Voice for Equality: Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury is an English actress and singer whose career has spanned seven decades. Her first film appearance was in Gaslight (1944) as a conniving maid, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Among her other films are The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and Beauty and the Beast (1991).

She expanded her repertoire to Broadway and television in the 1950s and was particularly successful in Broadway productions of Gypsy, Mame and Sweeney Todd. Lansbury is perhaps best known for her role as writer Jessica Fletcher on the U.S. television series Murder, She Wrote, in which she starred from 1984 to 1996.

Respected for her versatility, Lansbury has won five Tony Awards, six Golden Globes, and has been nominated for numerous other industry awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress on three occasions, and eighteen Emmy Awards.  Learn more here.

On October 4, 2010, Ms. Lansbury will be participating in a special West Coast premiere of Terrence McNally's "Some Men" being staged to benefit "Testimony," a project of the Courage Campaign Institute

The list of stars who will be hosting the reading of "Some Men" for one night only -- Monday, October 4 -- at the historic Saban Theatre (the former Fox Wilshire) in Beverly Hills includes:  Bonnie Bruckheimer, Edie Falco, Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Cedering Fox, Daveen Fox, Allison Janney, Cherry Jones, Rashida Jones, Lisa Kudrow, Angela Lansbury, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jane Lynch, Mary McCormack, Rosie Perez, Christina Ricci, Doris Roberts, Kyra Sedgwick, Alicia Silverstone, Corky Hale Stoller, Marisa Tomei, Linda Wallem, Vanessa Williams and Jamie Wolf.

In describing the event, Mr. McNally has said:

"I believe there are defining moments in personal and national histories, and how we behave in those moments defines us as human beings. At this moment, equality is on trial in America, and we need your support as the historic Prop 8 civil rights case makes its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I wrote 'Some Men' to chronicle the lives of gay men in the United States over the past 80 years, and I thought it would be fun to look at the challenges, the victories, the sorrows and the joys of this history through the prism of love and marriage. I believe it is important not only to look at ourselves but to laugh at ourselves as well.

"This West Coast premiere will be read in concert by Alan Cumming, Jason Ritter, John Glover, Luke MacFarlane and others, to support 'Testimony.'

"Please join us on October 4 by clicking Yes, I will attend below and purchasing your tickets via Ticketmaster. You can even choose $250 tickets and join the cast and producers for a VIP reception following the performance. Remember, tickets aren't available at the box office, so purchase your tickets through Ticketmaster today -- or if you can't attend, please consider making a contribution in support of Courage's "Testimony" marriage equality work:

Yes, I will attend "Some Men"on October 4 at the Saban Theatre.

No, I can't attend. But I would like to make a contribution to support Courage's marriage equality work.

"Thank you for your support of the Courage Campaign Institute and the Testimony project. See you at the theatre!

Terrence McNally  

Freedom to Marry salutes Angela Lansbury as a Voice for Equality!

If Ms. Lansbury's support inspires you, take action by signing the Freedom to Marry Pledge.