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As the November election approaches, the debate is heating up over the state's constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

who largely want to see the amendment defeated

, have been donating their talents to the cause.

Some have organized cabarets to raise funds for 

, while others are simply raising awareness of the issue.

,  a theatrical examination of the way marriage has been defined - and re-defined - through the ages.

Earlier this summer Table Salt Productions completed a run of 

 at the Bryant Lake Bowl. And Hennepin Theatre Trust staged "

Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays

But many of the events are yet to come. Here's what I know of:

4-6pm at the Carlyle Condos in Minneapolis

Come hear original works read by your favorite Minnesota authors about why Minnesotans from liberals to libertarians should vote NO on the marriage amendment. Including readings by Patricia Hampl,  Greg Hewett, Marya Hornbacher, Kathryn Kysar, Jim Lenfestey, and Jim Moore, among others.

Jonatha Brooke, Chastity Brown and Keri Noble perform at the Dakota.

Thirst Theater presents a series of bite-sized plays performed amongst the customers of the 

, featuring music, stand up, improv, storytelling, and short plays

A production of Box Wine Theatre, held at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis at 7:30pm.

John Munson and Matt Wilson of the Twilight Hours

2 Sugars: Shanan Custer & Carolyn Pool, and

the cast of Illusion Theatre's Love and Marriage

Molly Van Avery and Harry Waters Jr each perform pieces about their personal histories at Bedlam's new space in Lowertown St. Paul.

 at the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis intersperses live performances of love songs with videotaped interviews about long-time and new-found love with notable life partners, gay, lesbian and straight.

 The Big Gay Comedy Show: I Do!:  An Evening of Stand Up Comedy

7:30pm at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis

Eleanor and Ephram, sister and brother, are both getting married on the same day. And they're each getting married to a man. With protesters, policemen and a TV news crew outside the church, inside the couples are split over what their day and their ceremony should mean, to themselves or anyone else.

When longtime couple Ben and Josh get involved in a campaign to raise awareness about an upcoming marriage amendment, they become entangled in more than just a political issue. Misunderstandings and insecurities surface, friends new and old are pulled into the fray, the very institution of marriage is called into question as these two men fight for the right to love who they love.

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

Author

Writers, musicians, artists and actors are all using their talents to raise money and awareness in the hopes of defeating the marriage amendment in this year's election.

Artists rally against the marriage amendment

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