Evergreen Players Presents THE LARAMIE PROJECT

Evergreen Players presents THE LARAMIE PROJECT playing now through November 11th at Center/Stage in Evergreen, CO. In October 1998 a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, 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, and others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of their 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.

The ensemble cast includes Laura Adducci, Hunter Cagle, Tony Catanese, Gregg Dudding, Ryan Goold, Devra Keyes, Emma Messenger, Andrea Rabold, Eric Ross, Ellie Schwartz, Max Schwartz and Marc Stith.

Director Angela Astle says, "It took 10 years from the time of the death of Matthew Shepard to get hate crime legislation passed. I don't want it to be another 10 years before we remind ourselves of the reasons to be kind to each other. The seeds of hate are spread when we call each other names and use derogatory remarks when addressing our cultural differences. If we could all agree to just be more kind, caring, and compassionate to each other, there is hope that there will not be further incidences such as Columbine, Virginia Tech, and tragic deaths like Matthew's happening in our communities."

THE LARAMIE PROJECT presented by the Evergreen Players is currently moving audiences now through November 11th. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The Evergreen Players are located at Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive in Evergreen, CO. For tickets or more information, contact the box office by calling 303-674-4934 or online at www.evergreenplayers.org. 

The performing home of The Evergreen Players is Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen, CO, 80439. Directions to Center/Stage are at www.evergreenplayers.org. The Evergreen Players is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization producing six shows per year in the foothills. Established in 1950, The Players' mission is to create professional quality theater to inspire, engage, and entertain. P.O. Box 1271, Evergreen, CO 80437.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Rachael Graham