Geoffrey's disastrous commitment ceremony sets the stage for not only the comedy Geoffrey & Jeffrey at Performance Network Theatre, but also a marriage equality panel on Nov. 23. Photo: Peter Smith

Performance Network Theatre presents marriage equality panel Nov. 23

ANN ARBOR - Kim Carney's Geoffrey & Jeffrey opens the morning after a failed wedding between the title characters. In reality, more than a bottle of rye, a visit from an unknown daughter and naked twister would prevent Geoffrey and Jeffrey from getting married. Last week's election added California, Florida and Arizona to the total 30 states, including Michigan, that have passed measures to ban gay marriage.

Geoffrey & Jeffrey is a comedy and doesn't address the issue of marriage equality, but Performance Network is committed to working with area non-profits to delve deeper into topics in its plays through its Community Collaborations project. The Network presents a panel on Marriage Equality on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m., which follows the 2 p.m. matinee of Geoffrey & Jeffrey.

Panel members are the ACLU's Jay Kaplan, Affirmations' Bashar Makhay and Derek Smiertka from Michigan Equality. The panel will discuss the importance of Michigan's and the nation's marriage laws, their impact on individuals and what the future holds for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights. The panel will also answer audience questions.

Kaplan is a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union and was named Between the Lines' first-ever Person of the Year in 2006. He is noted for his passion surrounding civil rights. In addition to his law career, Kaplan is a singer and performer in the arts.

Makhay is the civic engagement coordinator at Affirmations in Ferndale. Makhay began working with youth through Youth Empowerment Project nights in 2006. Bashar has a strong interest in working in the LGBT political realm and a passion and effectiveness for community organizing. He is the co-founder of AL GAMEA, the LGBT association of Middle Eastern Americans in the Detroit Area.

Smiertka has overseen the development, planning and implementation of advertising and media campaigns for several state and local legislative officeholders and political parties. As founder of a multi-client lobby and public policy firm, Derek managed accounts covering a broad range of topics, including health care, building trades, mass transportation and fund development. Smiertka is the president of Advocacy Specialists, a governmental consulting firm in Lansing; an executive board member of the Midwest Aids Prevention Project; executive board member for Detroit's Self Help Addiction Rehabilitation; and former executive Committee member of the Oakland Republican Party.

For complete information or to order tickets for Geoffrey & Jeffrey, call Performance Network at 734-663-0681 or log on to www.performancenetwork.org.