Dustin Lance Black‘s new play, 8—which follows Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the trial to overturn California’s odious Proposition 8—is having a special onetime reading on Saturday March 3 in L.A., with an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Bomer, Martin Sheen, Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch.
Pitt will be playing United States District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, the jurist who ruled Prop 8 was unconstitutional and subsequently came out of the closet. For those keeping score, it’s the first time Pitt’s played gay since Interview with a Vampire (and that barely counts.)
You can watch the show live even if you’re not in the City of Angels—the American Foundation for Equal Rights and Broadway Impact are screening it in real-time starting at 10:45 EST/7:45pm PST. (A special pre-show with director Rob Reiner beins at 10:30/7:30pm.)
In a statement to the press, Black said he hoped people would watch the play, “if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter.”
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“I’ve built my career around exposing and uncovering ‘the real story.’ The goal of ‘8’ is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right and that those who would deny this basic freedom from loving, committed couples have only vitriol and baseless hyperbole to fall back on. The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light. We are doing all we can to help speed that process along.”
Photo: Georges Biard
Seamus
Pitt finally plays gay? Have you morons seen Interview with the Vampire?
Oh, ok.
Interview with a Vampire was basically dipping a toe in the water, not that he’s obligated to play gay or anything in the first place.
I considered his first time playing gay to be in Burn After Reading. I know the character was never “with” anyone, but holy crap was he gay, and hilarious.
Oh yeah there was also Fight Club where he basically flipped sexuality on it’s head.
I don’t think people give Brad enough credit at all. Now since I live in LA I’m gonna find out how I can see this thing. …Or at least stand outside and hope the mob of crazies don’t trample me.
jason
How sad that Brad plays gay only in a minor play and not in a movie! His movies are distinctly non-gay.
Maybe you’re just trying to alleviate your guilt, eh, Brad?
jason
Oh, ok,
You have a fertile imagination. Brad has never played gay or bi in any movie.
Matthew
Isn’t it a little too early to call the play “minor”?
Tyler
*Yawn* Who cares? How this plain looking guy who used way too many drugs, can’t act for shit, and looked like a hustler straight off of Santa Monica ever became an actor or a major “star” in Hollyweird is a mystery.
Pitt may be married to a bisexual woman but he’s not for LGBT rights or equality even if he wants to pretend that he is and be a professional media whore.
Price Waterhouse
Does anybody know where the play will be held? I’d like to attend in person.
Oh, ok.
@jason: Actually Louis was very gay, Chad was gay(Burn After Reading) which you can Google yourself), and he was very ambiguous in Fight Club.
That’s not my imagination, it was the intention of the people behind the movies. He’s under no obligation to play gay so what he has done so far is more than sufficient.
He’s an A-list actor talked about on a global scale, he can’t run around locking lips with other dudes without lowering his stock. Reality may offend you, but it really doesn’t bother me that much.
jason
Oh, ok,
Of course Brad is under no obligation. And neither am I to like him.
Fair’s fair.
james
Uhm not true, he was a voice actor for little shrimp couple in Happy Feet 2, which were STRONGLY SUGGESTIVELY gay towards each other near the end…
XTIAAN
jesus people there is a world of difference between homoerotic/implied gay and out and out queer,this is the first time hes playing an out gay character