The Normal Heart (The Broadway Benefit Reading) [1994]

Catalog Number(s):

88285-6

Used copies available ...

Tracks: Disc One

Introduction (Barbra Streisand)
Scene 1: The office of Dr. Emma Brookner (July, 1981)
Scene 2: Felix's desk at the New York Times (September, 1981)
Scene 3: Ben's law office (October, 1981)
Scene 4: Ned's apartment (November, 1981)
Scene 5: Ned's apartment (March, 1982)
Scene 6: Ben's law office (May, 1982)
Scene 7: Ned's apartment (October, 1982)

Tracks: Disc Two

Scene 8: Emma's apartment (October, 1982)
Scene 9: A meeting room in City Hall (October, 1982)
Scene 10: Emma's office (October, 1982)
Scene 11: The organization's old office (February, 1983)
Scene 12: Emma and the Examining Doctor
Scene 13: The organization's new offices-to-be (April, 1983)
Scene 14: Ned's apartment
Scene 15: Ben's law office (May, 1984)
Scene 16: Felix's hospital room (May, 1984)

About the CD

Recorded live at Broadway's Roundabout Theater
Simon & Schuster Audio
Recording produced by: Karen Frillmann
Associate producer: Linda Wollman
Original reading produced to benefit the Treatment + Data Committee of ACT UP New York, April 18, 1993 at The Roundabout Theatre by David Binder and David G. O'Connell
Associate Producer: James Calleri

From the CD notes:

THE NORMAL HEART, Larry Kramer's explosive drama of the early years of the AIDS epidemic, first opened to thunderous critical acclaim at New York City's Public Theater in April, 1985. Eight years later, as the plague raged on, a group of the stage's most celebrated talents joined forces in a benefit reading of the play to raise money and awareness in the ongoing fight against AIDS. Their performance is now Broadway legend—a one-night-only union of hearts and voices raised in anguish, anger and love that electrified the standing-room-only audience and confirmed once more the fiery brilliance of Kramer's landmark play.

This special presentation of the Broadway Benefit Reading of THE NORMAL HEART captures this legendary night of theater forever. From the urgent poignancy of Barbra Streisand's opening remarks, to the incendiary performances of veteran director Jerry Zaks' superb cast, to the spontaneous outpouring of emotion at the final curtain, this is audio drama at its most powerful—an inspiring tribute to the power of theater, and a definitive and profoundly moving performance of one of the most important plays of our time.

ALL AUTHOR AND PERFORMER ROYALTIES DONATED TO BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS.

Liz Smith article