Twenty-five years after its premiere, The Normal Heart, Larry Kramer’s explosive drama about the early days of the AIDS crisis, remains a significant work dealing with the AIDS epidemic. To commemorate the play’s anniversary, the Houston GLBT Community Center and Theatre New West present a benefit staged reading on World AIDS Day. Roy Hamlin, associate artistic director of Theatre Under the Stars, is narrator; St. John Flynn, host of The Front Row on KUHF 88.7 FM, performs the role of Bruce Niles. Texas Representative Jessica Farrar of District 148 is honorary chair of the event.

The Center and Theatre New West host a pre-show reception at the club Guava Lamp (570 Waugh Dr., adjacent to Stages), at 6:30 p.m. A talk-back session with the director and cast and local HIV experts will follow the production.