HIV/AIDS in theatre

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HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 6:52am

Needing that BWW expertise this morning!

I'm currently researching my PhD and my focus is on HIV/AIDS and it's representations in culture. Theatre is a big part of this, and while in my research I'm aware of most plays/performances that dealt with HIV/AIDS I'm sure there are some I've missed.

So what I'm asking is a BWW brainstorm! List anything that you've seen on this topic even if it seems obvious, it may be something I've missed.

Similarly if anyone has any particular expertise in this area please PM me!

thanks lovely Westenders!

Maybe I'm on nobody's side http://phdconfessions.blogspot.com/

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 7:15am

Let's start with the super-duper-obvious: Rent and Angels in America. And I'll have a bit of a think and see if I can come up with anything less ridiculously obvious.

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

Updated On: 10/4/10 at 07:15 AM

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 7:27am

Well, the whole La Cage incident in the UK was interesting.

When it transferred from Broadway it was just when AIDs/HIV was becoming knowledge, poor knowledge, and the public just didn't know what this was. Idiots started rumours that because La Cage was a gay show, members of the audience could catch it from simply walking into the theatre, which sadly meant La Cages UK premiere suffered hugely.

Musical theatre in the 80s suffered majorly becuase of this too... the industry lots hundreds of people. The greats like Michael Bennett but also chorus boys. Really dented the next generation

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 7:28am

William's Finn's FALSETTOS deals with with a gay guy who leaves his wife and son for his male lover, who then dies of AIDS. (One of THE great musical theater scores of all time!)

Also, I co-wrote a musical called THE DYING GAME, which deals with the problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa, which had a showcase staging at the Greenwich Musical Futures Festival in 2005 (starring the amazing Debbie Kurup). We have still not been able to attract investment in the project to be able to stage a full production but if you want some more details, please PM me.

THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 7:52am

Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens
Holding the Man.

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 8:32am

'As/Is' and 'The Normal Heart' were the first two pieces to hit the London stage.

'The Normal Heart' had a major West End run at the Albery (now Coward) and brought Tom Hulce to the London satge fresh from his success in the movie of 'Amadeus'.

Both these plays were incredible powerful, teaching the public the raw hard truth of the epidemic that was gripping the world in the early 80s.

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 8:52am

If you go through this list, you'll find quite a few.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBT-related_plays

They're not all HIV/AIDS related, but I've found at least 5/6 and I've only got as far as E.

Similarly, I expect you'll find a few on here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBT-related_musicals

I can already see three without having to try very hard...

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 9:27am

My play OUT! which is *puts on Tiara* nominated for a Broadway World Award lol, deals with a group of friends who's lives are changed after one of the group dies from Aids and one is diagnosed with it.

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 11:49am

Thanks guys keep 'em coming!

I'm even getting bits of info on plays I know very well-

Oh and I agree about Falsettos!

Great to get some of these smaller plays coming through-every academic and his dog (myself included!) has done papers on Angels and Rent-though it's easy to see why I still find new things in the former particularly to talk about.

Maybe I'm on nobody's side http://phdconfessions.blogspot.com/

#10

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 12:11pm

'As Is' is a play by William M. Hoffman.
Opened on March 10, 1985 at the Circle Theatre, where it ran for 49 performances. The Broadway production opened on May 1st 1985 at the Lyceum Theatre, where it ran for 285 performances following six previews.
The cast included Jonathan Hadary, Jonathan Hogan, Lou Liberatore, Ken Kliban, and Claris Erickson.

'As Is' focuses on the effect AIDS, then a fairly new pandemic, has on a group of friends living in New York City.
It was one of the first plays, and subsequent television films, depicting how the pandemic was affecting LGBT Americans, being released shortly before Larry Kramer's play 'The Normal Heart' was first performed.

#11

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/4/10 at 3:53pm

Tick, Tick Boom - Michael, Jon's best friend, is HIV positive.

#12

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/5/10 at 4:09am

Mama do you know anything about any London productions of As Is? I've read the play and read a fair bit of work on it but don't recall reading anything on a London production? (relying on your seemingly endless supply of knowledge here

)

Maybe I'm on nobody's side http://phdconfessions.blogspot.com/

#13

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/5/10 at 6:19am

The play was performed at the Half Moon theatre on the Mile End Rd, East London in around 87/88 and was due a transfer but it never happened.
At that time the Half Moon was doing some brilliant work of which 'Yakety Yak' transfered to the Astoria, 'Trafford Tanzi' transfered to the 'Vaudeville' and a few others I cant recall just now.

#14

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/5/10 at 7:05am

Diolch Mama knew you'd know!

x

thanks everyone some gread tidbits that will no doubt spin me off towards other things

Maybe I'm on nobody's side http://phdconfessions.blogspot.com/

#15

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/28/10 at 2:37am

It's nice to hear about another person doing this kind of work! I completed my doctoral dissertation concerning the impact and representations of HIV/AIDS within the Broadway theatre community in 2009. I'll post a link to its description on ProQuest in case it's helpful to you. I also teach a course entitled "Theatre and Film of the AIDS Epidemic" and would be happy to correspond further. Best of luck with your research!
Virginia Anderson

#16

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/28/10 at 10:26am

Beyond angels: Broadway theatre and the AIDS epidemic, 1981--2006
by Anderson, Virginia, Ph.D., TUFTS UNIVERSITY, 2009, 285 pages; 3354683

Advisor: Grossman, Barbara W.
School: TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Source: DAI-A 70/04, p. , Oct 2009
Source Type: Ph.D.
Subjects: American studies; Theater; Public health
Publication Number: 3354683
http://gradworks.umi.com/33/54/3354683.html

#17

HIV/AIDS in theatre

Posted: 10/29/10 at 3:26pm

Thanks so much! So good to see some other reccent work in this area.

Maybe I'm on nobody's side http://phdconfessions.blogspot.com/

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