Donja R. Love said he was left feeling frozen and defeated when he was diagnosed with HIV in December 2008.
In a 10-year reflection published on American Theater, he wrote about his “journey back to feeling whole again,” a process that he soon realized playwriting would serve as a catharsis for.
Since then, the Afro-queer virtuoso has dedicated his life’s work to telling the stories of marginalized communities and offering representation for Black people with HIV/AIDS, including his Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) debut of “What Will Happen to All That Beauty?”
“After I was diagnosed…I was put on a path to tell stories… [of] how can people, specifically Black people with HIV, see ourselves reflected in a way in which we’re whole, in a way in which we know how much we matter…we know how loved we are?” Love told the Informer. “If I didn’t have stories, if I didn’t have art, I don’t know if I would still…be this version of myself telling stories and being able to hold space for myself and community.”
The Philadelphia-born playwright spoke of the power behind artistic storytelling, and how writing helped him recognize he “existed beyond his diagnosis,” a foundational sentiment of his most recent work.
In a two-part offering, “What Will Happen to All That Beauty?” follows a Black family over the course of 30 years as they navigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the ‘80s. The production reflects Love’s mission to create spaces for healing, learning and representation for the community.
“What I hope is that, by and large, people take away that there is still so much more work to do, that we can still hold space for each other, that we can be softer, more graceful to each other, and to ourselves as well,” Love said. “I hope that folks are able to take away, particularly individuals living with HIV who see this work, that they are not alone.”
With these creative projects, he aims to combat ignorance and existing stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS, and foster a culture of growth and “softness.”
“I want to be able to create a work that showcases community, that showcases the joy that we have in our lives, right? If this world is already being hard on us, why am I going to do the same thing?” Love said. “If I can hold that space within me, hopefully I can exist in a way…where I can do that for other people as well.”
The 2021 award-winning production will be featured at this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival, which started July 5 and wraps July 28 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Named as one of the top theater festivals in the world, CATF shapes American theater culture and provides a platform for artists to showcase new, fully-produced plays that address modern societal issues and honor diverse communities.
This season for CATF introduces five productions — three plays and Love’s two-part offering — which explore stories of having love amidst hardships and challenges. In addition to providing artists exposure and thought-provoking discussion, the festival places an emphasis on community and togetherness. CATF Artistic Director Peggy McKowen said the four venues and more than 30 special events this year, led by industry experts and artists, promises a riveting, engaging experience.
Peggy McKowen, Contemporary American Theater Festival artistic director (Courtesy of Seth Freeman)
“We really want to encourage that sense of community…and that everybody who comes to us is coming in this experience together. And this, I hope, will just further enhance that sense of…being in a place where they’re helping to make the art together, and to share that with one another,” McKowen told The Informer.
Thespian enthusiasts have the opportunity to embark on a journey meant to inspire and shift social dynamics with the 2024 Contemporary American Theater Festival. Audiences can look forward to weekly Know Before You Go virtual sessions with McKowen, where they can gain insight on the festival and enrich their overall experience.
Festivals like CATF and playwrights such as Love are dedicated to shaping the future of American theater and promoting progress and positive change in the nation and world.
“If you think about every play, musical or theatrical experience that you’ve had, that you’ve really enjoyed, someone took the first risk, and provided the resources to enable those artists to work. [CATF is] that for the new play industry, but also for audience members and communities who want to see themselves reflected on stage,” McKowen said. “We are really trying to shift to create a destination experience that includes the centerpiece of this amazing festival…and to just create a better sense of work, balance, and sort of commitment to the art.”
Tickets for CATF, including special discounts, can be purchased online at catf.org or by calling the box office at 681-240-2283.
Source: Washington Informer
