Last Chance to See Hit Play About Prop 8

Prop 8 Love Stories is a potent, moving and hilarious musical performed by local youth age 10-18.  The play is not a political argument. It’s not about sex. It’s about people, relationships, love and life. It’s about what we all have in common.

And tomorrow, Saturday, is its last show, before it heads to New York City where it will have a two week run off Broadway. 

Audrey Maye Tatum, 16, of Petaluma, portrays Molly McKay, an attorney and well-known civil rights activist and her partner, Davina Koltuski, a clinical psychologist and author of Why You Should give a Damn About Gay Marriage. Tatum wrote four original songs featured in the play. Her music is polished and showcases sophisticated vocal arrangements and lyrics.

Check out a video clip of the play on the right

Olivia Henry, 13, also a Petaluma resident, said participating in the play has been a moving experience. Actors interviewed and then portrayed people who are impacted by the constitutional amendment passed in 2008 that prevents same sex couples from getting married. Since then, numerous lawsuits challenging the amendment have been filed.

“I didn’t really know anything about Proposition 8 until I got involved with this play. After I understood what it was, I felt the world needed to know.”

Henry will play Sally Miller Gearhart, an activist who worked alongside Harvey Milk and was the first open lesbian in higher education to be given a tenure track position in 1974.

When Henry asked Gearhart, “What is love?,” Gearhart told her that it is "the universal quality that lies at the heart of all creation, and calls us to stand IN it, so that we are IN love at all times. Calling forth as well the respect and the affirmation of the great differences that there are among us. If we are all standing in love, it’ll be okay that we have differences. If we’re not standing in love, we go to war.”

Brian Glenn Bryson is Founder and Artistic Director of Walking Elephant Theater Company, based in Santa Rosa, and the creator/director of Prop 8 Love Stories. The company got its name because its young actors create original theater about “elephant in the room” issues such a discrimination, bullying and homophobia, based on interviews with relevant community members.

Walking Elephant guides young actors (age 7-17) out of the classroom and into the real world with project-based experiences that connect them to their local and global communities. Their goal is to explore compelling social issues and foster a world of empathic human beings at peace with each other and themselves, Bryson says.

Dezi Gallegos, 14, of Petaluma, co-wrote and assistant directed the play.

“Dezi is amazing,” says Bryson. “Dezi collaborated with me to write the script with input from the cast, assisted at the interviews and assistant-directed the play. We’ve been getting standing ovations and people in our audiences started telling us ‘You’ve got to get this to New York.’”

That’s when Stacia Mott Austin, mother of actor Ceilida Austin, jumped in as the company’s Managing Director. “After I saw the play,” said Austin, “I asked myself, how could I not get involved?”

After playing to sold-out theatres and getting rave reviews in Sonoma County and San Francisco, the performance caught the attention of the New York theatre community. The cast has been invited to share their production in an off-Broadway run this July and August at the New York Theatre Workshop.

Participating in a play about this subject has not been without controversy for the cast. They talked about arguments erupting in their families, of relatives not speaking to them, and of being hassled by their peers at school for participating in the play.

Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Brown, who plays four instruments in the musical and portrays Melecio Estrella, says it’s been worth it: “I got to learn about gays and lesbians and what feelings they go through. It has been very educational and I would not trade this experience for anything.” Other cast members echo her sentiment.

But Brown’s mother, Seong Brown, said she had to think long and hard before allowing Elizabeth to join the cast.

“I wasn’t sure Elizabeth was old enough to handle such a complex subject,” she said. “But, I’m so proud of her. She has learned to think for herself. I’m glad she’s had this opportunity of a lifetime.”

Prop 8 Love Stories is headed for an off-Broadway run at New York Theater Workshop, July 29-31 and Aug. 4-7.  The troupe still needs to raise $14,000 to pay for the trip. This Saturday (June 18 at 3pm) they will do a final performance at Sonoma State University's Person Theatre. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the door or online.

Those who can’t attend but wish to help send the troupe to New York can donate on line at www.8LoveStories.BlogSpot.Com