Dustin Lance Black’s New Play “8”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Announcing the New Zealand Premiere - a Staged Reading of Dustin Lance Black’s New Play “8”

Monday 25th June, 6.15pm – Auckland, New Zealand

Press Release: Love, Blood & Rhetoric Productions

Announcing the New Zealand premiere – a staged reading of Dustin Lance Black’s new play “8”.

Featuring stars of the stage and screen, the New Zealand Premiere joins International Productions of the Landmark Marriage Equality Play by Academy Award-WinningScreenwriter of Milk & J. Edgar.

Love, Blood and Rhetoric Productions and the Unitec Department of Performing and Screen Arts, (with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact), is proud to announce a one-night-only reading of “8”.

“8” is an unprecedented account of the historic Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER (American Foundation for Equal Rights) to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.

On the 11th July, some of New Zealand’s best actors will take to the stage to bring “8” to a New Zealand audience for the first time. The cast includes Robyn Malcolm (Outrageous Fortune), Jennifer Ward-Lealand (The Actors’ Program), Ben Barrington (Almighty Johnsons), Peter Elliot, Michelle Hines, John Davies and Cameron Rhodes.

Written by Dustin Lance Black, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter (Milk & J. Edgar) and AFER Founding Board Member, Black 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.

Kacie Stetson, director of the New Zealand premiere was personally affected by this historic trial and worked hard to be able to bring “8” to a New Zealand audience.

“Equal rights for LGBT people are a pressing and international issue. Here in New Zealand, LGBT have most of the same rights as their fellow citizens, with two notable exceptions: The right to adopt children as a couple and the right to marry. These exceptions create a diminished status for same-sexcouples.”

“8” is a staged reading presented by Love, Blood and Rhetoric Productions and Unitec Department of Performing and Screen Arts in conjunction with The Actors’ Program, Maidment Theatre and Rainbow Youth.

Directed by Kacie Stetson, “8” stars Robyn Malcolm, Peter Elliot, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Ben Barrington, Michele Hine, Cameron Rhodes, Heath Jones, John Davies and more. The reading will be followed by a Q & A session with Sam Shore and other local gay rights activists.

One night only – Wednesday 11thJuly, 7:30pm at The Maidment Theatre.

Tickets are available at the Maidment Theatre box office. Tickets are limited to four per person, admission is free however a Koha is appreciated as all proceeds go to Rainbow Youth and AFER.

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