Staged Reading: OUT!
Location: Vashon Island High School Theater
Date: November 29, 30 – 7:00 pm
Free donations accepted at the door.
A box of old family photographs prompts an unexpected conversation between an ailing grandfather and his young grandson. OUT!, a new play by Peter Serko weaves an tale emerging out of the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, exploring the vital role collective family memory and history play in our lives. OUT! reaffirms the capacity of hope and love to heal, and the power four simple words: “listen to your heart” have to transform and inspire.
Written by Peter Serko
Directed by Chris Boscia
Cast: Dedra Whitt Dakota, Gabriel Dawson, Kevin McMurdo, David Mielke, Cate O’Kane, and Alma Villegas
Let’s Dance: A Musical Tribute To David Bowie
A Benefit Performance
Island musicians perform the music of David Bowie.
Location: Open Space for Arts and Community
Date: Dec 1 – 4:00 pm
openspacevashon.com
This Is What Activism Looks Like: The Activist Photography of Dana Schuerholz
Location: Vashon Island High School Library
The Vashon Island Heritage Museum (Dec6th)
Date: Month of December
AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) was one of the most influential health care rights advocacy groups in history. By 1987, with over 40,000 U.S. deaths and worldwide HIV infections reaching 5-10 million, the budget for AIDS research was a fraction of what the U.S. government spent on diseases that were far less threatening. The LGBT communities’ rage boiled over.
ACT UP transformed the fear and rage we felt, amidst the death and suffering, into a united force of direct action coupled with strategies and proposals that ultimately forced government and scientific agencies to fundamentally change the way medical research is conducted. There is no question that the treatment that today keeps alive an estimated 1/2 million HIV positive Americans and millions more worldwide was discovered and made accessible much sooner because of ACT UP.
Dana Schuerholz , June 2019 Vashon
The Vashon Island High School library will display her powerful documentary photography along with artifacts from the activist movement. There will be a presentation and Q&A during the school day. The exhibit will also include a film series.
Location: Vashon Heritage Museum Opening Dec 8th, 6:00 pm
A pop-up photography exhibit and presentation as part of the ongoing IN and OUT exhibit.
The Rest of the Story: HIV and Gender Equality in sub-Saharan Africa
Location: McMurray Middle School Library
Date: Month of December
Background:
Globally, 340,000 girls and young women are infected with HIV every year. Girls make up three out of four new infections among children aged 10-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. Young women in sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely to be infected with HIV than young men.
The Rest of the Story… is a collaboration between 7th-grade social studies teachers, the school librarian, and community members with extensive experience working in Africa. The program looks to assist students in exploring the unique social and cultural challenges of addressing HIV treatment and prevention on the African continent.
