AIDS survivor shares one-man show with IU students

For a performance by someone who has nearly died three times, the Frangipani Room in the Indiana Memorial Union was surprisingly upbeat last night. Steve Schalchlin, an award-winning musical composer who has lived with AIDS for nearly ten years, performed his one-man show, "Living in the Bonus Round." \nSchalchlin shared his experiences living with the disease through entertaining songs and stories, and his hour-long, emotionally-charged performance earned a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd.\nSchalchlin cast a humorous light on his illness and encouraged the audience to find the amusement in their lives.\n"I know AIDS is nothing to laugh about," he said. "But the way we get through hard times is by laughing. So now I'm going to sing you a bunch of depressing songs about AIDS. Feel free to laugh along."\nSchalchlin, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1993 and AIDS in 1994, compared the last few years of his life to the bonus round of a game show\n"No one expected me to still be living," he said. "These last few years have been like a gift. Time speeds up, and the prizes are bigger."\nSchalchlin's performance was culled from his award-winning musical "The Last Session," which has played across the country and is currently being performed in Indianapolis at The Theater on the Square through this weekend. \nMany of Schalchlin's songs are autobiographical, and he said he uses songwriting as a way to channel his frustrations and sadness. \nGraduate student Sean McLennan, who recently saw Schalchlin's musical in Indianapolis, said he appreciated Schalchlin's honesty and humor. \n"Sharing personal experiences is the most powerful way to go about educating people," McLennan said. "His show is really powerful."\nSchalchlin has performed at IU three times over the last five years and will also visit three health and theater classes during his visit in Bloomington. \nIn addition to his musical performances, Schalchlin also offers anonymous counseling over the Internet to promote AIDS awareness and personal health.\nSchalchlin's performance was part of IU's AIDS awareness week, which has included free HIV testing and condom distribution and will conclude with performances of the "Vagina Monologues" this weekend at Willkie Auditorium.\nKathryn Brown, a health educator at the IU Health Center, said Schalchlin's presentation was very optimistic. \n"I think he provides a message of hope and that life is very precious," she said. \nSophomore Rachel Simons, who met Schalchlin when he visited her movement for theater class Monday, agreed. Simons said his message was accessible to everyone. \n"Anyone can relate to his personal struggles to reach their goals," she said. "He has overcome so many obstacles to become a success. His story is very inspiring." \nSchalchlin said the most important lesson he has learned since being diagnosed is that any obstacle can be overcome.\n"I took a terrible situation and made something positive out of it," he said. "That was a choice I had to make, and it's a choice everyone will probably have to make when they encounter tragedy in their own lives. I don't want anyone to go through what I've lived through. I want to help people learn something from my experiences."\n-- Contact Andrea Minarcek at aminarce@indiana.edu.