American Foundation for Equal Rights

Jay Leno Gives Shout-Out to Broadway Premiere of “8″

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACTS
American Foundation for Equal Rights:
Elizabeth Riel 213.785.5352 or elizabeth@afer.org
Broadway Impact:
Sean Martin — 516.480.6976 or sean@broadwayimpact.com
Boneau/Bryan —Brown for “8″:
Chris Boneau/Michael Strassheim — 212.575.3030 or mstrassheim@bbbway.com

Jay Leno Gives a Shout—Out to Broadway Reading
of Dustin Lance Black’s New Play, “8″

To see video clip: http://www.afer.org/media/videos/jay—leno—mentions—8—broadway—premiere/

Los Angeles, CA – Last night, Jay Leno, host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, paid tribute during his opening monologue to the new play “8,” which chronicles the historic trial of the federal legal challenge to California’s Proposition 8, Perry v. Brown. The play is written by the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) founding board member and Academy Award—winning writer Dustin Lance Black.

The new play will have its world premiere on Broadway at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Monday, September 19, 2011, for an exclusive, one—night only fundraiser to benefit AFER. Directed by two—time Tony Award—winning actor and director Joe Mantello, the reading is produced by AFER in partnership with Broadway Impact.

Today, AFER and Broadway Impact announced the complete cast and roles for the highly anticipated staged reading, including Emmy and Tony Award winner and two—time Golden Globe Award nominee Ellen Barkin; Golden Globe Award winner and four—time Emmy Award nominee Anthony Edwards; Academy and Golden Globe Award winner and Tony nominee Morgan Freeman; award—winning Broadway, television and film star Cheyenne Jackson; Academy, Emmy and two—time Golden Globe Award winner Christine Lahti; two—time Emmy Award—winning, Academy and multiple Golden Globe—nominated director and actor Rob Reiner; and Emmy Award winner Yeardley Smith.

For more information about the all—star cast and play, go to:  http://www.afer.org/news/full—casting—for—8—broadway—premiere—announced/