It was a court case that sparked a nationwide conversation, from kitchen tables to TV talk show roundtables. And it’s now on a path to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it could lead to one of the most important civil rights rulings in decades.

But beyond the sound bites and the hype, very few people saw and heard whatactually transpired behind the closed court room doors in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, when a federal court ruled on the unconstitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, which had banned same-sex marriages.

Now Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black has created 8, a theatrical recreation of legal arguments and witness statements from the actual transcripts of the case. After all-star presentations in New York and Los Angeles, Reading's Quannapowitt Playhouse (QP) is among the first chosen to bring 8 to audiences in Massachusetts, in a one-night-only staged reading featuring 20 of the area’s finest actors.

"8" The Play will be presented twice on Sunday, February 10, at 4 p..m. and 7 p.m., at Quannapowitt Playhouse, 55 Hopkins Street, Reading.

The cast features Mark Baumhardt, Samuel Bianchet-David, Derek Clark, Shayne Doherty, Barbara Douglass, Gordon Ellis, Adam Heroux, Kendall Hodder, Johnny Kilcoyne, Kerry Anne Kilkelly, David Kimmelman, Shawn Maguire, Margaret McCarty, Jon Nuquist, John Pease, Karl Schmith, Brian Sensale, Elizabeth Sheeran, Kathy Wackowski and Ron Wackowski, and the production is directed by Chip Sheeran.

A facilitated discussion will follow the performance.

QP is not charging a set admission, but there is a suggested donation of $10 and a portion of proceeds will benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights. The Playhouse has a limited number of seats and QP is expecting a full house, therefore reservations are highly recommended.

Individual or group reservations may be made by email to qp8theplay@gmail.com, or by phone at 781-942-2212.

More information about the national roll-out of "8" can be found at www.8theplay.com.