Hirsch, Najimy, Heredia Join STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS

Judd Hirsch, Kathy Najimy, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Debra Monk, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Longoria, Dan Butler, David Pittu, Jason Butler Harner, Jonathan Cake, Kristin Nielsen and Nancy Giles have joined the cast of STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, a collection of short plays written for marriage equality to benefit Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality New York and New York Theatre Workshop. They join previously announced actors: Jillian Armenante, Kevin Chamberlin, Frankie Faison, Randy Harrison, Jefferson Mays, Christopher Sieber, Mary Testa, Mary Louise Wilson, and B.D. Wong.

The event will take place on Monday, June 14, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Angel Orensanz Center, 172 Norfolk Street in New York City, between Houston and Stanton Streets. Dancing and a glamorous wedding reception will follow. Originally commissioned and conceived by Brian Shnipper, the plays will be directed by Mr. Shnipper and Stuart Ross. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is the event Chair, and Mr. Anthony Napoli is the Benefit Chairperson of New York Theatre Workshop. Absolut is a sponsor of STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS. Go to http://www.nytw.org/standing_benefit.asp for tickets.

Sybil Bruncheon will be the mistress of ceremonies at the reception, following the performance.

Tickets are $250, and $500, including the performance as well as the gala reception. A very limited number of $75 show only tickets have become available. Tax deductible tickets can be ordered by phone at 646-957-9547 or online at www.nytw.org.

In an innovative approach to fundraising for this worthy cause, another way to contribute is through a special "wedding gift registry." Visit http://www.myregistry.com/public/Standing-on-Ceremony using the organization name "Standing On Ceremony." Those who support marriage equality but cannot attend the benefit are encouraged to donate generously.

The event will feature the following plays:

LET THEM EAT CAKE by Holly Hughes Megan Carney and Moe Angelos
Femme and Butch seem to find themselves at a benefit for gay marriage that Femme wants nothing to do with

DOUBTLESS by Albert Innaurato
Two nuns deliberate about abandoning the Church.

ONE LAST MARCH ON ROME by Marcus Gardley
Draws the parallel between the civil rights movement and the gay rights movement

LONDON MOSQUITOS by Moises Kaufmann
Do you know where you were on Friday, November 22, 1963? Joe Does. He was standing in The Common room of the dorm hearing these words from evolutionary biology student Paul: "Perhaps we, as a species, have ceased to evolve." Over the next 5 decades, Joe and Paul come to understand the shared border between the homosapien and the evolutionary miracle of the London Mosquitoes.

ON FACEBOOK by Doug Wright
Adapted from an actual Facebook thread, ON FACEBOOK is one long fight between friend, friends of friends and strangers about the issue of gay marriage

BLANK-IT-STAN by Kate Moira Ryan
Vlad, Masha and Babushka wonder why it is that America is so backwards, considering that gay marriage and national health care don't exist

SOMETHING BLUE by Constance Congdon
Two men about to march down the aisle together discover and unexpected complication.

STRANGE FRUIT by Neil LaBute
A loving couple's lies are suddenly and irrevocably transformed.

BRAVE NEW WORDS by Kira Obolensky
Three wordsmiths pitch new words to be entered into the dictionary. How do you define marriage?

PABLO AND ANDREW AT THE ALTAR OF WORDS by Jose Rivera
A declaration of love.

THE REVISION by JorDan Harrison
Two men struggle with writing their wedding vows

THE GAY AGENDA by Paul Rudnick
Mary Abigal Carstairs-Sweetbuckle is afraid that her neighbors have a secret agenda

MADDY MARRIAGE by Kathy Najimy
Maddy, a sixties something open minded suburban aunt, tries to keep up with things even though she may not understand the details of everything that's changing or should change.

James C. Nicola, Artistic Director, New York Theatre Workshop, said, " Historically, each chapter of democracy American-style has been defined by one fierce battle or another over the rights of a group of individuals in relation to the powers of the state. Marriage equality now occupies that historic position. By joining forces, Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality New York and New York Theatre Workshop create a unique opportunity to participate in this essential rite of citizenship."

The Honorary Committee for the event is comprised of supporters of marriage equality including: U.S Senator Charles Schumer, NYS Senator Tom Duane (the leader for Marriage Equality in the New York State Senate), Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, David Hyde Pierce, Brian Hargrove, James Lapine, Isaac Mizrahi, Judy Shepard (Mother of Matthew Shepard), Neil Patrick Harris and Patrick Dempsey among others.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC seeks to improve the lives of LGBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public support among all Americans through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs.

Marriage Equality New York is an all-inclusive organization whose mission is to educate the public by raising awareness of the important right of all persons to enter into legally recognized gender neutral civil marriage with all the benefits and responsibilities that entails. Without marriage, committed same-sex couples are denied over 1,138 federal rights and obligations including social security, hospital visitation, co-parenting rights, estate tax, and immigration, just to name a few. MENY spreads their message through educational seminars, forums, and speaking engagements; media presence; partnerships with local area civil groups, churches and individuals; and active engagement with political leaders, lobbying for equality in the law.

Founded in 1979 (incorporated 1982), New York Theatre Workshop is A Contemporary Theatre company committed to the development of innovative theatre by supporting theatre artists at all stages of their careers, providing an environment where work can be created free from the artistic compromise and forbidding financial demands often associated with commercial ventures. The Workshop is dedicated to exploring and presenting theatrical experiences that reflect, respond to and invigorate the world in which we live and work. Over more than twenty-five years, NYTW has evolved to become a significant force in New York City's vibrant cultural landscape and is now recognized as one of the leading producing theatres of original work in the United States.

For More information visit www.nytw.org

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.