INNOCENCE LOST TO OPEN DURING BLACK GAY PRIDE WEEK Karl Stewarts one-man show deals with the struggles of being black, gay and HIV+

Actor Karl Stewart stars in the one-man show "Innocence Lost", a play about a black, gay, HIV+ man who crawls from under the rubble of the past to learn how to live and love himself. Self written in the first person, "Innocence Lost" is Karl's own personal story as an HIV+, gay black man in America.

New York, NY- July 8, 2002: The west African principle of Sankofa says that in order to determine your future you have to learn lessons from the past. It is in this spirit that Karl Stewart presents Innocence Lost, a one-man show about a black, gay, HIV+ man who crawls from the rubble of the past to learn how to live with and love himself.

Directed by Kenthedo Robinson and spanning 45 minutes in length, Innocence Lost chronicles Stewarts personal journey from childhood beginnings as a boy growing up gay in Jamaica to his attempts to reconcile his circumstances and finally his gradual acceptance of HIV.

Biographical in nature, Innocence Lost comes out of Stewarts real life journey with HIV. A journey that began with a spring 1993 diagnosis, a full 2 years after he believes he contracted it from a lover of five and a half years. In Innocence Lost Stewart re-enacts voices from the past- both his and others who in many ways served to shape and define his life.
Initially scheduled for a limited run, Innocence Lost was recently chosen to be part of the Harlem Theater Fringe Festival, which will extend performances through August. Harley Stubbefield, one of the festival organizers noted that Innocence Lost was chosen because its a fantastic piece and will definitely be well received."

Innocence Lost is Stewarts attempt to help America heal, laugh and cry. Theatergoers can catch Innocence Lost at the 78th Street Theater Lab located at 236 West 78th Street (east of Broadway) on the 2nd floor from July 26 -- 28 and August 1-4, 2002. The cost of a ticket is $15.00. Tickets may be purchased at the 78th Street Theater Lab box office or via phone at 212-873-9050. For more information about Karl Stewart, log onto his website at www.karlbstewart.com or call Tinnycua Williams at 212-234-4983.

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