The epilogue to the original Laramie Project focuses on the long-term effects that the horrific murder of Matthew Shepard had on the town of Laramie, Wyoming. Has the town changed? Does the murder continue to reverberate in the community?
Tectonic Theater Project members Moiss Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber returned to Laramie, conducted follow-up interviews with residents and added new interviews with Matthew's mother Judy Shepard and murderer Aaron McKinney, who's serving two consecutive life sentences.
Shepard's death has become a rallying cry for gay rights and hate-crime laws nationwide. And yet, Wyoming has passed no hate crime legislation; the infamous fence has been dismantled; the Fireside Bar has been renamed; and the University hasn't granted domestic partner benefits to its gay and lesbian faculty and staff. In fact, one startling result from the revisit to Laramie was hearing townspeople say this was not a hate crime.
Tucson is one of only 100 theaters across the country presenting this play on October 12. The local cast, which includes Claire Buchignani, Ryan DeLuca, Trish Everett, Tim Fitzsimmons, Esau Highslope, Brad Kula, Nikisha McFall, Celia Madeoy, Sarah Smith and David Yarnelle, is directed by University of Arizona School of Theatre Arts Associate Professor Bobbi McKean.
The performance is Monday, October 12 at 7pm, Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. on the UA campus. This event is free and open to the public.
Visit www.UAPresents.org for more information.
