The Laramie Project

The Birmingham-Southern theatre department promises to impress yet again with this fall’s performance of The Laramie Project, written by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project. Opening night is October 6, 2009 at 7:30pm, and shows continue at 7:30pm through the 10^th. The final performance is October 11 at 2:30pm. The play will be performed in the more intimate setting of Theatre One, the smaller underground stage of the theater building. Directed by Alan Litsey, only 100 seats are available per night, so get tickets now! They are available in Norton and the theater department has its own box office as well.

The play is set in Laramie, Wyoming based on 200 interviews with the people of Laramie after the grotesque murder of Matthew Shephard shook the town in 1998. The play takes a candid, intense look at hate crimes and crimes against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community; Matthew Shephard was murdered because he was homosexual. The theatre department pulls off this feat in exploring 60 different characters, portrayed by only 12 different actors. This play carries special meaning, performed so close to the anniversary of Shephard’s death eleven years ago on October 12, 1998. The dedicated cast includes Ginny Coats, Fred Brown, MacKenzie Smith, Jasha Vaughn, Jordan Crenshaw, Chris Hicks, Lisa Bamberg, Kristen Leonard, Joseph Laughridge, AnnaRose MacArthur, Ethan Hamm and Alan Young.

Laramie makes no pretenses as a “happy play.” The goal is to spark discussions and thoughts to prevent any more of these tragedies. It is a thoughtful play, and our theatre department is well up to the task set before them. Students and community members alike are highly encouraged to see The Laramie Project and support the theater and the message Laramie sends. And if you forget your Kleenex, don’t worry; I’ll have mine.

-Alyssa Briggs, Junior