BLOOD

A Jewish-American reporter in Japan uncovers a conspiracy to cover up the government-sanctioned sale of HIV-contaminated blood products in a new political thriller with music inspired by true events. BLOOD gets a five-week run beginning March 5 at The Complex on Hollywood’s Theater Row. Featuring original music and songs by “The Virgins” bassist Nick Ackerman and “Jet” drummer/vocalist Chris Cester, BLOOD marks the debut production of L.A.’s newest theater company, The Garage.

In the early 1980s, nearly 2,000 people, most of them hemophiliacs, died of AIDS after U.S. companies knowingly sold contaminated blood to Japan, where pharmaceutical companies continued to distribute non-heat-treated blood products despite the existence of heat treatments proven to prevent the spread of infection. The scandal triggered public outrage against the drug industry and the Japanese government officials charged with regulating it. Charges were filed against high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Health and Welfare, executives of the manufacturing company involved and a leading doctor in the field of hemophilia. The trial lasted over a decade. It wasn’t until Feb. 25, 2000 that the Los Angeles Times reported “In a landmark decision that raises the standard for corporate accountability in Japan, an Osaka court Thursday sentenced three former pharmaceutical executives to prison for continuing to sell blood products they knew could be tainted with the AIDS virus even after safer substitutes were available.”

Performances of BLOOD take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., March 5 through April 3. Three preview performances take place on Friday, Feb. 26; Saturday, Feb. 27 and Friday, March 4, all at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 on Fridays and Saturdays and $25 on Sundays, except previews which are $20. The Complex is located at 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038. To purchase tickets, call (323) 960-7745 or go to www.plays411.com/blood.