Rory O'Malley News

Broadway and film vet Josh Gad has reached a deal to write a comedy series for NBC.

Nikki M. James, Tony winner for her role in THE BOOK OF MORMON, is currently featured on O Magazine's Wow List, where she shared career advice, and how she made it to the Great White Way. On turning down a season at Stratford Shakespeare Festival, James revealed: 'There was no guarantee that another job was going to come, but my family needed me. That's when I realized there are more important things than being on a stage. A year later, I'm a Tony Award winner and my nephew is getting a new kidney!'

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!

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.

THE BOOK OF MORMON is featured on NPR's All Things Considered. Tony winning co creator, Trey Parker recently spoke to NPR correspondent Jeff Lunden about the album's success and a cast album cracking Billboard's top 10 chart for the first time since Hair in 1969.

THE BOOK OF MORMON's Josh Gad just posted a photo on his twitter page of him and Charlie Sheen, who just visited the show and had nothing but good things to say about it! Gad wrote: 'So good to see @charliesheen tonight at the show. Can't wait for the Roast' at @Joshgad, to which sheen responded: 'I highly recommend The Book of Mormon!! You guys rock!' @charliesheen . Check out the photo of the duo below!

Givenik.com has announced three more members of their Ambassador Program, it was announced by Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters. The VOCA PEOPLE join in support of VH1 Save the Music and Musicians On Call, Adam Kantor (Avenue Q) joins in support of Broadway in South Africa, and Derrick Baskin (Memphis) joins in support of TDF Open Doors. Check out what Kantor has to say about his charity below!

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.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are planning on bringing their Tony Award-winning musical to the big screen. Parker told EW: 'Hopefully it will have a big run and a big tour and then we can do the movie in several years.'

This time, Broadway came together in support of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, engendered by 9/11 Day's 'I Will' campaign (911day.org) which seeks to encourage millions of people to perform good deeds, support charitable causes, and volunteer in tribute to the 9/11 victims and survivors, and all those that rose in service in response to the attacks.

The Broadway League announces more about the special event scheduled to take place on Friday, September 9, 2011 at 4:00pm in Duffy Square when the Broadway community will mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11. This event will encore the iconic performance that took place one decade ago when Broadway performers helped inspire New Yorkers to return to normalcy with a landmark outdoor performance.

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.

Tony Award winners Trey Parker and MattStone recently surprised a classroom full of NYU freshmen, when they stopped by to chat at a 'Storytelling Strategies' class. Click here to listen to what they had to say!