Dustin Lance Black's Prop. 8 Play Attracts All-Star Cast

A benefit staged reading of 8, Dustin Lance Black's play about California's Prop. 8 trial, has attracted an illustrious all-star cast that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Marisa Tomei, Morgan Freeman, Rob Reiner, Christine Lahti, and Anthony Edwards.

A press release for the event describes the play as "an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case filed by American Foundation for Equal Rights to overturn Proposition 8, which eliminated the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples in California." Black, who won an Academy Award for his acclaimed Milk screenplay, used the actual words of the trial transcripts, firsthand observations of the courtroom drama, and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families for the script.

The one-night-only reading will be directed by Tony Award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello and take place at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in New York City September 19 at 8 p.m. Proceeds will go directly to the foundation. For tickets or more information, visit AFER.org.