Friday, August 30, 2013
Cleveland Play House Donates $8000 from Benefit Performance for Marriage Equality
Stage Directions: The Cleveland Play House raised and donated more than $8,000 to local and national groups supporting marriage equality during its recent production of 8, by Dustin Lance Black. Black’s show covered the California Proposition 8 trial, which sough to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Days before the production was set to open in Cleveland the Supreme Court announced their decision to allow a lower court’s ruling to stand that struck down the proposition as unconstitutional. Black immediately updated the show to include that event and the new show premiered at the Cleveland Play House. The $8,231 raised was shared equally between the American Foundation for Equal Rights and the Cleveland chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
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3 comments:
The first time Prop * was on the bill during the presidential election in 2008 was the first time I was able to vote. I was very saddened to see it pass and seeing it overturned as unconstitutional made me very happy. Art is a great opportunity to push boundaries and cause people to think about their ideals and whats going on around them. A playhouse can just provide an opportunity for a "controversial play" or a play that makes a statement about marriage equality or what ever it may be classified as but it is great to see a playhouse not only actively support but give such a donation.
"8" such a simple name but contains powerful meaning for people who know about the issues related to gay marriage equality. I personally think that this production was a very generous contribution to the community. I bet there was some mixed opinions about the concept, but overall the general response must have been lighthearted. I love that there are theatre communities and educational programs dedicated towards supporting gay marriage equality. I just find it really interesting that theatre can have such a positive/strong impact on changing views about ay marriage. They are also determined and will not give up on assisting marriage equality until all 50 states have granted the right.
I love hearing about times like this when the theatre community is doing things to benefit others. This is why we should be doing theatre! It was hard for me to be working for a large corporation this summer who is at a time in their existence that they are very concerned about money. It didn't seem to be about art but about money. I understand that money makes the world go around, and that arts organizations do need to make money in order to succeed, but it doesn't seem like that money should be their focus. The Cleveland Playhouse is setting a great example in their participation in this showing of "8" and the donation of all of its profits. It would be great if very arts organization could do something like this at least once a year- think about what a difference that could make! Theatre is about life, and why shouldn't theatre practitioners support those whose lives they portray in their art-form??
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