Art meeting activism and advocacy. That’s what UK alumnus and employee, Lisa A. Brown calls her work. Her most recent play, “Positively Unbreakable,” is nothing less than art meeting activism.

Premiering at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Lyric Theatre, “Positively Unbreakable” is a play written in efforts to educate Kentuckians who may be at risk for HIV, which has been plaguing our country for almost 35 years according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Brown says that as the playwright for “Positively Unbreakable” she wants to use her artistic skills to bring awareness to Kentucky’s vulnerability of an HIV outbreak, adding we need to be vocal about HIV in our communities just like we’re vocal and supportive of UK’s basketball program.

“According to the CDC, 220 counties in the US are susceptible to an HIV epidemic with 54 of those counties being in Kentucky,” Brown said. “Although these numbers are startling, we are not powerless in reversing these trends.”

“Positively Unbreakable” stars Lexington native, Nieta Wigginton. Co-starring alongside Wigginton is UK alumnus Whit Whitaker. Brown’s play also features UK sophomore, Clark Davis, who reigned as the 2015-2016 Miss Kentucky.

Along with the education efforts through the play, Brown has partnered with AIDS Volunteers, Inc. (AVOL), Chrysalis House, National Alliance on Mental Illness in Lexington and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to organize health fairs before each show as well as a panel discussion after the show on opening night.

According to the CDC, the population rates per 100,000 people of persons diagnosed with HIV infection in 2015 were highest in the South, which included Kentucky. 

For Brown, this play is much more than just a performance.  She is helping to save lives and giving people a “message of inspiration.”

“No matter what their obstacles are, I want people to leave the theater knowing that they are positively unbreakable,” Brown said.

“Positively Unbreakable” will be showing at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 1 and 2 at Lyric Theatre and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.  Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lexingtonlyric.com or by calling the box office at 859-280-2218.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit AVOL, Inc.

IF YOU GO

What: Positively Unbreakable

When: Thursday, Dec. 1 through Saturday, Dec. 3

Where: Lyric Theatre – 300 E Third St.

Tickets: $10