Three actors sit in an ethereal waiting room. Each performance, the audience chooses which actor must portray the lead character of a Black man diagnosed with HIV in Island City Stage’s newest production of “One in Two,” by Donja R. Love. This compelling story, an unflinching portrait of being Black and gay in America today, will run from August 4 – September 4. “One in Two” is the last production of the award-winning theater company’s 10th Anniversary 2021-22 South Florida Season.
Directed by San Diego’s Moxie Theatre co-founder and NAACP theatre award-winner Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, “One in Two” refers to the current HIV projection rate that 1 in 2 black men who have sex with men (MSM) and 1 in 4 Latino MSM in the United States will be diagnosed with HIV during their lifetime, according to a 2016 analysis by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unlike other plays, in this production, the audience chooses nightly which actor must portray the fated lead character.
“When I first discovered ‘One in Two’ during its Off-Broadway run, just prior to Covid, I knew it was a story we needed to tell,” said Andy Rogow, artistic director of Island City Stage. “We’re looking forward to sharing this story that is not often heard in our community – how HIV positive vulnerable men are treated by the LGBT+ and Black communities. We hope theatregoers will come away with a deeper understanding of this epidemic and be motivated to make a difference to help end this very real stigma and disease.”
“One in Two” stars Kevane Coleman, Randall Swinton and Nathaniel J. Ryan.
“One in Two” is sponsored by Sue Wilder with additional support from Community Foundation of Broward, the Broward County Cultural Council and Florida Department of State Division of Arts & Culture.
Island City Stage’s 10th anniversary 2021-22 “One in Two” by Donja Love is the company’s final season performance.
Island City Stage is located at 2304 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Show tickets are $35 each and are available at islandcitystage.org/one-in-two.
For more information and tickets, please visit islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email md@islandcitystage.org.
