The play was one of the first to address the early 80s AIDS crisis; here's a synopsis from Wikipedia: It focuses on the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. Ned prefers loud public confrontations to the calmer, more private strategies favored by his associates, friends, and closeted lover Felix Turner, none of whom are prepared to throw themselves into the media spotlight. Their differences of opinion lead to frequent arguments that threaten to undermine their mutual goal.

Kramer wrote the screenplay for The Normal Heart, which first premiered in 1985 under the direction of Michael Lindsay-Hogg at the New York Public Theater.

Since Murphy is aiming for a June 2011 start, that leaves him more than enough time to re-team with his Eat Pray Love star Julia Roberts for the untitled romantic comedy we told you about last month. That doesn't have a set start date either, but as Sony is supposedly paying Murphy $5 million to write/direct, I'm sure it's a priority. (After "Glee" wraps up, of course.)

Source: MTV