Larry Kramer’s THE NORMAL HEART premiered at The Public Theater in 1985 and became the longest-running play in the theater’s history. Widely regarded as one of the most politically impactful plays of the late 20th century, championed by then-Director of New Plays and Musicals Development Gail Merrifield Papp when no other theater would take the risk, it forced a national conversation around HIV/AIDS, bringing urgency, visibility, and humanity to a crisis our government was ignoring. In a moment of profound fear and silence, its impact was felt far beyond the stage, shaping public discourse and forcing institutions like The New York Times to begin to reckon with the devastating epidemic. Join us to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this production with a reading directed by Tony Kushner honoring the play's enduring legacy.