'The Laramie Project' Explores Themes of Tolerance, Hope
The brutal 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, brought international attention to hate crime legislation. A production that chronicles life in Laramie in the year following the attack explores themes of prejudice, tolerance and hope.
The Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga presents “The Laramie Project” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Remick Heritage Center at Alma College. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and up, and free for Alma College staff, students, and youth 18 and under. Call (989) 463-7304 for ticket information.
"The Laramie Project"
The docudrama by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project tells the story of gay college student Matthew Shepard’s brutalization and murder when he was kidnapped, beaten and left to die tied to a cattle fence. His murder inspired grassroots efforts across the nation to combat homophobia.
One of the most performed productions of the past decade, “The Laramie Project” carries a fundamental message, says Michael Sheldon, event coordinator at the Remick Heritage Center.
“It’s a message of tolerance, a message of hope, in a time when the political climate is so divisive,” says Sheldon. “It preaches the human race belongs to one family no matter our differences. I’m hoping that everyone who attends will learn that no one should be afraid to be who they are.”
The play is based on more than 200 interviews with residents of the town of Laramie, collected by Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project. Through a series of monologues the play attempts to reenact the events that occurred 13 years ago.
The production is directed by Garry Lee Posey, who was a friend of Shepard’s before his death, and features John Thomas Cecil, Evie Durant, E’tienne Easley, Randal Fosse, Kelly Lapczynski, Jonathan Nichols, Joseph Tipton, Stephanie Smith and Jeremy Wilkins.
Posted: Fri, September 23rd, 2011 at 1:16PM
