chronicling one long fight among friends on the subject of gay marriage.

- White Marriage by Jeffrey Hatcher, in which a wife and husband discuss his "gay" sense of humor.

- This Marriage Is Saved by Joe Keenan, a satiric vignette about a disgraced evangelist and his wife who insist that his extra marital flings has only strengthened their marriage.

- Strange Fruit by Neil LaBute, the story of two men in love whose plans to get married "the old-fashioned way" are stymied when reality rears its ugly head.

- The Gay Agenda by Paul Rudnick, a sadly hilarious plea for understanding by an Ohio homemaker and member of Focus on the Family.

- London Mosquitoes by Moisés Kaufman, a poignant story in which a widower tries to make sense of the loss of his long-time lover.

- Pablo and Andrew at the Altar of Words by José Rivera, a moving play about two men who use their marriage vows to "say the things we never really say".

For more information, visit www.standingonceremony.net.