The Laramie Project
Directed by: Mr. Jace Smykil | Student directed by: Caroline Eldridge
Show Synopsis
In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten, and left tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised, and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half, in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, while others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of the reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences in Laramie. The Laramie Project is a breathtaking collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.
The Laramie Project Cast List
Emma Leblanc - Leigh Fondakowski, Kristin Price, Sherry Aanenson, Tiffany Edwards, Shannon, Narrator, Band Member, Ensemble
Luke Gilchrist - Andy Paris, Dr. Cantway, Jonas Slonaker, Newsperson 2-4, Harry Woods, Aaron McKinney, Bill McKinney, Narrator, Ensemble
Dylan Duffy - Greg Pierotti, Sergeant Hing, Newsperson 3, Rob DeBree, Phil Labrie, Conrad Miller, Rev. Fred Phelps, Narrator, Ensemble
Emiko Mukai - Romaine Patterson, Kerry Drake, Email Writer, Narrator, Ensemble
Shakti Maya Pollara - Eileen Engen, Doug Laws, Trish Steger, Sherry Johnson, Zub, Mrs. Thompson, Narrator, Ensemble
Zeek Mesa - Barbara Pitts, Alison Mears, Aaron Kriefels, Zackie Salmon, Judge, Mormon Home Teacher, Juror, Narrator, Ensemble
Liam Roarty - Matt Galloway, Moisés Kaufman, Philip Dubois, Juror, Narrator, Ensemble
Lorena Franklin - Marge Murray, Russell Henderson, Newsperson 1, Judge, Zubaida Ula, Narrator, Band Member, Ensemble
Neve Maud - April Silva, Murdock Cooper, Stephen Mead Johnson, Newsperson, Anonymous, Foreperson, Narrator, Ensemble
Sophie Luther - Amanda Gronich, Matt Mickleson, Waitress, Reggie Fluty, Narrator, Band Member, Ensemble
Liam Morton - Stephen Belber, baptist Minister, Governor Gerigner, Juror, Narrator, Ensemble
Daniel Blackburn - Doc O'Connor, Father Roger Schmit, Dennis Shepard, Jeffrey Lockwood, Priest at funeral, Cal Rerucha, Narrator, Ensemble
Breton Mendez - Jedediah Schultz, Rulon Stacy, Jon Peacock, Narrator, Band Member, Ensemble
Clara Frey - Rebecca Hilliker, Baptist Minister's Wife, DJ Shadow, Catherine Connolly, Juror, Narrator, Ensemble
