UNH stages a reading of “8,” about California’s landmark ruling on gay marriage, in collaboration with Broadway Impact.

As the N.H. Legislature reviews a case for the repeal of 2009’s marriage equality law, Broadway Impact and the American Foundation for Equal Rights are shedding new light on the struggle. For two nights, local theater-goers will have the chance to get a new perspective on the debate and learn how to actively take part.

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the University of New Hampshire will feature a reading of “8,” by Academy Award-winning writer Dustin Lance Black (“Milk,” “J. Edgar”). A follow-up reading will take place at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on Friday, Feb. 10.

The play, which debuted on Broadway last September, chronicles the landmark trial Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown) and the effort to overturn Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in California in 2008.

Black’s script is based on actual dialogue from the trial and features the most prominent arguments of both sides. The script came into being as a way to show people what happened in the courtroom after measures were taken to ensure that videotapes of the trial were never revealed to the public. The goal, according to Broadway Impact’s website, is to “change the national conversation about marriage equality.”

Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel is a cofounder of Broadway Impact, a nonprofit organization based in New York that uses theater to advocate marriage equality. Creel said UNH is the first among several university, community and professional theaters that will be given license to perform “8” throughout 2012.

“The legislation may be passed soon in New Hampshire, and we wanted to be a part of that and help in any way we could,” Creel said. “That was a big factor in it, and also the amazing response we got from the college itself. Their desire to do the play was the initial push. It was inspiring. Go, New Hampshire!”

Director David Kaye, chair of the UNH Theatre & Dance Department, said he hopes the play will make an impact on the UNH community, and possibly on the upcoming legislation ruling, as well.

“What I think is really strong about this play is that it deals with a really emotional issue, for a lot of people, but it does so on a really rational basis,” Kaye said. “It also does so in the midst of a really provocative story. It gives us a chance as a community to engage in this issue in a very powerful and productive way.”

Surrounding the reading are several events featuring Creel, which Kaye said he hopes will draw in a larger crowd. Preceding the UNH reading is a discussion at the UNH Museum of Art at 1 p.m., during which Kaye will discuss Creel’s Broadway career and why he co-founded Broadway Impact. Following the reading will be a talk-back discussion, hosted by Creel, about the reading and how audience members can get involved in the fight for marriage equality. Afteward, Creel will perform a few musical numbers to close out the evening. He will also hold a workshop for the university’s musical theater students.

“It’s all about the conversation,” Creel said. “Just get people talking about it. If we don’t talk, we’re never going to make any progress.”

He added that he hopes the audience will leave the production with a better sense of how they can get involved, and that the play will change minds and broaden people’s perspectives on the issue.

“Honestly, I hope they’re fired up,” Creel said. “That’s the simplest way to put it. If people feel they haven’t been doing anything, I hope they go home and find a way to get involved.”

“8” has been performed only twice so far: at the Broadway debut and at the University of Michigan, Creel’s alma mater, where he participated as part of the cast. He said the UNH performance is the first time the production is being overlooked entirely by a cast and crew not directly involved with Broadway Impact.

The UNH production is presented in collaboration with UNH Theatre & Dance, The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, the UNH Alliance, the UNH Discovery Program and the student organizations Mask and Dagger and WildActs: Theatre for Social Justice. The cast is composed of UNH students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Jenny Kanelos, another cofounder of Broadway Impact, said about 40 theaters across the nation are currently planning productions of the play, and she hopes several more will jump on board.

“We couldn’t have dreamed for something to go as well,” Kanelos said. “To have 40 people already signed on to do this over the next year is incredible.”

The UNH reading will begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the MUB Strafford Room. The production is free and open to the public, though tickets must be reserved through the MUB ticket office. For more information, go to www.unhmub.com.