(LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia, New Jersey's oldest continuing community theater group (since 1919), presents The Normal Heart - Larry Kramer's groundbreaking and deeply moving drama about the early years of the AIDS epidemic. This limited engagement is playing at the Civil War Drill Hall Theatre for two more weekends from March 28 to April 6, 2025. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
A searing and passionate call to action, The Normal Heart is based on Kramer’s own experiences as an activist in the 1980s, fighting for recognition and support as a mysterious and deadly disease ravaged the gay community. The play follows writer and activist Ned Weeks as he struggles against indifference, fear, and bureaucracy to bring awareness to the crisis - risking friendships, love, and his own well-being in the process. Produced all over the world, The Normal Heart was selected as one of the 100 Greatest Plays of the Twentieth Century by the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain. It was the longest-running play in the history of The Public Theater, and was awarded a Tony for Best Broadway Revival in 2011.
The Normal Heart remains as urgent and relevant as ever. We are living in a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack, funding for HIV/AIDS programs is being slashed, and our government continues to show apathy toward public health crises. This show is not just a history lesson - it’s a reminder that the fight is far from over. The Normal Heart serves as a powerful reflection of the past - and a warning for the future, echoing the same struggles for dignity, recognition, and care that activists faced over 40 years ago.
But at its core, The Normal Heart is a love story. It is about love in all its forms - romantic, platonic, and communal. It is about the love between partners fighting for each other’s survival, the love of friends standing together against injustice, and the love of a community determined to care for its own when no one else would.
The Normal Heart is directed by Claudia MacDermott, stage managed by Nichole Vaiknoras, and produced by Michael Seymour. The creative team includes Peter Downing as Consultant Director; Lighting Design by Dan Giordano, Set Design and Construction by Steve Moldt, and Sound Design by Chris Thorn and Peter Downing.
Director MacDermott said “It’s a privilege to direct a show, to work with creative people and bring a story to life. There is only so much time allotted to each of us so when we choose a play to direct, or choose a role, we follow our hearts, give ourselves to this one play, this role.”
The Normal Heart stars Jeff Parsons as Ned Weeks; Jonathan Ryan Hicks as Felix Turner; Jodi Reiss as Dr. Emma Brookner; Howell Mayer as Ben Weeks; John L’Ecuyer as Bruce Niles; Peter Vaiknoras as Tommy Boatwright; Joplin James Sell as Mickey Marcus; Ronnie D. Carney as Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor; and Colby Trembley as Craig Donner/Grady.
Performances are 8:00pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00pm on Sundays. Tickets are available for purchase online. The Civil War Drill Hall Theatre is located at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia, New Jersey. Join them in experiencing a story that changed the world—and continues to inspire change today.
Here are more photos from the production.
Founded in 1919, the Players Guild of Leonia is a non-profit, resident acting company at the Civil War Drill Hall Theater (built in 1859). They are New Jersey's oldest continuing community theater group, and located just five minutes from the George Washington Bridge and a short bus ride from Manhattan. Their historic Civil War Drill Hall Theater is located at 130 Grand Avenue in Leonia, surrounded by the towns of Englewood, Fort Lee, Palisades Park and Teaneck, New Jersey.
John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. Currently, John has spent the last 6 years concentrating on photographing almost 400 theater productions at over 70 different NJ theatres. Click here for John's website.
