Entertainers Against AIDS

In spring 1998, community activists Paul “Cricket” Jacob and Jeff Jennings began discussing a new way to bring local performers together in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

Bar entertainers and local titleholders had long participated in benefit shows supporting AIDS organizations and other important causes. Jacob and Jennings wondered what could happen if those efforts were coordinated around a shared mission and vision. They invited several area performers to a brainstorming session at Jennings’ home. 

At the first meeting in August 1998, the group adopted the name Entertainers Against AIDS (EAA) and established its mission: “Entertainers combining efforts to promote AIDS awareness and education, change attitudes and provide a sense of community using what we use best... the stage.” 

There was some discussion about using the acronym EAA, because it was already associated locally with the Experimental Aircraft Association. The group decided that if any legal controversy arose, the publicity might work in its favor. 

EAA quickly established itself as an active force in Northeast Wisconsin’s HIV/AIDS community. Its first performance was part of Brandy’s Turnabout show, followed by Elsie’s “Gypsy” PSA at Napalese Lounge and performances at Rascals. 

The group also participated in a World AIDS Day event at Appleton North High School organized by Johnny B., entertained guests at the eighth annual Have-A-Heart benefit for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW), and performed at Positive Voice’s annual Day of Discovery. 

EAA expanded its reach beyond Green Bay and the Fox Cities with a road trip that included performances at Sheboygan’s Blue Lite, Milwaukee’s M&M Club, and Wausau’s Oz. The group also produced and marketed a music CD designed to entertain while providing HIV/AIDS information and education. 

After its first year, EAA decided to take on an even bigger challenge: producing a World AIDS Day show at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts in Green Bay. 

The ambitious production was a major success and generated significant media attention. Its momentum led to future EAA performances at the Weidner Center, the Meyer Theatre, and the Robert Brault Playhouse. EAA’s work attracted coverage from local newspapers and television news programs and earned the group recognition in the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services’ AIDS/HIV Update journal. 

Like many grassroots organizations, Entertainers Against AIDS eventually ran its course. Members moved on to other interests, and by the fall of 2005, EAA had dissolved.

Its legacy, however, extends beyond the performances themselves. Through entertainment, fundraising, HIV/AIDS education, and community outreach, Entertainers Against AIDS helped keep HIV/AIDS awareness visible throughout Northeast Wisconsin during a critical period in the epidemic. The organization demonstrated the power of local performers to use their visibility, creativity, and talent to support their community—and to turn the stage into a platform for awareness, education, advocacy, and hope.