Tonight, by pure happenstance, I came across a play called “8” that was performed and streamed live on YouTube and presented by the American Foundation for Equal Rights. From their website: “George Clooney, Martin Sheen and Jane Lynch join an all-star cast for a one-night-only benefit reading of “8,” the new play by Academy-award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar) that chronicles the landmark federal trial of California’s Prop. 8 using the actual court transcripts and first-hand interviews.”
The other actors included Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Matthew Morrison, Chris Colfer, Christine Lahti, Matt Bomer, John C. Reilly, George Takei, Yeardley Smith, James Pickens, Jr., Vanessa Garcia, Cleve Jones, Rory O’Malley, Jansen Panettiere and Bridger Zadina. It lasted about an hour and a half and wasn’t dry and boring transcript reading. There was some very powerful and moving moments from Chris Colfer as well as some lighter, humorous ones care of John C. Reilly’s performance. NBC/CNN’s Campbell Brown acted as the occasional narrator. The play was very well presented and everyone involved did an exceptional job with their roles.
The show ended with Rob Reiner introducing Dustin Lance Black as well as the four actual plaintiffs and their two attorneys who were in the audience.
This is another powerful example of what amazing content the Internet is capable of bringing to a worldwide audience (minus China).
The recorded performance is available to watch on the AFER website or on their YouTube channel.
