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Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University

"8"

A new staged reading by Dustin Lance Black chronicling the federal trial for marriage equality

Event Information




November 11, 2012 / 2 p.m.
Keller Theatre, Lenfest Hall
Tickets are free, but required.

Box Office hours:

Monday - Friday, 9-11 a.m.,
2-4 p.m. and two hours before each ticketed performance
(540) 458-8000
X

Auditions:

Oct. 28, 2012 in the Keller Theatre, Lenfest Center for the Arts, from 2-5 p.m.

For more information, contact Rob Mish ’76 at rmish@wlu.edu or x8006. 

Marriage equality is a powerful issue, currently attracting the attention of individuals and communities across the nation. Those of us at an institution of learning and honor such as Washington and Lee, are in a unique position to explore this issue through performance on campus and with the greater Lexington community. On Sunday, November 11, 2012, at 2 p.m. the Lenfest Center for the Arts in association with the Washington and Lee University Department of Theater and Dance, campus GLBTQ, Mindbending, and the School of Law Arts organizations will present a staged reading of 8, a new documentary play by Dustin Lance Black about the federal case for marriage equality in California. Black has based his play on actual court transcripts and interviews. Following the performance, please join us for a brief talk-back with the cast and others for an active discussion of the issues.

See what happens when discrimination is put on trial: Take a peek inside the trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the federal court case for marriage for gay and lesbian Americans.

8 is the real-life story of Kris & Sandy and Paul & Jeff, two loving couples who want to get married but can’t. Together with attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson and a host of expert witnesses, they take aim at Proposition 8, a discriminatory law that took away the right for LGBT couples to marry in California in 2008.

8 is based on the actual words of the Perry trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. Learn about the historical context of marriage from expert testimony. See the human cost of discrimination. Uncover the arguments used to justify bans on marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Using the actual court transcripts from the landmark federal trial of California's Prop. 8 and first-hand interviews, 8 shows both sides of the debate in a moving 90-minute play.

http://www.8theplay.com/readings/washington-and-lee-university/

Sponsored by the Lenfest Center for the Arts in association with the W&L Department of Theater and Dance, campus GLBTQ, Mindbending, and the School of Law Arts organization.