The Laramie Project
by Moises Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theatre Project
In the fall of 1999, University of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, robbed, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die by two Laramie residents. The brutal murder, partially committed because Shepard was openly gay, shocked the world. The members of the Tectonic Theatre project travelled to Laramie a month after Shepard’s death to being interviewing people in the hopes of using theatre to understand what happened to Matthew Shepard … and Laramie. The eventual play is a collation and theatricalization of the interviews. It tells the story of the real people who were affected by and lived at the epicenter of this horrible hate crime.
The Laramie Project is one of the most important and most produced plays in the United States. It’s delicate but poignant exploration of the circumstances and environment that killed Matthew Shepard is a phenomenally powerful theatrical work, educational experience, and piece of political activism.
“It insists that we keep asking questions of events, of our understanding of them (then and now), and of ourselves. But the power of theater does provide a sanctuary of consideration.” – The Denver Post, October, 2023.
“An enormously good-willed, very earnest and often deeply moving work of theatrical journalism.” – The New York Times, May, 2000.
“It addresses fundamental questions that are more relevant than ever in our divided, angry nation. Will we allow ourselves to be shaped by hate or compassion? Cruelty or kindness? Fear or hope?” – The Chicago Reader.
The Laramie Project Cast List
| Mads Barry | Rebecca Hilliker, Trish Steger, Newsperson, Lucy Thompson, Jeffrey Lockwood |
| Colson Beebe | Father Roger Schmit, Dr. Cantway, Matt Mickelson, Bailiff |
| Callen Beggins | Doc O’Connor, Fred Phelps, Cal Rerucha |
| Maya Cloutier | Leigh Fondakowski, Catherine Connolly |
| Elora Doran | Rulon Stacey, Phil Labrie, Juror, Moisés Kaufman |
| Hadessah Haggard | Marge Murray, Shannon, Kristen Price, Amanda Gronich, Jury Foreperson |
| Jameson Hall | Greg Pierotti, Sgt. Hing, Bailiff |
| Brayden Hively | Juror, Newsperson, Russell Henderson, Andy Paris |
| Dionysus Hubert | Matt Galloway, Judge, Doug Laws |
| Abby Kotaska | Aaron Kreifels, Priest at Funeral, Newsperson |
| Grant McIntosh | Jonas Slonaker, Email Sender, Harry Woods, Dennis Shepard |
| Charlie Moses | Jedediah Schultz, Jon Peacock, Kerry Drake |
| Audrey Odewald | Alison Mears, Barbara Pitts, Juror, Tiffany Edwards, Jen |
| Dani Romick | Zubaida Ula, Sherry Aanenson |
| McKenna Sinclair | Romaine Patterson, Zackie Salmon |
| Gabe Teller | Rob Debree, Phillip Dubois, Murdock Cooper, Baptist Minister, Shadow |
| Micah Von Feldt | Stephen Belber, Stephen Mead Johnson, Aaron McKinney, Bill McKinney |
| Sophie Worek | Reggie Fluty, Waitress, April Silva, Wife, Eileen Engen |