Dustin Lance Black News

Today the American Foundation for Equal Rights in partnership with Broadway Impact announce initial casting for the highly anticipated one night only Broadway staged reading of '8,' a new play chronicling the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8. The play is written by AFER Founding Board Member and Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black and will be directed by two-time Tony Award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, July 17, 2011 - Sunday, July 17, 2011.

The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact have announced the Broadway premiere of '8', a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8, written by AFER Founding Board Member and Academy-Award winning writer Dustin Lance Black and directed by Tony Award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello.

Ed Harris, Bill Pullman, Amy Madigan and Glenne Headly are checking into The Jacksonian, Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley's eerie world-premiere set in a seedy motel in Jackson, Mississippi circa 1964. Ed Harris, a four-time Oscar nominee and Broadway vet who recently appeared at the Geffen Playhouse in Wrecks, is Bill Perch, a dentist with ambiguous morality who goes to The Jacksonian to bury his secrets. Estranged from his wife, played by Amy Madigan (Broadway's Streetcar Named Desire and Oscar nominee for Twice in a Life Time), Perch makes his new home in the motel's unsettling world where the subversive becomes commonplace and the passage of time becomes hauntingly unpredictable. As the Perch's lives become intertwined with the inhabitants of the motel - proprietor Fred Weber played by Bill Pullman (most recently seen on Broadway in Oleanna and on-screen in HBO's Too Big to Fail) and bar tender Glenne Headly (most recognizable for her big-screen role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and recently seen at the Geffen Playhouse in Love, Loss, and What I Wore) - the audience is taken on a surreal trip that is rife with disturbingly dark humor. Helmed by Tony Award winner and Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls, The Jacksonian opens in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on February 8, 2012.

Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records is proud to reveal the secret identities of THE LEAGUE OF BROADWAY SUPER FRIENDS -- a five-part harmony-singing group featuring Broadway's brightest stars and biggest talents. Their inaugural concert will present Kelli O'Hara, Lindsay Mendez, Gavin Creel, Greg Naughton and Sherie Rene Scott, joining forces and voices for good: a June 7th benefit concert at Le Poisson Rouge, to raise funds in the fight against Pancreatic Cancer. Tickets will go on-sale at 10am on Monday, May 16h. More details here: http://sh-k-boom.com/leagueofbroadwaysuperfriends/

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2011 season with the return of Broadway star AARON LAZAR in his new show 'For Lovers Only' - an evening of romantic love songs - for two nights only, Sunday, June 19 and Monday, June 20. He will be joined by Music Director Jeff Klitz on piano, Bernd Schoenhart on guitar, and special guest vocalist Capathia Jenkins. The show, directed by David Solomon, will feature new arrangements of classic love songs by composers Adam Guettel, Richard Rodgers, Bruno Mars, Jason Robert Brown, Cole Porter, Ashford and Simpson, Stephen Sondheim and others. Both shows are at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, May 15, 2011 - Sunday, May 15, 2011.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced award recipients in 3 of this year's 32 media categories at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented nationally by RÖKK Vodka and locally by Southwest Airlines at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on Saturday night. Additional awards were presented in New York on March 19, and in Los Angeles on April 10. A full list of award recipients from the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards is below. A complete press release will be posted by 2 p.m. PT and photos will follow on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards. Glee's Naya Rivera hosted the event for the capacity crowd with presenters including Mario Lopez, Sara Ramirez, and Louis Van Amstel. Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards presented on stage, and the individuals that accepted the awards (accepters tentative): Golden Gate Award: Kim Cattrall Local Hero Award: Kara Swisher Corporate Leader Award: AT&T (accepted by Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California) Outstanding Film - Wide Release: The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features) [accepted by: writer/director, Lisa Cholodenko] Outstanding Documentary: 8: The Mormon Proposition(Red Flag Releasing) [accepted by: Dustin Lance Black, who narrated the film] Outstanding Spanish-Language Music Artist: Christian Chavez, Almas transparentes (EMI) [accepted by: Christian Chavez] The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. GLAAD Media Award nominees were published, released or broadcast between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. 'The media has a huge role in growing acceptance and understanding of gay and transgender people,' said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. 'As Americans see images and stories like this year's award recipients, more and more are supporting full equality.' More information about the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco may be found at http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards. A full list of award recipients for the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards follows. Vito Russo Award: Ricky Martin Excellence in Media Award: Russell Simmons Vanguard Award: Kristin Chenoweth Stephen F. Kolzak Award: NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt Golden Gate Award: Kim Cattrall Corporate Leader Award: AT&T Local Hero Award: Kara Swisher Special Recognition: Bianca 'Nikki' Peet Outstanding Film - Wide Release: The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features) Outstanding Film-Limited Release: I Love You Phillip Morris (Roadside Attractions) Outstanding Drama Series: True Blood (HBO) Outstanding Comedy Series: TIE: Glee (Fox) and Modern Family (ABC) Outstanding Individual Episode (in a serious without a regular LGBT character): 'Klaus & Greta' 30 Rock (NBC) Outstanding Documentary: 8: The Mormon Proposition (Red Flag Releasing) Outstanding Reality Program: Project Runway (Lifetime) Outstanding Talk Show Episode: 'Ricky Martin Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad' The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated) Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: 'Gay Teen Suicides' (series) Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: 'Fort Worth Speech' The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC) Outstanding Newspaper Article: 'Rutgers Student Tyler Clementi's Suicide Spurs Action Across U.S.' by Judy Peet (The Star-Ledger [Newark, N.J.]) Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Rich (The New York Times) Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: Denver Post Outstanding Magazine Article: 'What Happens When You Find the One...And He's Nothing - Nothing - Like You Expected?' by Allison Cooper (O, The Oprah Magazine) Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate/Out Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: 'View From Washington' (series) by Kerry Eleveld (Advocate.com) Outstanding Digital Journalism - Multimedia: 'Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle' by Bobbi Misick (Essence.com) Outstanding Blog: Joe. My. God. (http://joemygod.blogspot.com/) Outstanding Music Artist: Scissor Sisters, Night Work (Downtown Records) Outstanding Comic Book: X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics) Outstanding Los Angeles Theater: Something Happened by L. Trey Wilson Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off-Broadway: The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell Outstanding New York Theater: Off-Off Broadway: When Last We Flew by Harrison David Rivers SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES Outstanding Novela: ¿Donde esta Elisa? (Telemundo) Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: TIE: 'Mama vistete de hombre' Casos de Familia (Univision) and 'La Proposicion 8' Caso Cerrado (Telemundo) Outstanding Talk Show Interview: 'Saliendo del closet despues de los 30' El Show de Cristina (Univision) Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: 'En nombre del amor' Primer Impacto (Univision) Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: 'Aumenta el hostigamiento' Despierta America (Univision) Outstanding Newspaper Article: 'Acosados hasta el punto del suicidio' by Ruben Moreno (La Opinion) Outstanding Magazine Article: 'Estoy feliz de ser quien soy' by Maria Morales (People en Español) Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: 'Fedro llego para quedarse' by Amy Linares (PadrisimoMagazine.com) Outstanding Spanish-Language Music Artist: Christian Chavez, Almas transparentes (EMI) To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad and use the hashtag #glaadawards. About GLAAD The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org. For the latest updates on our work, visit www.twitter.com/glaad and www.facebook.com/glaad.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today announced it will honor Golden Globe-winning actress Kim Cattrall at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco, presented by RÖKK Vodka.

Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records is proud to reveal the secret identities of THE LEAGUE OF BROADWAY SUPER FRIENDS -- a five-part harmony-singing group featuring Broadway's brightest stars and biggest talents. Their inaugural concert will present Kelli O'Hara, Lindsay Mendez, Gavin Creel, Greg Naughton and Sherie Rene Scott, joining forces and voices for good: a June 7th benefit concert at Le Poisson Rouge, to raise funds in the fight against Pancreatic Cancer. Tickets will go on-sale at 10am on Monday, May 16h. More details here: http://sh-k-boom.com/leagueofbroadwaysuperfriends/

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today announced it will honor Golden Globe-winning actress Kim Cattrall at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco, presented by RÖKK Vodka.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, May 1, 2011 - Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Tyne Daly, Tom Wopat, Gregg Edelman, Aaron Lazar, Tony DeSare, Michele Lee and Jamie Barton have joined the roster of guest artists to perform at The New York Pops' 28th Birthday Gala, Celebrate Hope, on May 2, 2011. A grand gala evening celebrating the legacy of late actor and comedian Bob Hope and honoring decades of support by Interpublic Group, the event begins at 7:00 PM with a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring a special lineup of concert artists, followed by a black tie dinner and dance held at the luxurious Plaza Hotel.

In a very short time since his Broadway debut roughly ten years ago, Aaron Lazar has crafted a particularly impressive career consisting of a striking series featured and leading roles in everything from LES MISERABLES and A TALE OF TWO CITIES to THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA - and the sensational PBS Live From Lincoln Center telecast of it - to his superb turn as Count Carl Magnus in the recent revival of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury to, most recently, Lonny Price's rapturously received presentation of Sondheim's COMPANY: IN CONCERT starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone at Lincoln Center - which will soon be seen in 500+ movie theaters nationwide starting in June. In this revealing conversation we discuss all of the aforementioned peformances, as well as what we can expect from the forthcoming Clint Eastwood film J. EDGAR starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Josh Lucas, written by Dustin Lance Black, with Lazar in a featured role, as well as his upcoming dates premiering his new show at Feinstein‘s in June. Before all of that, you can catch Aaron live and in person May 2 at the NY Pops Tribute to Bob Hope, which will also feature performances by Kelli O'Hara, Tom Wopat and many more in addition to a special presentation by Angela Lansbury. More information about the event - and tickets - is available here.

Music Director Steven Reineke has announced that Tyne Daly, Tom Wopat, Gregg Edelman, Aaron Lazar, Tony DeSare, Michele Lee and Jamie Barton have joined the roster of guest artists to perform at The New York Pops' 28th Birthday Gala, Celebrate Hope, on May 2, 2011. A grand gala evening celebrating the legacy of late actor and comedian Bob Hope and honoring decades of support by Interpublic Group, the event begins at 7:00 PM with a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring a special lineup of concert artists, followed by a black tie dinner and dance held at the luxurious Plaza Hotel.

Though Universal Pictures has chosen not to produce an IN THE HEIGHTS film, the studio has its sights set on another Broadway hit: Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT.

The American Repertory Theater is pleased to announce that two-time Tony-nominated actor Gavin Creel will be performing the role of Prometheus in the world premiere musical Prometheus Bound.

Additional casting has been announced for Clint Eastwood's biopic J. Edgar, with screenplay by Dustin Lance Black. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Tony Award winner Ken Howard will play U.S. Attorney General Harlan F. Stone opposite Leonardo DiCaprio's J. Edgar Hoover. The movie will start filming in February.

Broadway actor Gavin Creel, one of the founders of Broadway Impact, spoke this week about what it means to be out for himself and for his career.