Gavin Creel and Book of Mormon's Rory O’Malley Set For 8 Reading in Philadelphia

Two-time Tony nominee Gavin Creel and Tony-nominated The Book of Mormon star Rory O’Malley will headline the upcoming staged reading of Dustin Lance Black's 8 Ion May 7 at Philadelphia's Wilma Theater. In addition to Creel and O’Malley, 8 will feature a cast of yet to be announced New York and Philadelphia-based actors. Walter Bilderback is set to direct.

Using court transcripts and personal statements from Prop 8, the constitutional amendment that barred LGBT marriage in California, 8 is a candid illustration of the historic trial. Following the reading performance, the Wilma Theater will host a question and answer session about the issues raised during the performance. Creel and O'Malley are co-founders of the marriage equality group Broadway Impact, which hosted the world premiere of 8 at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in the fall of 2011. The event also featured stars including Morgan Freeman, John Lithgow, Cheyenne Jackson, Matthew Bomer, Ellen Barkin and more. A Los Angeles reading of the show took place in March featuring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Martin Sheen, Kevin Bacon and Matthew Morrison. O'Malley took part in both the Los Angeles and New York readings. 

Creel received Tony nominations for Hair and Thoroughly Modern Millie. His additional Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles. He is set to headline the forthcoming national tour of The Book of Mormon. O’Malley received a Tony nomination for The Book of Mormon, and also has appeared on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.