Participating theatres across the world will present their own production of Standing On Ceremony Nov. 7, the same night the Off-Broadway production will begin previews, to raise awareness for the support of marriage equality as well as funds for local, state and national marriage equality organizations.
The 8 PM Off-Broadway performance will feature an introduction before the play, which will be streamed live to the participating venues. Venues will also screen a live post-performance Q&A, where audience members can participate by submitting questions via Twitter in real time.
More than 25 theatres and universities are confirmed to participate in 19 states across America, including Texas; North Dakota; Florida; Kansas and Michigan, where both gay marriage and civil unions are banned; North Carolina, where the vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage was moved up to 2012; California, where gay marriage was legalized and then overturned by the passage of Proposition 8 in 2008; and many states where marriage equality is not yet a reality. Theatres in Sydney, Australia will participate as well.
Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays features 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 Heideman Award winner Jordan Harrison, Edgar Award winner Jeffrey Hatcher, Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman, Emmy and WGA Award winner Joe Keenan, Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute, Sundance Jury Prize winner Wendy McLeod, Obie Award winner José Rivera, Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Paul Rudnick, and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright.
In 2009, Tectonic Theater Project brought The Laramie Project to 100 cities across America, when it was performed simultaneously by high schools, universities and professional theatres. “After the success of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, we are thrilled to partner with Standing On Ceremony to facilitate another national convening with this beautiful collection of plays about a timely and urgent issue,” said Tectonic artistic director Moisés Kaufman in a statement.
For more information, visit the show's Facebook site at www.facebook.com/standingonceremony.
