The Overtime Theater Announces Reading Of 8 3/3

The Overtime Theater in partnership with American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact have announced a one-night-only reading of "8," a play chronicling 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 unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental right to marry.

Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk and the new critically-acclaimed film J. Edgar, based "8" on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

"8" had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on September 19, 2011, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York City. The production brought in over one million dollars to support AFER's efforts to achieve full federal marriage equality. The play is set for multicity performances in 2012, including an all-star performance in Los Angeles on March 3, 2012 featuring Academy Award-winner George Clooney.

Directed by Matthew Byron Cassi, The Overtime Theater will partner with Trinity University and their 500-seat Stierren Theater for this one night only staged reading. Cassi plans to draw from the entire San Antonio theater community for the project. It calls for a cast of 23 actors, and will also need a tech crew, designers and all sort of other folks to pull it off. Ideally, Cassi would like to have representation from every theater in town involved. He's also planning to reach out to local LGBT community for volunteers, as well. If you or anyone you know has interest in sponsoring, donating or volunteering for this production please contact mcassi@gmail.com. Look for official cast announcement in the coming months.

Though they are looking at the end of August 2012, the exact date of the fundraising event is yet to be determined. You can get more information on this event at http://www.8theplay.com/readings/the-overtime-theater/.

"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," said AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black. "The goal of '8' is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right. The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. AFER and Broadway Impact are doing all we can to help speed that process along."

In addition to its Broadway and Los Angeles productions, AFER and Broadway Impact are licensing "8" to colleges and community theatres nationwide in order to spur action, dialogue and understanding. AFER and Broadway Impact are helping produce these staged readings across the country with a full slate set for 2012.

As a member of San Antonio's LGBT community, I am extremely passionate about getting people in Texas talking about this hot button issue. Marriage should be a human right, not a heterosexual privilege. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to tell this story and fight for marriage equality – Matthew Byron Cassi

The story for "8" is framed by the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, and features the best arguments and testimony from both sides. Scenes include flashbacks to some of the more jaw-dropping moments of trial, such as the admission by the Proposition 8 supporters' star witness, David Blankenhorn, that "we would be more American on the day we permitted same-sex marriage than we were on the day before."

Proposition 8 was struck down by the Federal District Court in August 2010. That ruling was appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by the anti-marriage proponents of Proposition 8. AFER's legal team was at the Ninth Circuit in December 2011 for a hearing to urge that court to unseal the trial video. The American public was not given a chance to witness the historic trial because the Proponents launched a desperate attempt to forever hide the video recording of the trial.

A ruling on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 and the release of the trial video is expected soon. The Perry case is widely anticipated to end up in the United States Supreme Court.

Tickets are not yet on sale for the San Antonio event, but for information on how your local theater can produce "8," visit: www.8theplay.com

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