BLOOD SPILL and ONE – Before We Are History: AIDS on Stage, 40 Years of Queer Voices
Open Space Arts presents two powerful one-act plays exploring the early years of the AIDS epidemic, as part of its special theatrical series, BEFORE WE ARE HISTORY: AIDS on Stage, 40 Years of Queer Voices.
**BLOOD SPILL**
*By Lee Raines*
*Directed by David G. Zak*
*Featuring Keith Butler and Tierza Scaccia*
Set in 1992, BLOOD SPILL explores the emotional and human consequences of the AIDS crisis, when fear, grief, love, and survival shaped the lives of countless people. This intimate drama confronts the personal impact of an epidemic that transformed an entire generation.
**ONE**
*By Jeff Hagedorn*
*Directed by Rory Brady*
*Featuring Sandro Fullone*
Written in 1983, at the very beginning of the AIDS crisis, ONE is a moving solo performance that captures a moment when uncertainty and fear were beginning to reshape gay life in America. The play offers a deeply personal glimpse into a community confronting an unimaginable future.
Together, these two short plays offer contrasting perspectives on the first decade of the AIDS epidemic, connecting the uncertainty of 1983 with the devastating realities of 1992.
**PERFORMANCE DATES**
Friday, October 23, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 24, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 25, 2026 – 3:00 PM
**LOCATION**
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
**TICKETS**
General Admission: $30
Seniors/Students: $25
Visit www.openspacearts.org for tickets and additional information.
Presented as part of BEFORE WE ARE HISTORY, an Open Space Arts project honoring the playwrights, artists, and communities whose stories helped document the AIDS epidemic. The series supports Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, Vivent Health/TPAN, and Season of Concern.
**Running Time:** Approximately 45–50 minutes for both plays.
**Please Note:** Seating is limited in this intimate storefront theater. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged.
