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“The Laramie Project” Reading
October 12, 2023 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
On Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in Overture’s Promenade Hall, GSAFE will present a free, staged reading of the first two acts of “The Laramie Project” by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Company, followed by a panel of LGBTQAI+ experts, allies and community members.
One year ago, Mudrow approached Overture Center’s equity and innovation team to propose an endeavor that would honor Matthew Shepard’s legacy, educate the public and engage area youth in important conversations surrounding LGBTQ+ issues. Since then, some resident organizations of Overture Center and local foundations have worked together to create a special event to honor Matthew Shepard.
The performance on Thursday, Oct. 12 will feature 16 actors during a staged reading of the first two acts of “The Laramie Project.” This production is intended for mature audiences due to content containing homophobia, reference to murder, assault and physical violence, coarse language and adult situations.
From The Laramie Project website:
“After Matthew’s murder in 1998, members of the Tectonic Theater Project in New York City traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, to interview residents about how the attack on Matt had affected the town. These transcripts were transformed into the play “The Laramie Project,” which tells the stories of real people who lived at the epicenter of one of the nation’s most heinous anti-gay hate crimes.
“The Laramie Project” is one of the most frequently performed plays in America, as its messages still resonate with audiences today. The Matthew Shepard Foundation supports dozens of productions of “The Laramie Project” and its epilogue “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” every year across the country. It’s the goal of the Matthew Shepard Foundation to create an environment where people are afforded an opportunity to discuss the play and its messages, the hate they encounter in their own lives, and how they can work collectively to build a more understanding and compassionate community.”
The post-show panel with local LGBTQ+ leaders and allies will be moderated by award-winning artist Danez Smith (they/them). Smith is the author of three collections, including “Homie” and “Don’t Call Us Dead,” with a fourth collection, “Bluff,” forthcoming in August 2024. Smith is an alum from the First Wave Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The public is invited to this free performance and panel.
For more information, visit overture.org.
