The Wizard of A.I.D.S.

The Wizard of A.I.D.S.: Aware Individuals Deserving Survival is a short musical play created by the AIDS Educational Theatre (now HealthWorks Theatre) in Chicago in 1987. It was originally conceived by a group of students (led by graduate student Michael Barto) from the University of Iowa Theatre Department and was performed in parks and gay nightclubs throughout Iowa City, before being issued a cease-and-desist letter for using licensed music from the film.[1] The group worked with a local community group which supplied rainbow colored condoms, which were distributed to the audience at the end of each performance. Barto later brought the piece to Chicago to be revised and relaunched using original music. The play, which parodies the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, is an AIDS education piece that follows Dorothy Gale and her friends from the "Land of AIDS" as they battle the "Wicked Witch of Unsafe Sex" and learn how to prevent the spread of HIV. Along the way, the Scarecrow learns to use his brain to make good choices to avoid infection, the Tin Man finds it in his heart to feel compassion for people with the disease and the Cowardly Lion realizes the courage to face his fears about becoming ill. The musical plays on the popularity of the film among gay people, a group of high risk for AIDS infection. During and after the play, cast members distribute HIV-prevention literature and condoms to the audience.[2]

Aiming for an audience of teenagers and young adults,[3] HealthWorks tours the piece to high schools and college campuses across the country, occasionally sparking controversy. Although Dorothy chooses abstinence as her prevention strategy,[4] the play frankly discusses condom usage and the Wicked Witch is killed by being suffocated with a giant condom.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Langenberg, Sara (July 28, 1988). ""Dorothy learns of safe sex from the 'Wizard of AIDS' "" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. p. 1.
  2. ^ "'Wizard of AIDS' play stresses safe-sex theme". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 1987-05-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  3. ^ Van Buren, Abigail (1992-03-11). "Education is first defense against the spread of AIDS". Dear Abby. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  4. ^ "Falls board will allow play on AIDS". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 1992-01-28. p. 4A. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  5. ^ Krentz, Gary (1991-12-13). "AIDS play at school postponed". The Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
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