Feature: Art & Reality at TUTS

Whenever art and reality collide there is an unexplainable truth to follow. On August 5, 2015 I had the esteemed pleasure to be one of the few to sit in on a panel discussion with the Humphrey's School of Musical Theatre's (HSMT) cast of RENT and HIV/ AIDS educators from Legacy Community Health Services. Its 2015, people are healthy and living with the disease, so obviously there's no need for a discussion about this now "livable" disease. According to UNICEF in 2013, there were 240,000 new HIV infections among children in low- and middle-income countries. Other interesting facts about HIV/AIDS in the Black Community: Between 2008-2011, African Americans accounted for:

• 64 percent of all HIV infections among women

• 67 percent of all HIV infections among children below 13 years old

• 42 percent of all HIV infections among adolescent and adult males

• 64 percent of all HIV infections among adolescent and adult females.

Looking at these numbers and the reality of the effect of this disease, a panel discussion with a young group of artists was befitting. The panel members shared their experiences as HIV & AIDS educators. In the 80's and 90's the HIV and AIDS epidemic was at its peak. Movies such as AND THE BAND PLAYED ON gave us a bird's eye view of the origins of the disease. Members of the New York theatre community were dying and theatre artists shifted their creative focus and pieces like RENT came to fruition. This panel educated the RENT cast about HIV facts/figures during the time period of RENT all the way to the current data on the disease effect on teenagers. The room was filled with a vast array of young artists from different walks of life. There's no doubt that I was in a room with young artists that were socially conscious and will make a difference on this earth in the future.

Current drug trends such as PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) and vigilant sexual education won't stop the spread of the disease, still in 2015 people from the ages of 13-24 are new cases of HIV. So even with the popular pill that can be used as a preventative measure there will need to be a constant dialogue in our schools and at home about HIV and AIDS awareness. Plays/ musicals such as THE NORMAL HEART, RENT and LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! are shows centered on the epidemic and give a heartfelt depiction of life during the early years of the disease. Even though to some theatre people these are period pieces, I believe these shows are poignant HIV/ AIDS educational tools.

Watching the faces of the HSMT students as the educators shared information was intense. This is where art met reality head on! Walking out of the building I chatted with a young lady and we agreed that this event was great for the kids. I am so proud of the TUTS staff for organizing an event like this. Often in theatre education we are superficial and want to produce the popular play that fill seats, and perhaps garner Tommy Tunes and other accolades, but today was a true testament to theatre education.

HSMT will present RENT on September 18th & 19th at Zilkha Hall. For tickets and more information please visit www.tuts.com.

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