Laguna Playhouse Scores Major Coup with Performances of "8"

The marriage equality play "8," written by Dustin Lance Black (who scored an Oscar for penning "Milk"), originally rode in on some serious A-list star power.

It debuted on Broadway last fall with a cast that included John Lithgow and Morgan Freeman, then shot up to ... triple A-list star power? Sure, we'll go with that ... when the Los Angeles reading in March brought out George Clooney and Brad Pitt in a live-streamed production.

And next? How about Laguna Beach?

Yep. The just scored a major coup, landing the rights to "8" for three performances in May at BC Space Gallery (note: not the Laguna Playhouse proper).

These staged readings will be presented by students in the Playhouse's Youth Conservatory/Repertory 2 program, which is comprised of students ranging in age from 15 to 18. And as far as we can tell, these will be the first such readings of "8" held in Orange County.

The play is essentially a stylized transcript of the courtroom proceedings involving the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger—now known as Perry v. Brown—which took place in 2010 and ultimately (just this past February) ruled that Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples, was unconstitutional.

When Donna Inglima, the Playhouse's Youth Theatre Education Director, first read about "8" in the New York Times, she went about acquiring the performance rights through the play's website.

"I have a group of well-versed high school students and asked would they grant us the rights to produce it," Inglima tells Laguna Beach Patch. "Then I brought it to my students, and they were thrilled with the piece and decided ultimately that they wanted to do this. We eventually got the rights for three performances. I dont think (the American Foundation for Equal Rights and Broadway Impact, which own the rights to the play) were thinking of allowing youth groups or non-equity groups to do it, so I think I caught them early in the process."

"8" isn't presented as a regular drama like most playgoers might be used to, it should be pointed out. The actors will be clutching scripts throughout. But this doesn't make the work any less compelling.

"It's a staged reading because it allows the audience and the actors to focus on the words and the issues," says Inglima, who adds that there'll be a discussion and Q&A with members of the legal and marriage rights communities following the Friday and Saturday night perfs.

The Laguna Playhouse Youth Conservatory cast, which will perform "8," includes Eliana Alcouloumre, Aaron Canter, Jeremy Canter,Nicole Doiron, Ben Field, Allison Gerstley, D’Arcy Green, Madeline Jenkins, Sander Kushen, Jordan McIntyre, Kenzie McMillan, Gillian Perry and Shawna Yang.

Performances are set for May 11 at 7 p.m., and May 12 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Admission will be by donation levels ranging from $15 to $50, and all proceeds will benefit the American Foundation For Equal Rights, the organizational sponsor of the federal lawsuit for marriage equality.

To reserve seats, call Inglima at 949-497-2787 x.202 or send her an email at donna@lagunaplayhouse.com.

BC Space Gallery is located at 235 Forest Ave.