Greg in the Afternoon: Eric McCormack’s stage gig; Obama reacts to Iowa; Pope on a condom

This should be a real treat.

Eric McCormack mentioned to me this week during press day for his movie Alien Trespass that he would be doing  The Fantasticks on stage next month.

Now I have all the details: Eric will play El Gallo in a production that will conclude the 2008-2009 season for Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse.

The show begins May 5 and runs through May 17.

Eric, star of Will & Grace and TNT’s current show Trust Me, is no newcomer to the stage. Among his credits are a stint on Broadway as the lead in The Music Man.

Also in the cast: Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy.

And get this: the show will be directed by the fantastic Jason Alexander. The Seinfeld alum is not just dabbling here, he is artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company. The choreography is by Lee Martin and music director by Darryl Archibald.

Single tickets are now available for The Fantasticks online at www.reprise.org <http://www.reprise.org>  or through the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.

OBAMA’S STATEMENT ON IOWA RULING: When something like the Supreme Court ruling in Iowa – which will result in same-sex marriages being legal in that state – you just feel so good inside that progress is being made despite the setback of Proposition 8 in California. Then I read President Barack Obama’s statement on it and it re-opens the one biug wound I have from the presidential campaign: his decision to not support this right for gays and lesbians.

Here’s the statement from The White House: “The President respects the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court, and continues to believe that states should make their own decisions when it comes to the issue of marriage. Although President Obama supports civil unions rather than same-sex marriage, he believes that committed gay and lesbian couples should receive equal rights under the law.”

POPE ON A CONDOM: I’m no fan of Pope Benedict anyway but when he made the statement that condoms “increase the problem” of AIDS, it was just beyond the pale. So, I love this idea:  The International Women’s Health Coalition is selling condoms challenging the pontiff’s recent declaration. The condoms – said to be selling well in France – have the Pope’s picture with the message from him declaring “I said no!” (via Akimbo.) In related news, Spain has sent millions of condoms to AIDS-ravaged Africa to counter the Pope’s ridiculous and dangerous statement.