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| The Normal Heart |
With the alarming increase of HIV cases in the Philippines, staging a show such as The Normal Heart could be a relevant and, if not the most, one of the best ways to spread awareness about the disease.
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| Ned Weeks confronts and seeks help of his brother, Ben Weeks |
Set in the 80s, The Normal Heart shows how Ned Weeks, a writer and gay activist, went against the norms and struggled in raising awareness about HIV, then tagged as an unidentified disease killing (mostly) gay men in New York City. Having no idea of what the epidemia is, the disease was once considered as the "gay cancer". Ned had a hard time convincing groups, and even the government, to help him in his advocacy. He's faced a lot of doubts, discriminations, and challenges as he battles his way to finding the answers on how the disease is spread and how to eventually stop it.
During the press launch, the cast performed an excerpt of the play to give us an idea on what is there to expect.
The Normal Heart has captivated the hearts and stirred the consciousness of its audiences during its initial run. It is not just held to entertain the audience, but also to educate and promote awareness of HIV. In fact, on this run, the team have partnered with Love Yourself, a community of volunteers that strongly advocate testing and education on HIV, to effectively convey what the story is trying to communicate. After every show, there will be discussions with the audience so the advocacy of the production will be translated into a call of action to fight the disease and the stigma around it.
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| The cast of The Normal Heart |
Another reason why you shouldn't miss this run is the amazing cast and storyline that earned the production several recognitions in the recently concluded Gawad Buhay Awards. Out of 10 nominations, The Normal Heart bagged 4 awards including Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play, Outstanding Production of Existing Material, Outstanding Stage Direction, and Outstanding Female Featured Performance by Roselyn Perez who played as Dr. Emma Brookner.
The exceptional lineup of cast for this run includes Bart Guingona (Ned Weeks), Topper Fabregas (Felix Turner), TJ Trinidad (Bruce Niles), Jef Flores (Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor/Grady/Craig), Roselyn Perez (Dr. Emma Brookner), Nor Domingo (Mickey Marcus), Red Concepcion (Tommy Boatwright), and Richard Cunanan (Ben Weeks).
The Necessary Theatre, together with PETA, will be re-staging The Normal Heart at the PETA Theater Center from June 3-5, 2016.
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| Ned Weeks convincing Dr. Emma Brookner to join him in his mission |
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| Ned Weeks frustrated that he can't get support from the City Mayor |
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