How is it possible to lightheartedly shine a spotlight on an issue as heavy as AIDS? For the Penn State Thespians, the answer lies in an evening of live theater, hors d'oeuvres and perhaps a cocktail or two.

As part of the fourth annual MasquerAIDS, the thespians will present The Last Session at 8 tomorrow night in the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd. All proceeds benefit the AIDS Project of Centre County.

"This is our main charity event," said Ally Welsh (senior-media studies), the benefit's artistic director. "It allows us to express ourselves and deal with AIDS and AIDS-related issues."

While munching on hors d'oeuvres and sipping cocktails, audience members can expect to be entertained, educated and enlightened, all in one sitting.

Written and composed by Steve Schalchlin, The Last Session is a semi-autobiographical musical that evolved from one poignant song into a successful off-Broadway show. Touched by the realistic but humorous script, Welsh said she contacted Schalchlin and received an excited response from him via e-mail, which she plans on reading at the event.

The Last Session takes place in a recording studio, where AIDS-stricken singer-songwriter Gideon is recording his final album. Exhausted from fighting the disease, he has decided to kill himself the next day. Throughout the course of the evening, Gideon struggles with explaining his decision to four pals who drop by the studio. Among them are Vicki, an emotional lush who uses alcohol and pills to deal with her problems, and Buddy, a southern Christian who realizes that his idol, Gideon, goes against everything he has been taught.

"When people hear that it's a performance piece, they think, 'Oh, it's just another theater thing,' " thespian Rajan Kalra (junior-international business and finance) said.

But Kalra and his fellow thespians said the show, like Rent before it, has a powerful message about AIDS's impact.

"The play shows how AIDS and the stages that the positive person goes through affect not only themselves but the people around them," said Josh Fraenkel (junior-telecommunications), who plays Buddy.

Welsh agreed that AIDS is often misunderstood.

"The theme [of the evening] is 'breathing life into the disease,' " Welsh said. "It really goes along with the show. A lot of times, people look at AIDS as the disease and don't look at it as people. This show gives it a really human aspect."

Over the past three years, MasquerAIDS has raised about $9,000 for the AIDS Project, with a large portion coming from State Farm Insurance, said Kalra, who handles MasquerAIDS' sponsorship.

"In the wake of Thon, people forget that there are other causes out there," he said. "I think people don't like to talk about AIDS because there's a general idea it's a dirty disease ... but so many people live with it and are happy."