Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello (The Normal Heart) directed the play that utilizes the original transcripts from the 2010 Perry v. Schwarzenegger case, which sought to overturn the 2008 voter-approved Prop. 8 legislation. The trial ultimately led to a California federal judge's ruling that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional and unfairly discriminated against homosexuals.
Here is a look at the red carpet arrivals and post-show reception:
The cast included Bob Balaban, Ellen Barkin, Matt Bomer, Campbell Brown, Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, K. Todd Freeman, Jayne Houdyshell, Cheyenne Jackson, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Larry Kramer, Christine Lahti, Ken Leung, John Lithgow, Rory O’Malley, Rob Reiner, Ben Rosenfield, Kate Shindle, Yeardley Smith, Stephen Spinella and Bradley Whitford. 8 incorporates observations and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. Perry v. Schwarzenegger was not televised, and all video documentation remains under a federal protective order. 8 offers audiences one of the first word-for-word accounts of moments from the historic trial.
According to presenters, "The story for 8 is framed by the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, but features the best arguments and testimony from both sides of the issue. Scenes include flashbacks to some of the more jaw-dropping moments of trial, such as the admission by Prop. 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.'"
Proceeds from the Broadway staging of 8 support the campaign for full federal marriage equality and educational efforts on the subject of marriage equality.
