Must See TV: Dustin Lance Black’s “8” To Be Streamed Live this Saturday

Brad Pitt George Clooney, Martin Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch and a whole bunch of other stars are coming to your favorite computer this Saturday night for a free live performance of the real life courtroom drama over marriage equality.

Based on actual trial transcripts of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case, which successfully challenged California’s discriminatory Prop. 8 marriage ban in federal court, it maybe the closest we can get to seeing the civil rights showdown, thanks to a recent court ruling.

According to a press release from the American Foundation for Equal Rights,”In a court of law, where truth and facts matter, equality and love triumphed over prejudice and fear. Now everyone will be able to see what happened during the historic Prop. 8 trial.”

“By using the actual trial transcripts intertwined with the powerful personal stories of the two couples challenging Prop. 8 in court, Dustin Lance Black’s play demonstrates why no American should be denied the fundamental freedom to marry the person they love.”

According to Huffington Post,””8″ began as a one-night-only benefit in New York City last September — starring Morgan Freeman, Rob Reiner and Marisa Tomei, among others — but has since announced national plans, including this reading in Los Angeles and dozens of productions across the U.S. where gay marriage battles are underway, including Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire and North Carolina.”

“For the Los Angeles reading, Clooney and Sheen star as plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel David Boies and Theodore B. Olson, respectively, the attorneys known for opposing one another in Bush v. Gore. Pitt will star as United States District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who found Proposition 8 unconstitutional during its public trial,” reports the website.

Black, who won an Academy Award for his inspiring screenplay “Milk”, also narrated 2010’s 8: The Mormon Proposition, which detailed the LDS church’s involvement in Prop 8. He also wrote the screenplay for last year’s “J. Edgar.”

“8” will stream live on Saturday, March 3rd at 8:45 p.m. MST. To pre-register for the free webcast, CLICK HERE.