In the early 1990s, Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” was lauded for its frank look at the AIDS epidemic and what it means to be gay in America. The first installment of Kushner’s play, “Millennium Approaches,” won the Pulitzer Prize; both parts won the Tony Award for best play.

In 2003, the HBO miniseries version of “Angels” — adapted by Kushner, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson and a host of outstanding young talent — won both the Golden Globe and Emmy for Best Miniseries, plus a slew of other awards.

Now, Kushner’s masterpiece, subtitled “A Gay Fantasia on National Themes” is coming to the IT stage.

“Angels in America, Part One, Millennium Approaches” will play March 31- April 15 at IT theater, 735 N. Last Chance Gulch.

“You know, I love the subject matter of this play. I love the emotional aspect. The themes of it are abandonment and redemption and finding your spirit and anger and rage,” says Robert Bayuk, who is directing as well as acting in the production.

The critical acclaim “Angels in America” garnered the second time around proved that the piece still has resonance, despite modern audiences’ changing attitudes about homosexuality and a better understanding of AIDS.

Although he is gay, and says he has lost more friends to AIDS than he can count, even Bayuk was attracted to the script not for its political message, but for the complexity of the relationships it depicts.

According to Bayuk, “Angels in America” is not just a play abouy gays and AIDS.

“No, it’s not. It’s about people and how they interact with one another,” he said.

“Plus, it’s controversial. I love controversy,” Bayuk later added.

Seaghan Herron plays the part of Joe Pitt, a closeted gay lawyer — who also happens to be Mormon. Pitt strains to reconcile his sexuality with his deeply rooted faith.

“That’s what I like about this character; his real inner struggle,” says Herron, who describes his role as “the exact opposite of how I am. And that’s the challenge — is trying to tap into someone who has secrets.”

Herron says he also wanted to be a part of “Angels” because he loves the play as a whole.

“It’s really beautifully written,” Herron says. “It’s something I really believe in. It says a lot about tolerance and relationships. And it’s really important to show other aspects of life that maybe we aren’t so used to in Montana.”

In the role of a pill popping, hallucinating housewife named Harper is Helena actress Lynn Solomon, who was most recently seen in the Helena Theatre Company’s production of “The Full Monty.”

Solomon, who calls Harper — “a pretty interesting character” — says the role is by far the most challenging she’s ever played.

Solomon wants audiences to know that “Angels in America” is not all serious, heavy duty stuff.

“There’s that,” she says, “But it’s funny — it’s funny, it’s thought-provoking, it’s inspiring.”

“People are gonna go home from it ... in all liklihood, you’ll talk about it,” Solomon added.

In staging the play, Bayuk has taken a minimalist approach, rather than attempt to tackle some of the script’s more complicated technical aspects.

“It’s a difficult show to do,” explains Bayuk. “I can’t have angels swinging in — it’s just not gonna work.”

Bayuk says the show includes the audience in an unconventional way, but won’t give many details.

“I want the audience to really be surprised,” Bayuk said. “I want to keep it more of a loose environment. The audience I think will be really intrigued. My actors are really excited about what we’re doing.”

“This is different,” Bayuk added.

Although things have certainly changed, it’s worth mentioning that some of the more literal issues the play addresses have not exactly gone away.

The AIDS epidemic is still going strong, and continues to affect men, women and children of all races and backgrounds.

And while it could probably be said that today’s public is generally more understanding and accepting of homosexuality, the debate about gay rights rages on.

I ask Bayuk if he feels like the world has gotten better for gay people.

“Sure it has. But for every step forward, we take two steps back. I don’t know if we’ll ever have equality,” Bayuk said.

Whether audiences who see “Angels” are affected by its characters or by its frank look at some controversial subjects doesn’t matter much to Bayuk.

“They’ll take away what they take away from it,” Bayuk said.

“Will people be upset? Sure, I hope so,” he added. “Bring it on. I’m not afraid of that.”