The premiere cast comprises Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone), Richard Thomas (most recently seen on Broadway in Race), Tony Award nominee Craig Bierko (The Music Man), Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Daytime Emmy nominee Mark Consuelos ("All My Children") and Emmy Award nominee Polly Draper ("thirtysomething"). (Standing on Ceremony will feature a rotating cast of actors from theatre, film and television.)

Directed by Stuart Ross, Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays includes a mix of short plays that address the on-going battle for marriage equality throughout the United States. Among the writers whose works are featured are Obie Award winner Mo Gaffney, Heideman Award winner Jordan Harrison, Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman, Emmy and WGA Award winner Joe Keenan, Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute, Sundance Jury Prize winner Wendy MacLeod, Obie Award winner José Rivera, Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Paul Rudnick, and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright.

Conceived by Brian Shnipper, Standing On Ceremony began as a series of benefit events in Los Angeles, taking on a life of its own as an inspiring theatrical evening.

The show's producers, Joan Stein and Richard Frankel, recently announced that the production has partnered with Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide. Standing On Ceremony will donate a portion of all ticket sales to Freedom to Marry and other organizations promoting marriage equality.

	Beth Leavel

"Freedom to Marry is happy to be partnering with the talented writers, actors, and team involved in Standing On Ceremony, as together we bring more people into our campaign to win the freedom to marry nationwide," said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, in a  recent statement. "Standing On Ceremony tells stories of life and love with laughter and tears, following committed gay and lesbian couples through the ups and downs of building a life together — in short, the reasons why marriage matters to gay people, too." Standing On Ceremony also joined with Tectonic Theater Project for Standing on Ceremony: The National Event, which will take the play's message across the globe. On Nov. 7, the show's first performance, curtains will rise on Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays across America and beyond as more than 40 participating theatres present the play to raise awareness and funds in support of marriage equality.

The performance schedule for Standing On Ceremony follows: Tuesdays-Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM; and Sundays at 3 PM and 7 PM.

The show is produced Off-Broadway by Joan Stein, Richard Frankel, Annette Niemtzow, Fakston Productions, Harley Medcalf, Jon Murray, Harvey Reese, in association with Diana Buckhantz and Niclas Nagler. Joe Watson is executive producer.

The Minetta Lane Theatre is located at 18 Minetta Lane. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.standingonceremony.net.