Theater: The Normal Heart

The Tony Award Winner of a Best Revival of a Play. The Normal Heart is mainly a autobiography play by Larry Kramer. The story focuses on the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, seen through the eyes of Ned Weeks - a gay Jewish American founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. In this revival it is played by Joe Mantello, who received a nomination in Best Actor in a Play for this role.

Ned prefers loud public confrontations to the calmer, more private strategies favored by his associates, friends, and closeted lover Felix Turner - played by John Benjamin Hickey who won the Best Featured Actor in a Play at the Tony Awards this year. None are prepared to themselves into the media spotlight. Their differences of opinion lead to frequent arguments that threaten to undermine their mutual goal.

This revival opened in a Broadway debut in April 2011. (The final performance was on July 10, 2011)  At Tony Awards this year, the play was nominated for Best Actor in a Play and Best Direction of a Play, and won Best Revival of a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play (John Benjamin Hickey), and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Ellen Barkin).

Reviews of the Play: 

Did He Like It

The New York Times

Time Out New York 

Variety

Love, 

ALPHA