John Lithgow News

Last night the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact launched the all-star Broadway premiere of '8'. The play, which chronicles the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8, was 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. Broadway Beat was at the after party to meet the stars. Click below to hear about getting to the big premiere night and why they believe this piece is so important.

Last night the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact launched the all-star Broadway premiere of '8'. The play, which chronicles the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8, was 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. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening night after party and brings you photo coverage below.

Last night the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact launched the all-star Broadway premiere of '8' to a packed and enthusiastic audience. The play, which chronicles the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8, was 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.

'8,' a new play chronicling the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8 will have its World Premiere on Broadway in a one night-only staged reading to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). The play is written by AFER Founding Board Member and Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black and directed by two-time Tony Award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello. Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk, based '8' on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. The reading is now completely sold-out!

Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starts rehearsals today. The production stars Tony nominee Nina Arianda reprising her acclaimed breakthrough performance and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy (Journey's End, 'The Big C'). VENUS IN FUR will begin previews on Thursday, October 13 and open Tuesday, November 8 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The production will play a limited 10 week engagement with tickets on sale through Sunday, December 18 only. Go behind the scenes of the poster photo shoot with HUgh Dancy and Nina Arianda below!

Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starts rehearsals today. The production stars Tony nominee Nina Arianda reprising her acclaimed breakthrough performance and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy (Journey's End, 'The Big C'). VENUS IN FUR will begin previews on Thursday, October 13 and open Tuesday, November 8 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The production will play a limited 10 week engagement with tickets on sale through Sunday, December 18 only.

Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starts rehearsals today.

A limited number of $40 tickets to the World Premiere all-star staged reading of Dustin Lance Black's new play '8' will be released for public sale at 10:00AM Monday morning, September 19, 2011. Tickets will be sold at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) until 6:00PM, and must be paid for by cash only. Tickets will be sold on a first-come first-served basis and are limited to two tickets per person.

'8,' a new play chronicling the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8, will have its World Premiere on Broadway in a one night-only staged reading to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Monday, September 19, 2011. That morning (tomorrow), two of the reading's stars will appear on MSNBC news programs to discuss their roles in '8.'

A limited number of $40 tickets to the World Premiere all-star staged reading of Dustin Lance Black's new play '8' will be released for public sale at 10:00AM Monday morning, September 19, 2011. Tickets will be sold at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) until 6:00PM, and must be paid for by cash only. Tickets will be sold on a first-come first-served basis and are limited to two tickets per person.

Academy, Tony and four-time Emmy Award nominee Bob Balaban; acclaimed 'White Collar' television star Matt Bomer; Emmy Award-winning journalist Campbell Brown; celebrated playwright and gay rights activist Larry Kramer; two-time Academy Award-nominated, multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning, two-time Tony Award-winning actor John Lithgow; Tony Award nominee and Broadway Impact Co-Founder Rory O'Malley; and Emmy Award winner and three-time Golden Globe Award nominee Bradley Whitford will appear in the world premiere of '8' on Broadway, joining the previously announced Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Christine Lahti, Rob Reiner, Yeardley Smith and Marisa Tomei. The production is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which eliminated the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples in California.

A limited number of $40 tickets to the World Premiere all-star staged reading of Dustin Lance Black's new play '8' will be released for public sale at 10:00AM Monday morning, September 19, 2011. Tickets will be sold at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) until 6:00PM, and must be paid for by cash only. Tickets will be sold on a first-come first-served basis and are limited to two tickets per person.

Today the American Foundation for Equal Rights, in partnership with Broadway Impact, announce the complete cast and roles for the highly anticipated one-night only 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.

Barnes & Noble (The Grove at Farmers Market, 189 Grove Drive Suite K 30, Los Angeles, CA 90036) will welcome Tony-award winning singer and actress, Lea Salonga, for a performance and signing in celebration of her new CD, The Journey So Far. This live CD contains songs from musical theater, film, and the jazz and pop worlds.

Academy, Tony and four-time Emmy Award nominee Bob Balaban; acclaimed 'White Collar' television star Matt Bomer; Emmy Award-winning journalist Campbell Brown; celebrated playwright and gay rights activist Larry Kramer; two-time Academy Award-nominated, multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning, two-time Tony Award-winning actor John Lithgow; Tony Award nominee and Broadway Impact Co-Founder Rory O'Malley; and Emmy Award winner and three-time Golden Globe Award nominee Bradley Whitford will appear in the world premiere of '8' on Broadway, joining the previously announced Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Christine Lahti, Rob Reiner, Yeardley Smith and Marisa Tomei. The production is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which eliminated the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples in California.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer) and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) announce the complete 2011-2012 theatrical season of six productions including the news that REGRETS, a new play by rising young British playwright Matt Charman will have its world premiere in spring 2012 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Single tickets are available now for Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming Broadway productions of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play WIT by Margaret Edson, directed by Lynne Meadow starring Tony and Emmy Award winner Cynthia Nixon and the world premiere of THE COLUMNIST by David Auburn, directed by Daniel Sullivan starring Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow.

Barnes And Noble bookstores are set to welcome Tom Perrotta, Calvin Trillin, Jackie Collins, Michael Moore, Goldie Hawn, Joel Osteen, Jermaine Jackson, Perez Hilton, Eoin Colfer, Jane Lynch, Karl Marlantes, Dyan Cannon, Florence Henderson, Neal Stephenson, Lee Child, John Lithgow, Alton Brown, Molly Shannon, Peter Carey & John Freeman with Phil Klay & Samantha Smith, Jim Lehrer in conversation with Jon Meacham, Toure with Charles Blow, Marc Lamont Hill & Nelson George, Mary McDonough in conversation with Richard Thomas, and many more this month.

Sweet Smell of Success, presented by NYU Steinhardt's Program in Vocal Performance, will have performances September 29 - October 3, 2011.