Lithgow, Whitford to star in Prop. 8 play reading

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NEW YORK, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- John Lithgow, Rory O'Malley and Bradley Whitford have joined the cast for the world premiere of Dustin Lance Black's new play "8" on Broadway.

Bob Balaban, Matt Bomer, Campbell Brown and Larry Kramer are also to appear in the one-night only staged reading Sept. 19, the American Foundation for Equal Rights announced Thursday.

The participation of Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Christine Lahti, Rob Reiner, Yeardley Smith and Marisa Tomei in the AFER fundraiser was previously announced.

Presented in partnership with Broadway Impact, the show chronicles the historic trial in the federal legal challenge to California's Proposition 8. The case overturned the legalization of gay marriage in the state.

The play was written by Black, an AFER founding board member who won an Oscar for penning "Milk," a movie about gay activist Harvey Milk.

Following the New York premiere of the play -- which will be helmed by director Joe Mantello -- AFER and Broadway Impact said they will license "8" to schools and community organizations to "spur action, dialogue and understanding."