LTCC PRESENTS
by: Christina Proctor, Lake Tahoe Community College

The Theatre Arts Department at Lake Tahoe Community College is proud to present "The Laramie Project," by Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project, playing March 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m., and March 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. in the Duke Theatre.

"The Laramie Project" is a docu-drama about the hate-crime murder of Matthew Shepard, the gay University of Wyoming student who was brutally beaten by two young men, tied to a fence, and left to die. Writer-director Moises Kaufman and actors of New York's Tectonic Theatre Project journeyed to Laramie to interview townspeople about the horrific murder. After 400 hours of interviews, what emerges is an unusual and powerful theatre piece focusing on the citizens of Laramie, how they were affected and ultimately changed by this act of brutality within their community.

Kaufman was profoundly moved when the image of a dying Matthew Shepard, bound to a prairie fence, permeated the headlines in 1998. To grapple with the murder and its ripples, Kaufman turned to theater and, one month later, took his company of actors to Wyoming. They sought out local residents, fellow students, ranchers, bartenders, ministers and the town sheriff for more than 200 interviews. These interviews are woven throughout the play, along with excerpts from the public record, media reports and journal entries of the actors themselves.

"It's a story of the American West," says Kaufman, a playwright and director whose first play, the award winning "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde," ran for nearly two years in New York.

"It's about how living in a country of rugged individualism impacts your community, how an event like this challenges concepts of American masculinity and civic and rural ideals."

This is the third time director Susan Boulanger, LTCC's new director of theatre, has brought the production to the stage.

"It is an important story to tell," says Boulanger. "When this happened to Matthew, it was the first time the nation as a whole really started talking about the issue of hate. In recent years, we have stopped talking about it."

President Obama recently signed into federal law the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd, Jr. Hate crime bill. This bill will help law enforcement prosecute hate crimes at a state level.

"There has been some progress," says Boulanger. "But, we have a whole generation of students now who have never heard of Matthew Shepard. The new legislation is a great stride forward, but we have to keep talking about it."

In addition to post-show discussions that will follow performances, some special events are also being planned in association with "The Laramie Project." A panel discussion focusing on the issues of hate and tolerance will follow the matinee performance on Sunday, March 14. The panel will include experts on the issues of hate crimes and tolerance, as well as community members who will share their experiences.

A Candlelight Vigil for Non-Violence will follow the performance on Saturday, March 20. The community is invited to both events.

Mature themes and content – may not be suitable for children under 15.


Schedule of Performances and Events

Friday, March12 7:30 p.m. Opening Night Performance/Welcome by Dr.
Stew Bittman of Unity at Lake Church; Post-performance discussion to follow facilitated by Dr. Stew Bittman; reception to follow

Saturday, March 13 7:30 p.m. Performance/Post-performance discussion to follow facilitated by Rosemary Manning, M.A. Clinical Psychology

Sunday, March 14 2:00 p.m. Matinee Performance
4:15 p.m. Hate/Tolerance Panel Discussion (approx);
Reception to follow
Panel Members: Jerry Birdwell, mayor of South Lake Tahoe; Chris Campion, F.B.I. special agent, South Lake Tahoe; Officers Alisa Bendel and Robert Autre, SLT Police Department; Bill Robey, executive director El Dorado Community Foundation, Placerville;
Ethan Niven, LTCC college student;
Matt Huckabay, director of The Center for Violence-Free Relationships, Placerville

Thursday, March 18 7:30 p.m. Performance/post-performance discussion to follow

Friday, March 19 7:30 p.m. Performance/post-performance discussion to follow facilitated by Rosemary Manning, M.A. Clinical Psychology

Saturday, March 20 7:30 p.m. Performance
9:30 p.m. Candlelight Vigil – Participants TBA
Reception to follow

Sunday, March 21 2 p.m. Closing Matinee
Full Story. [2/18/09]