The Dr. Smile Pop-up AIDS Museum:

A Companion to Dr. Smile: A New Musical.

Free & Open to the Public

To complement the world-premiere musical Dr. Smile, Zeiders American Dream Theater will host a free pop-up HIV/AIDS museum, open to all visitors throughout the show’s run. The exhibition will illuminate the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, highlight the brave individuals who fought for dignity and care, and honor the real‑life figures who inspired the musical.

Dates: May 15 – May 30, 2026

Hours: box office hours and pre show (an hour before show time)

Location: Zeiders American Dream Theater Main Lobby

Admission to Museum: FREE (no ticket required)

About the Museum

This interactive, educational exhibit will trace the early years of the AIDS crisis when fear and misinformation closed doors to people living with HIV. Visitors will explore a chronological timeline, from the first reported cases in the early 1980s to the development of life‑saving treatments and the ongoing fight for equity. Artifacts, archival photographs, and personal items will bring to life the activism, loss, and resilience that defined a generation.

Dedicated to the “Everyday Heroes” of the epidemic, individuals who risked their careers, their reputations, and their safety to provide compassionate care when others turned away.

A Note on the Musical

Dr. Smile: A New Musical runs on the Main Stage Theater at The Z from May 15 – May 30, 2026. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm, with Saturday matinees at 3pm. The musical blends music and narrative to explore the intersection of healthcare, fear, and compassion during the early AIDS epidemic.