Plays for Progress

The play 'Dossier: Ronald Akkerman' was written by the Dutch award-winning playwright Suzanne van Lohuizen, who also wrote several highly successful and acclaimed plays for children. In 'Dossier: Ronald Akkerman' Ms. Van Lohuizen, while exploring a unique relationship between an AIDS patient and a nurse, brings up a number of themes: preconceptions about AIDS, prejudices about homosexuality, a sense of humanity, euthanasia... Through a mixture of narration and dialogue the two main characters reconstruct the period they spent together. The sometimes sarcastic and harsh language makes the play both emotionally moving and humorous.

The actors Annie Branson and Peter Schoenaerts translated the play from the Dutch and will both be performing, directed by Barbara Rubin.

Dates and Location:

Thursday October 25th, Friday October 26th, Saturday October 27th and Sunday October 28th at 8pm @ Theaterlab, 137 W 14 Street.

The doors open 30 minutes before the show.

Tickets: $18 in advance, $22 at the door, $15 students

Reservations: www.smarttix.com (212) 868 4444

The performances at The Pure Project (October 6-13) took place in an art gallery, exhibiting works that related thematically to the play. These donated works were available for purchase by silent auction until October 25. The proceeds will benefit Plays for Progress and Gay Men's Health Crisis. For a list of participating artists: click here.

Look, said Tom.

The snowman is crying, because he’s going to die.

Do you sometimes cry too, Uncle Ronald?

Because you’re going to die?

I took him on my lap.

I said yes, I do. Sometimes I do cry about that.

Me too, he said.

Then he quickly blew out the candle.

And we all laughed.

from 'Dossier: Ronald Akkerman' by Suzanne van Lohuizen