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We posed questions to Tony Kushner from four local residents who follow his work. Here are excerpts from his responses.

Addison Ore, executive director of Triad Health Project, which helps people living with HIV/AIDS: "I would be interested to hear his comments on the current state of AIDS/HIV in the United States. I'm just amazed that it has not been mentioned once in the (presidential) debates. He has remained an ardent AIDS activist, but I wonder if he feels like he's spitting in the wind."
Kushner: "It's very depressing how much the complicated issues connected to AIDS and HIV prevention have fallen by the wayside in terms of national discourse. There is a fairly decent system of support available for people with AIDS in the United States ... but the health-care system is a nightmare. A lot of people with AIDS are uninsured, and that lack of insurance puts them at terrible risk.
"It remains as urgent as ever that we figure out a way to defeat this disease."

Preston Lane, artistic director, Triad Stage: "What does the American theater need to do to remain pertinent, as television, film and technology seem to dominate our cultural consciousness?"
Kushner: "If you are a playwright and want to write about contemporary events, by all means do it. There's no reason why theater can't be current and speak to issues of the moment.
"But I don't think that theater necessarily needs to worry about competing with other art forms. Electronic mass media is going to attract larger audiences because it takes a certain amount of scheduling to get to a play. You can't sit in your living room and TiVo it."

Mitchel Sommers, executive director, Community Theatre of Greensboro: "What advice can you offer to progressive community theaters like CTG that want to inspire social change through their programming, but face potential budget and communal backlash as exemplified in our past production of 'La Cage aux Folles' (1996) and Charlotte's production of 'Angels in America' (1997)?"
Kushner: "Certainly things have advanced in terms of acceptance of gay and lesbian issues. A play such as 'Angels' is not going to cause the controversy that it once caused.
"But other issues could cause that controversy ... If an arts organization can't present certain kinds of plays or say certain things in public because the community won't support them or retaliates against them, and as a result the theater decides not to do certain kinds of plays, then I think the theater is giving up its reason for being.
"In almost any instance of this, I would say, be brave. Do what you feel you need to do, what you feel needs to be heard. ... Then if the theater gets shut down, you have to deal with that.
"But in my experience it rarely means that. Controversy actually sells tickets."

Dr. Jonathan Rubens, emergency room physician at High Point Regional Hospital and former Triad Health Project board president: "'Angels in America' was so important in raising the collective consciousness politically, socially and even medically. In what ways do you think your new work ('The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures'), set to premiere next year, will provide similar cultural reflection for this next generation?"
Kushner: "I certainly didn't intend any of that when I wrote 'Angels,' and I don't intend any of that with the new play. ... If you think you are setting out to explain a generation to itself or to make some kind of big impact, I, at least, wouldn't be able to pick up a pen and write the first word."