Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994 TAG: 9406100008
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ABINGDON - A play commissioned by the family of AIDS victim Kimberly Bergalis is being performed as the opening 1994 production at the Barter Playhouse.
``Patient A'' by Lee Blessing recounts events in the life and death of the young woman who said she had been infected with the HIV virus by her dentist.
Bergalis is played by Emily Loesser, who appeared last year on Barter's main stage in ``Lend Me a Tenor'' and as Helen Keller in ``The Miracle Worker.''
Her leading roles nationally and in New York include the off-Broadway musical revue ``Together Again for the First Time'' with her mother, Jo Sullivan. She and her mother recently recorded ``Loesser by Loesser'' featuring the music of her father, Frank Loesser.
Ken Costigan, who has directed dozens of Barter plays and appeared in ``Dracula!'' last season and ``Peter Pan'' this year, plays Blessing, the playwright who also appears as a character. Don Stephenson, whose previous Barter appearances were in ``Lend Me a Tenor'' and ``A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,'' rounds out the cast as another AIDS victim.
Barter Artistic Director Richard Rose, who is directing, said the play is characterized by grace and humor that examines the medical, political and social AIDS issues in a way that is uplifting rather than depressing.
``The Kimberly Bergalis case led to many changes in the health profession, including precautions between patients and providers, that are now institutionalized,'' Rose said. ``In every way, it was an explosive issue that attracted political and media attention that increased our awareness of AIDS and triggered new emotional responses to the disease and its victims.''
The play runs through July 2 with evening performances Tuesday through Saturday and matinees Wednesday and Saturday. Information and reservations are available by calling 1-800-368-3240.
The schedule includes a 7 p.m. performance Sunday to benefit the Appalachian AIDS Coalition, a non-profit organization that provides direct services and support to AIDS patients in Southwest Virginia.
Summer conference
The 17th annual Highland Summer Conference will take place June 20-July 1 at Radford University. The conference, a lecture-seminar-workshop combination on Appalachian culture and writing, will focus on adolescent literature. It will be led by Sue Ellen Bridgers, Ruth White, Nancy Ruth Patterson and Lou Kassem, all have authors of adolescent books set in the Appalachian mountains.
For information on registration and fees, call 831-5366 or 831-5629.Reunion
by CNB