As Is (play)

As Is
Cover from TV video production
Written by	William M. Hoffman
Characters	Saul Rich Nurse Chet Barney Brother Lily Pat
Date premiered	10 March 1985
Place premiered	Circle Repertory Theatre New York City
Original language	English
Genre	Drama
Setting	New York City

As Is is a play by William M. Hoffman.The Circle Repertory Company and The Glines co-production, directed by Marshall W. Mason, opened on March 10, 1985 at the Circle Theatre, where it ran for 49 performances. The Broadway production, produced by John Glines, Lawrence Lane, Lucille Lortel, and the Shubert Organization, opened on May 1 at the Lyceum Theatre, where it ran for 285 performances following six previews. The cast included Robert Carradine, Jonathan Hadary, Jonathan Hogan, Lou Liberatore, Ken Kliban, and Claris Erickson.

As Is focuses on the effect AIDS, then a fairly new pandemic, has on a group of friends living in New York City. It was one of the first plays, and subsequent television films, depicting how the pandemic was affecting LGBT Americans, being produced shortly before Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart was first performed on April 21, 1985.

This play revolves around a gay couple, Saul and Rich, who are in charge of opening up the play with their break-up. But Rich’s firm resolution is not that decisive, for he returns to Saul’s arms once he contracts AIDS from his new lover. Seeking emotional support, Rich stages how the diseased are treated by the American family, doctors, and friends. The impersonality of these people’s behavior leads Rich to notice the importance of the partner for the gay individual.

In 1986, Hoffman adapted the play for a television production directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg starring Hadary, Robert Carradine, and Colleen Dewhurst. Both Hadary and Carradine were nominated for CableACE Awards.