HIV+ Performers Celebrate World AIDS Day with The Red Ribbon Revue

On Sunday December 1st, Abrons Arts Center will host The Red Ribbon Revue, a World AIDS Day concert featuring HIV-positive performers celebrating the work of artists with HIV/AIDS, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs and mothers2mothers. A cast of HIV+ performers from Broadway to opera will pay tribute to songwriters Howard Ashman, Freddie Mercury, Peter Allen, Michael Friedman, Jerry Herman and more. The concert will raise awareness and funds to help combat the persistent stigma around HIV that keeps so many from disclosing their status and getting the care they need to live long healthy lives.

The Red Ribbon Revue is presented by Lortel nominee Sam Bolen (Midnight at The Never Get) and baritone/conductor Brian Mummert (founder of The New Consort) at Abrons Arts Center as a part of the @Abrons series.

"People still don't know that HIV no longer has to be a death sentence. Many don't realize that the stigma is often the most powerful force keeping people from getting tested, from getting the medication they need, and from living openly," says Bolen. "HIV-positive folks taking the stage to sing these songs we all love will be a celebration of the lives we are able to live today and a reminder that to win the fight against HIV we must cast off stigma and shame."

Joining Bolen and Mummert are emcee Cecil Baldwin (Welcome to Nightvale), three-time Tony nominated writer Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Everyday Rapture), Broadway's Dimitri Moïse (Beautiful, Book of Mormon) and Hernando Umana (Kinky Boots), MAC Award winner Ruby Rims, nightlife host Ragamuffin, Bistro Award winner Aaron Lee Battle, songwriter and HIV blogger Steve Schalchlin, and more. Rona Siddiqui (A Strange Loop) will music direct.

The Red Ribbon Revue will take place at 7pm on Sunday, December 1st in the Playhouse Theater at Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand St, New York, NY. Tickets are priced at $25 and $55 and are available for purchase here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10466098. All ticket sales benefit Broadway Cares. Donations are also being accepted via GoFundMe to benefit mothers2mothers here: gf.me/u/v5nmcg. For questions, email red.ribbon.revue@gmail.com. For updates, follow @redribbonrevue on Instagram.

mothers2mothers (m2m) is an African not-for-profit that is changing the face of healthcare across the continent-unlocking the power of women to create health, hope, and an HIV-free generation.

m2m employs and trains women living with HIV as frontline health workers called Mentor Mothers.

Mentor Mothers work in local communities and at understaffed health facilities to ensure that women and their families get the health advice and medication they need, are linked to the right clinical services, and are supported on their treatment journey.

They are focused on three core client groups across eight African countries-women, children, and adolescents-serving those living with HIV, and also those who are HIV-negative but at high risk of infection.

m2m started 18 years ago with a focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and today has built upon the power of women to create health and hope for almost everyone in a household through a peer-to-peer approach that spans pregnancy, birth, childhood, adolescence, and beyond.

m2m is a direct example of the power of women working together to solve some of society's toughest challenges. m2m's work is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular ending the AIDS epidemic, and ensuring good health and wellbeing for everyone (SDG 3), and achieving gender equality (SDG 5).

m2m is also a shining example of African innovation. Founded in Cape Town in 2001, m2m is now an international example of the power of peer mentoring.

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