Intiman Theatre and Fred Hutch announce innovative partnership to raise awareness of HIV vaccine research during 'Angels in America'
THE ANGELS PROJECT continues throughout summer
 SEATTLE - July 8, 2014 - The Tony Award-winning Intiman Theatre has partnered with world-renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to raise awareness of Fred Hutch's HIV vaccine research. The collaboration is part of Intiman's 2014 summer theatre festival, THE ANGELS PROJECT, inspired by "Angels in America," Tony Kushner's award-winning, two-play masterpiece about the devastating outbreak of HIV in 1980s New York City.
THE ANGELS PROJECT launched May 10 with a Seattle visit by Kushner and continues throughout summer with a series of events inspired by the plays' themes, including a screening of the documentary "deepsouth," July 27 at SIFF Film Center; and David Schmader's one-man show, " A Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Problem ," Aug. 19 at Velocity Dance Center.
The festival culminates Aug. 12 - Sept. 21 with repertory productions of "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches" (Part 1) and "Angels in America: Perestroika" (Part 2), in honor of the 20th anniversary of Intiman's original productions.
Festival passes to see both parts of "Angels in America" - plus single tickets for all events in THE ANGELS PROJECT - are on sale now at Intiman.org .
After each performance of "Angels in America," the Intiman cast will ask audiences to learn about and support Fred Hutch's search for a preventive HIV/AIDS vaccine. Fred Hutch will also host a table in the lobby to share the latest news and information about its international HIV Vaccine Trials Network and local HIV Vaccine Trials Unit in Seattle.
"As a theatre committed to creating work that takes on important social issues, Intiman is thrilled to partner with Fred Hutch as Presenting Sponsor of THE ANGELS PROJECT," said Producing Artistic Director Andrew Russell. "Just as we did in 2010 with Lynn Nottage's 'Ruined,' raising awareness and funds for the Panzi Hospital in the Congo, we hope to leverage 'Angels in America' to make a similar impact on Fred Hutch's search for an HIV vaccine."
As home to the world's largest HIV vaccine research network, Fred Hutch is a global leader in the search for a preventive HIV vaccine. Dr. James Kublin, principal staff scientist of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at Fred Hutch and executive director of the Fred Hutch-based HIV Vaccine Trials Network, did his medical internship at New York's St. Vincent's Hospital in 1988, where many scenes in the play take place.
Kublin will share that experience, and his ensuing decades of field work and research, with Intiman's cast of "Angels in America" at an upcoming rehearsal to help the actors discover a deeper connection with their characters. Kublin and his Fred Hutch team also recently hosted a lab tour for Intiman actors, board trustees and staff to learn the latest about this vital research and the importance of developing a preventive vaccine.
"I am personally and professionally excited by our partnership with Intiman Theatre in presenting 'Angels in America' in Seattle," Kublin said. "I remember the days only too well when the wards of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City were filled with dying patients and very little hope. 'Angels in America' makes sure we don't forget those days while at the same time letting our Seattle community know that Fred Hutch is leading the way in finding a vaccine to stop new HIV infections once and for all."
Employees, family and friends of Fred Hutch and its cancer-care arm, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, will receive a 15 percent discount on all festival events, including "Angels in America." Intiman also will host a "Fred Hutch Appreciation Night" at the performance of "Millennium Approaches" (Part 1) on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Additional support for THE ANGELS PROJECT is generously provided by Seattle Met, Boeing, the National Endowment for the Arts, Wyman Youth Trust, Edelman, BECU, 4Culture, Hafer Family Foundation, Shubert Foundation, SeattlePI.com, CityArts, The Stranger, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, power2give/PugetSound presented by ArtsFund, Fales Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, The Pruzan Memorial Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and a dedicated community of individual supporters.
For additional information, high-resolution photographs or interview requests, please contact Christine Bateman, Intiman Theatre Communications Director, at christine@intiman.org or (206) 726-5104.
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About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch's pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects.
An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation's first and largest cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women's Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. For more information, visit fredhutch.org and follow Fred Hutch on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
About Intiman Theatre
Intiman Theatre produces an annual theatre festival that is exciting, relevant to our time, and as diverse as the community in which we live. A professional and socially progressive theatre, Intiman produces a locally sourced festival in Seattle, created by a diverse community committed to authentic storytelling, and operating within a flexible, sustainable producing model.
In 2013, Intiman won the Seattle Times ' Footlight Awards for Best New Musical and Great Performances for its production of Stu for Silverton , a new musical about the first openly transgender mayor in America heralded by the Times as "groundbreaking." Another 2013 festival play, Trouble in Mind - written in 1955 by celebrated African-American playwright Alice Childress - had one reviewer weeping through the curtain call: "It's the kind of experience that reminds why theatre is necessary - to bring us face-to-face with our collective humanity." For more information, visit intiman.org and follow Intiman on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube .
CONTACTS
Michael Nank, Fred Hutch Media Relations Manager
mnank@fredhutch.org
206-667-6906
Christine Bateman, Intiman Theatre Communications Director
christine@intiman.org
206-726-5104
Source... http://www.fhcrc.org/en/news/releases/2014/07/intiman-fred-hutch-HIV-vaccine-partnership.html
"Reproduced with permission - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center "
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
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