Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays Runs at New Century Theatre

Hennepin Theatre Trust and producers Joan Stein and Richard Frankel announced today that the new theatrical event Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays will run for one night only at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre with Wendy Knox of Frank Theatre directing a cast of six. Also on November 7, across America and beyond, curtains will rise as participating theatres present the play to encourage discussion about marriage equality. Audience members will be able to watch a live streaming introduction before the play and take part in a post performance Q&A direct from the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York, where Standing on Ceremony previews that night. Attendees, regardless of their locale, can submit questions via Twitter in real time. Visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787 for tickets or more information.

Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays involves a cast of six actors-three men and three women. Minneapolis casting will be announced soon. Each actor performs multiple roles across selected short works by playwrights such as Minnesota-based Jeffrey Hatcher. To date, more than 25 theatres and universities, including the New Century and Frank Theatres, are confirmed to participate in the November 7 simultaneous performance. Beyond America, theatres as far flung as Sydney, Australia will also present Standing On Ceremony on the same day, making this a truly international event.

Standing on Ceremony, which premieres Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre in November, and the Tectonic Theater Project (Moisés Kaufman, Artistic Director and Greg Reiner, Executive Director) are working to raise awareness of a far reaching issue that transcends borders. Kaufman, also a contributing Standing On Ceremony playwright commented, "After the success of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, we are thrilled to partner with Standing On Ceremony to facilitate another national convening with this beautiful collection of plays about a timely and urgent issue." For more information, visit www.standingonceremony.net or the Standing On Ceremony Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/standingonceremony.

TICKET INFORMATION
Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays will be presented on one night only at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre (615 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55403). Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 14. Tickets are $20 for general admission seating and may be purchased in person (no service fees) at the New Century Theatre, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org or through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. Note: Tickets to Standing On Ceremony are not being sold at the State Theatre Box Office. Prices include applicable facility fees. Additional charges may apply.

ABOUT STANDING ON CEREMONY
Conceived by Brian Shnipper and directed by Stuart Ross, Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays began as a series of benefit events in Los Angeles, taking on a life of their own as an inspiring theatrical evening. The show begins previews at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, New York) on Monday, Nov. 7, with an official opening night set for Sunday, Nov. 13.

Responding to one of the defining issues of our day, the on-going battle for marriage equality throughout the United States, has inspired works from some of America's most illustrious and award-winning playwrights-including Heideman Award winner Jordan Harrison, Edgar Award winner Jeffrey Hatcher, Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman, Emmy and WGA Award winner Joe Keenan, Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute, Sundance Jury Prize winner Wendy MacLeod, Obie Award winner José Rivera, Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Paul Rudnick and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright, who have contributed works that combine for a heartfelt, funny and altogether illuminating evening that celebrates the courage to be in a relationship-any relationship.

Tectonic Theater Project is an award-winning company whose plays have been performed around the world. The company is dedicated to developing innovative works that explore theatrical language and form, fostering an artistic dialogue with our audiences on the social, political and human issues that affect us all. In service to this goal, Tectonic supports readings, workshops, and full theatrical productions, as well as training for students around the country in our play-making techniques. Tectonic Theater Project was founded in 1991 by Moisés Kaufman and Jeffrey LaHoste. Tectonic refers to the art and science of structure and was chosen to emphasize the company's interest in construction-how things are made, and how they might be made differently. Its groundbreaking plays, The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, and I Am My Own Wife, have sparked national discourse about their subjects and have inspired artists and audiences worldwide. In 2009, Tectonic Theater Project brought The Laramie Project to 100 cities across America, when it was performed simultaneously by high schools, universities and professional theatres.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, non-profit owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and the newly developed New Century Theatres, is devoted to enriching the vibrant cultural atmosphere of the Twin Cities. The Trust's activities include Broadway touring productions and the related Broadway Confidential series, concerts, comedy, speakers and other variety entertainment plus educational initiatives including the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program for high schools, Critical View student reviewer program, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Kids' Night. For more information, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

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