Gay Couples to Say 'I Do' at Broadway's St. James Theatre, 7/25

Earlier today at a press conference in front of Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street), where the Tony® Award-winning revival of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical officially opens tonight, Broadway Impact co-founder Rory O'Malley (2011 Tony Award® nominee) announced that several same-sex couples from the Broadway community will get married onstage at the St. James Theatre on July 25 immediately following that evening's performance of HAIR. These unions will be among the very first in New York State, following the landmark bill recently passed by state legislators. The press conference also included Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Jujamcyn Theatres President Jordan Roth and the cast of HAIR.

It was also announced at the press conference that cast members from HAIR will hold a performance and be-in to benefit Broadway Impact and celebrate the recent victory for marriage equality in New York State on Sunday, July 24 at 9:00 PM at Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen Street). July 24 also marks the first day gay couples in New York State can legally wed.

Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theatres (which owns and operates the St. James Theatre), commented, "The theater is the place where we come together to celebrate and affirm who we are. It is the place where we stand in front of our community to speak our truth. That is theater. And that is also a wedding. It feels so very right then at this moment of historic magnitude for all of us to host some of the first same-sex weddings in New York State at our theatre. Our home."

Broadway Impact released the following statement about its longtime association with HAIR: "We at Broadway Impact owe a great debt of gratitude to this landmark production and its generous cast. Since its Tony-winning run on Broadway in 2009, Hair has been our vital ally, holding coast-to-coast rallies, organizing a massive campaign and performing for the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., and hosting numerous fundraisers for our benefit. How perfect and poignant to have Hair back on Broadway at this historic and defining moment for marriage equality! The recent victory in New York State is a giant leap forward, but we must not lose sight of the fact that there is much more work to be done before we achieve our goal in all fifty states."

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater, added, "Hair has always been more than just a show - its spirit of activism means changing the world, not just entertaining it. The entire company of this amazing production went to Washington to march for marriage equality, and we are honored to be back on Broadway helping New York show the world what real equality means."

Broadway Impact is a grassroots organization of the Theatre community and its fans, mobilizing in support of marriage equality. A community of actors, directors, stage managers, fans, producers - pretty much anyone who has ever seen, been in, or worked on a Broadway show - Broadway Impact is united by the simple belief that anyone who wants to should be able to get married.