Bozeman Public Library Foundation Announces Reading of Dustin Lance Black’s Play “8”

The Library Foundation Joins Nationwide Productions of Landmark Marriage Equality Play by Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter of Milk & J. Edgar

The Bozeman Library Foundation with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, is proud to announce 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 Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER Founding Board Member 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 freedom to marry.

Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk and the 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.

The Bozeman production is brought to the community thanks to author, director, and curator Gregory Hinton and his OUTWest programming. The Bozeman Library Foundation hosts the evening performance, starting with a reception from 6:30pm, the reading at 7:30pm in the Library’s mezzanine, followed by an informal discussion. Tickets are free and open to the public, but must be reserved in advance, as space is limited. Please call 582-2425 to secure your seat.

Hinton also was responsible for the “Beyond Brokeback: A Staged Reading with Music,” which premiered in Montana at the Bozeman Library in October 2011.

“The Bozeman Library is proud to be a partner on these two significant pieces of work,” said Paula K. Beswick, foundation director for the Library Foundation. “A public library’s role is to provide equal and open access to information to help inform, educate, and enlighten. It does this not only through its materials, but also through meaningful programs, such as ‘8’.”

This is truly a community program with local celebrity readers from all walks of life (see below) and support from the Pride Foundation, AIDS Outreach, MT Human Rights Network, and Nova Café. The Bozeman Public Library is in good company with the previous premieres from coast to coast.

“8” had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on September 19, 2011, at the sold-out Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City. The production brought in over $1 million to support AFER’s efforts to achieve full federal marriage equality.

“8” had its West Coast premiere reading at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. The West Coast premiere reading of “8” featured an all-star cast led by Golden Globe Award-winner and Academy and Emmy Award-nominee Brad Pitt as United States District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker; and Academy and Golden Globe Award-winner and Emmy Award-nominee George Clooney and Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Martin Sheen as Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel David Boies and Theodore B. Olson. The benefit reading was directed by AFER Founding Board Member Rob Reiner, and raised more than $2 million for the fight to secure full federal marriage equality.

“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.”

Throughout 2012, AFER and Broadway Impact are licensing “8” for free to colleges and community theatres nationwide in order to spur action, dialogue, and understanding. Hinton shares a common goal with his OUTWest programs, but his focus is on museums, universities, and public libraries.

For more information about the performance at the Bozeman Public Library, please call Paula Beswick at 582-2426 or director@bozemanlibraryfoundation.org. To learn more about “8” visit: www.8theplay.com or find it on Facebook.

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“8” Bozeman Public Library CAST LIST

Clerk Susan Gregory, director, Bozeman Public Library
Broadcast Journalist E.J. Porth, active community member
Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker Jack Kligerman, retired English Professor
Theodore B. Olson (Plaintiffs’ attorney) Sherman Hall, community actor
David Boies (Plaintiffs’ attorney) Alan Kesselheim, author

Charles J. Cooper (Proponents’ attorney) George Cole, retired Yellowstone Public Radio

Jeff Zarrillo (Plaintiff) Jamee Greer, community member & activist
Paul Katami (Plaintiff) Greg Smith, director, AIDS Outreach
Sandy Stier (Plaintiff) Laura Prindiville, active community member
Kris Perry (Plaintiff) Denise Malloy, author
Elliott (Kris & Sandy’s son) TBA
Spencer (Kris & Sandy’s son) TBA
Dr. Nancy Cott (Plaintiffs’ witness) Cindy Christin, children’s librarian

Maggie Gallagher (Marriage equality opponent)   Beth Boyson, reference librarian
Dr. Ilan Meyer (Plaintiffs’ witness) Jim Madden, active community member
Ryan Kendall (Plaintiffs’ witness) Riley Pittenger, active community member
Dr. Gregory Herek (Plaintiffs’ witness) Andy Allen, active community member
Dr. Gary Segura (Plaintiffs’ witness) Jan Krieger, middle school teacher
Dr. William Tam (Prop. 8 proponent)   Scott Blackwell, librarian
David Blankenhorn (Proponents’ witness)    Geoff Stephens, active community member
Evan Wolfson (Marriage equality advocate) Tom Zuzulock, high school teacher

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of Perry v. Brown, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. After bringing together Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry case through Federal District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality for all Americans.
www.AFER.org

ABOUT BROADWAY IMPACT
Broadway Impact is the only grassroots organization of the theatre community and its fans mobilized in support of marriage equality. Tony Award-nominees Rory O’Malley (The Book of Mormon) and Gavin Creel (HAIR) and Production Coordinator Jenny Kanelos founded the organization in direct response to the passage of California’s Proposition 8 in November 2008. Currently, Broadway Impact, in partnership with AFER, licenses and coordinates readings of Dustin Lance Black’s “8” at regional, community and university theaters around the world. Broadway Impact was the recipient of the 2009 Human Rights Campaign Community Award and proudly operates under the fiscal sponsorship of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

www.broadwayimpact.com

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Proposition 8 Key Dates:

Date Event
November 4, 2008 Prop. 8 Passes
May 26, 2009 AFER Attorneys Announced: Theodore B. Olson and David Boies

January 11-27, 2010 Perry v. Schwarzenegger District Court Trial
June 16, 2010 Closing Arguments
August 4, 2010 District Court Rules Prop. 8 Unconstitutional
December 6, 2010 9^th Circuit Oral Arguments re: Appeal by Prop. 8 Proponents

June 14, 2011 Proponents’ Motion to Vacate Judgment Denied
September 6, 2011 California Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Proponents’ Standing

September 19, 2011 Broadway Premiere of “8”

September 19, 2011 District Court Orders Release of Trial Video

November 17, 2011 California Supreme Court Advisory Opinion re: Proponents’ Standing

December 8, 2011 9^th Circuit Hearing re: Release of Trial Videotapes and Proponents’ Motion to Vacate Judgment

February 7, 2012 9^th Circuit Affirms District Court Ruling That Prop. 8 is Unconstitutional

March 3, 2012 Los Angeles Premiere of “8”