8 - A Play about Marriage Equality

Compass, in partnership with the Lake Worth Playhouse, presents An unconstitutional proposition. An unprecedented decision. An unforgettable evening. Compass, in partnership with the Lake Worth Playhouse, Joins Nationwide Productions and the first in Florida of Landmark Marriage Equality Play by Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter of Milk & J. Edgar. On election day 2008, Proposition 8 re-wrote the California state constitution to ban marriage for gay and lesbian citizens. In response, two couples, Sandy Stier & Kristin Perry and Jeff Zarrillo & Paul Katami, filed suit against Proposition 8 in Federal Court. Representing them were Ted Olson and David Boies, most famous for representing the opposing sides in Bush v. Gore. Olson and Boies argued in favor of broadcasting the trial live, and Republican-appointed Chief Judge Vaughn Walker agreed. But the opponents of marriage equality filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, which blocked plans to broadcast the proceedings. Thus, the nation has been denied access to the live testimony of Sandy & Kristin and Jeff & Paul ... until now. What followed were twelve days of testimony in January of 2010, drawing crowds that spilled into overflow rooms, as well as many millions more who followed every moment online. These are the words, the witnesses, the testimony and the trial that the proponents of Proposition 8 fought so hard to keep from public view. Boise: Michael DeGrotta Judge Walker: Trent Steele Maggie Gallagher: Julie Seaver Kris Perry: Brandy DeMil Sandy Stier: Marcie Hall Paul Katami: Mark Fetterly Jeff Zarrillo: Ricky Klimas Elliot Perry: Michael Reizburg Spencer Perry: Damon Morra Dr. Nancy Cott: Jenny McCready Dr. Ilan Meyer: Charlie Fredrickson Ryan Kendall: Jason Parsley Dr. Gregory Herek: Michael Woods David Blankenhorn: Michael McKeich Hak-shing William Tam: Eric Harazi Evan Wolfson: Jay Horne Broadcast Journalist: Atashi Bhagvat Broadcast voice over (done live) Susy Diaz