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It's a 24 hour dance marathon fundraiser for Face AIDS and the Santa Cruz AIDS Project! Our theme this year is One Love.

Winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award as Best Musical, RENT is the story of love and loyalty among starving artists in New York's East Village. The music, lyrics and libretto beautifully written by Jonathan Larson express the struggle during the AIDS outbreak of the late 80's.

Under the Direction of Shelley Russell and Music Direction of Emily Strazzinski, Forest Roberts Theatre's production of RENT stars an ambitious and talented Cast and Ensemble:

Mark- Ben Filipowicz
Roger- Curtiss O’Rorke Steadman
Benny – Max Labode
Tom Collins- Mark Jamrozek
Angel- Michael Vincente
Mimi- Ashley Stein
Maureen- Raven Lacodia
Joanne- Alyssa Erspamer

Ensemble:
Amanda Boone
Pat Bradley
Bob Brownell
Jessica Carpenter
Jordayn Fisher
Sarah Frame
Heidi Hill
Pierce Huxtable
Jacob Laitinen
Chelsea Martin
Michael Porter
Mike Rudden
Aaron Sarka
Beth Thiele
Aaron Whitaker

The creative and artistic team for the Forest Roberts Theatre's production of RENT includes:
Set Design: Victor Holliday
Lighting Design: Kimberly Hegmegee
Costume Design: Ella Bartlett
Makeup Design: Jennifer Skogman
Props Design: Tyler Weldon
Music Director: Emily Strazzinski
Choreographer/Assistant Director: Denise Townsend
Production Stage Manager: Jennifer Henry
Stage Manager: Tyler Welden
Assistant Stage Mangers: Myranda Dashner, Courtney Brown
Directors Assistants: Diamond Allen, Gemma Alfaro, Jackie Wiles

Introducing the rocking sounds of the RENT Band:
Emily Strazzinski-Piano
T.J. Anderson-Keyboard/Guitar
Travis Swanson-Guitar
Jon Letts-Bass
Marty Fredrick-Drums

Performances are February 16-20, 2010 at 7:30p.m. with a special matinee on February 20 at 1:00 p.m. Please note the date changes.

To purchase tickets, contact the Forest Roberts Theatre box office at 906-227-2082 or an NMU EZ Ticket outlet.

FACE AIDS-Northern Michigan University Chapter
Northern Michigan University's production of RENT has carved out a vein of motivation to bring awareness to AIDS. The mission of the FACE AIDS chapter at Northern Michigan University is to inspire students to reach out, take a risk, and to think globally.

At each performance RED RIBBONS will be available for a $1 donation to the FACE AIDS A Student Campaign to Fight AIDS in Africa.

**The red ribbon is internationally recognized as a symbol of the struggle around AIDS. The Ribbon Project was conceived in 1991 by Visual AIDS, a New York-based charity group of art professionals that aim to recognize and honour friends and colleagues who have died or are dying of AIDS.

The colour red was chosen for its "connection to blood and the idea of of passion — not only anger, but love, like a valentine," says Frank Moore of Visual AIDS.

* Care and concern: It is being worn by increasing numbers of people around the world to demonstrate their care and concern about HIV and AIDS — for those who are living with HIV, for those who are ill, for those who have died and for those who care for and support those directly affected.
* Hope: The red ribbon is intended to be a symbol of hope — that the search for a vaccine and cure to halt the suffering is successful and the quality of life improves for those living with the virus.
* Support: The red ribbon offers symbolic support for those living with HIV, for the continuing education of those not infected, for maximum efforts to find effective treatments, cures or vaccines, and for those who have lost friends, family members or loved ones to AIDS.
Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0126375/red_ribbon.htm

What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A person is said to have AIDS when they develop one of several opportunistic infections or he or she has a CD4 lymphocyte count of less than 200. Common viruses, bacteria, protozoa or fungi that a normal immune system combats easily cause these infections. In a weakened immune system, these organisms can cause severe, life-threatening illnesses.
source: http://www.redribbonproject.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54

HIV/AIDS is an issue that affects future generations fundamentally. The discourse on how to access it seems s to have been pretty much left to health care and service providers to manage. No doubt, providing comprehensive health care to patient is the sure way, yet another effective way of fighting the disease is engaging all in ‘effective communication’ that does not only establish a medium through which issues are discussed but providing a therapeutic treatment to both affected and non-affected.

We are in the process of planning AID Awareness Week for 2010. Keep checking for updates as the schedule is put together and finalized!

Save the Date: April 17, 2010-Wyo AIDS Walk