As Is, by William M. Hoffman, won the Obie award, the Drama Desk award and three Tony nominations in 1985. AS IS follows a couple's struggle with HIV/AIDS and its impact on them, their friends, lovers, family, and the medical community. AS IS is a history play. It paints a picture of life in the early 80’s when this new epidemic quickly spread through the gay community, with a powerful combination of fear, ignorance, courage and hope.

While this play fits our mission, AIDS is a universal issue and affects men, women and children around the world and is now in every community. This disease knows no race, color, creed, sexual orientation or gender. There seems to be a misconception that HIV/AIDS is under control. As much as we hope for a cure, there isn’t one, yet! In the 80’s, AIDS was a death sentence but now people can live productive “healthy” lives for years. There is so much tragedy in our lives today; much of society has become desensitized to the effects HIV/AIDS still causes. There has been a growing increase in gay men, young African American women and women over 50 in the last few years.

This is an important show to do in Portland, today, because it helps us to see how far we have come and how far we still have to go.

A talkback with Cascade AIDS Project - Men's Wellness Center offered after the Sunday Dec 16th show to discuss HIV/AIDS in Portland.

This production will be directed by Michael Mendelson, a prominent Portland actor who also teaches acting. This will be his main stage directing debut.

Performances are at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center at 5340 North Interstate Avenue in Portland. [map]

• Director: Michael Mendelson*
• Producer: Troy Lakey
• Stage Manager: Lindsay Chamberlain