Last weekend, several dozen notable members of Orlando's theater community donated their time and talents to "Prop 8 On Trial," a staged reading of the transcript from the legal battle over California's controversial anti-gay-marriage initiative. The production was presented by Beth Marshall, from a script by Lisa Cordes; featured actors included Michael Mormon, John DiDonna, Brett and Nicole Carson, Samantha O'Hare, Scott Borish, Chuck Dent, Paul Casteneda, Rob Ward, Michael Marinaccio, Kevin Sigman, John Connon, Eric Pinder, and many others.
The show was particularly well-timed, coming just days after an appeals court declared Prop 8 unconstitutional. In the spirit of the show, following the Saturday 2/11/12 performance in the Orlando Shakes, a same-sex wedding was held. Chad Lewis and Jason Donnelly (former long-time members of the Orlando theater community, perhaps best know for their work on Fringe hits Varietease and Jaws the Musical) returned from their current home in California to tie the knot in a ceremony presided over by Beth Marshall and Michael Wanzie. State-sanctioned or not, it was a joyful and emotional celebration. See the accompanying video for excerpts of the ceremony, with the complete press release from the show & wedding following.
(Apologies for the abrupt editing in the video, but the storage space on my iPhone is no match for Beth's verbosity.)
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All proceeds (after expenses) go to Chad Lewis & Jason Donnelly's wedding to benefit MARRIAGE EQUALITY!
Chad & Jason's wedding will immediately follow the final shows on Feb. 11th 2012 at 11pm in the Mandell Theatre with reception following in Patron's Room.
About the show:
Playwright Lisa Cordes (Kansas City, Mo) re-interprets California’s Proposition 8 legal case about same-sex marriage by mixing blogs and trial transcripts with audio and visual elements. The U.S. Supreme Court banned video from court proceedings, but reporters and activists used social media to record the event. Cordes has taken all this information and concentrated it into 2.5 hours of shock, laughter and tears. Updates to the epilouge of the show have been made to give up to the minute news of the latest rulings.
A production team of 50 plus artists have banned together to donate their time/talents for this important reading of a trial that is paramount on our biggest civil rights issues at this moment. It is a community based event!
When: Friday Feb. 10th & Sat. Feb. 11th 2012
Chad & Jason tie the knot post show on Feb. 11th in the theatre Wedding ceremony officiated by Beth Marshall and Michael Wanzie.
Showtime: 8:30pm (show is 2hrs. & 30 minutes with a ten-minute intermission)
Ticket Price- $25 (ALL proceeds (after expenses) benefit Chad Lewis & Jason Donnelly to show local appreciation on the platform of Marriage Equality.
VIP seating $30. (limited)
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE STRONGLY SUGGESTED and can be made online at BethMarshallPresents.com.
Cash only on day of show at box office. Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain.
WHO'S WHO:
PROP 8 ON TRIAL
Written by Lisa Cordes
Beth Marshall-Producer/Director
Chad Lewis-Director/Groom
Chasmin Hallyburton-Production Manager/Director of Atmosphere
John Sullivan-Assistant Stage Manager
Brenna Nicely-Dramaturgy
Amy Hadley-Light Design
Tom Mangieri-Set Design
Jason Donnelly- Wedding Sound Design/Slides & Video/Groom
..Jeremy Seghers
Activist 2
..Nicole Carson
Baliff
. Jimmy Moore
Blakenhorn
.. Chuck Dent
Blogger 1
. Sara Jones
Blogger 2
. Rob Ward
Boies
John DiDonna
Scot Borish*
Cott
.. Lisa Cordes
Herek/Chauncey
.. Michael Marinaccio
Michael Mormon
.. David S. Monge*
Lamb/Egan
. Eric Pinder*
Mayor Sanders/Miller
. Bob Dolan*
Meyer/Segura
..Paul Castenada
Moss
Samantha Faith O’Hare
Olson
. Brett Carson
Peplau/Badgett
Ava Tunstall
Perry
.Wesley Williams*
.. Ally Gursky
Segura
.Paul Castenada
Steir
.Pam O’Bannon*
Tam/Kendall
Kevin Sigman
Tweeter
Shayna Klee
..John Connon*
.Yetta Bennett
Full proceeds from this show will go to benefit the marriage of Chad Lewis & Jason Donnelly (former veteran Orlando artists now living in Ca.) Chad & Jason’s wedding will be officiated by Beth Marshall & Michael Wanzie following the final performance of PROP 8 ON TRIAL on Feb. 11th.
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