Jason Veasey played one of the Thoughts in the recent Tony Award–winning Broadway production of A Strange Loop, and now he is here to share some thoughts of his own. The Michael R. Jackson, Pulitzer prize–winning musical was obviously not the first theatrical production to openly discuss the HIV and AIDS crisis. It did, however, remind him of the fact that science has progressed so much, and a person’s ability to enjoy life is completely attainable. Through medical breakthroughs, people can live their lives loudly and fully.

“I had a privilege of being a part of a musical called A Strange Loop and we dealt with the theme of stigma and shame, dealing with HIV and AIDS, and I encountered a lot of people who felt very seen, heard, and empowered.

“This is not the 1980s or the '90s. This is 2024, and we have a long way to go with releasing stigma and shame and finding a cure for HIV and AIDS. There have been many scientific advancements. There are many forms of care and access that have provided hundreds of thousands of people with the ability to live beautiful, positive, and amazing lives with just a sliver of their life being the fact that they are HIV positive.”

Storytellers is available on Playbill and Playbill's YouTube channel, both including a donation button inviting viewers to contribute to Broadway Cares, which works to provide meals, medication, healthcare, and hope for those in need across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. The video series and the live kick-off event are made possible by premier sponsor Gilead Sciences and in part by the Michelangelo Hotel.

For more, visit Playbill.com/Storytellers. To show your support with Broadway Cares, we invite you to help give back to this worthy cause by going to BroadwayCares.org/Storytellers.