The Laramie Project
WRITTEN BY MOISÉS KAUFMAN AND THE MEMBERS OF THE TECTONIC THEATER PROJECT
DIRECTED BY JOHN KNAPP
September 14 - 23, 2018
Baltimore Theatre Project
In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old openly gay student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, and left to die — tied to a fence in the middle of a prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming, simply for being gay. His name was Matthew Shepard. Matthew’s murder brought national and international attention to the lack of hate crime legislation across the nation and forced a small community to wrestle with its identity on both the local and national levels. In this groundbreaking docudrama, Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project capture the human voice of Laramie.
With just 8 actors playing over 60 characters, The Laramie Project weaves together interviews, journal entries, and published news reports to create a breathtaking theatrical collage exploring the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.
In memoriam of the 20th Anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death, Iron Crow Theatre will be hosting a series of special events and talkbacks, including welcoming the Tectonic Theater Project to Baltimore for the inaugural CrowLabs: Masterclass. Read below for more details.
CAST
Kecia A. Campbell, Yvonne Erickson*, William Goblirsch, Jr., David Jonas Grey^, Warren Harris, Lezlie T. Hatcher, Johnna Leary, and Nicholas Miles^ as the Company.
PRODUCTION
Stage Management provided by River Hansen^ with Costume Design by Danielle Harrow^, Set Design by PJ Carbonell^, Lighting Design by Lily Margola, and Assistant Lighting Design by Justin Webb. Sound Design and original composition by Sam Lee^. Safer Spaces training provided by Shawna Potter of Hollaback! Baltimore.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
“…ably directed by John Knapp and performed by a talented cast,…it makes people pause to reflect on our society where hate, unfortunately, is not waning.” - MD Theatre Guide
“…the eight-person ensemble cast effectively conveys the wrenching emotion and shock…” - MD Theatre Guide
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
WINNER // MD Theatre Guide
#1 Show of the Week - The Laramie Project at Iron Crow Theatre
The Baltimore Sun
One of the Best Theatre Offerings in the Baltimore Area This Fall
Metro Weekly
Editor’s Choice - One of the Best Arts & Entertainment Offerings This Weekend
The Washington Blade
Featured in 2018 Fall Arts Guide
SPECIAL EVENTS
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
7:00pm staged reading of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later
The cast of The Laramie Project will present a staged reading of the sequel to The Laramie Project, entitled The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later. A portion of all proceeds benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation. $20 suggested donation.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
7:00pm performance of The Laramie Project
After Shows with the Crows: Talkback with Cathy Renna, former Communications Director of GLAAD
Cathy Renna, former Communications Director of GLAAD, will join Iron Crow Theatre’s cast and crew members in a dialogue following the 7:00pm performance of The Laramie Project. Cathy Rena was on assignment in Laramie, Wyoming, when the events surrounding Matthew Shepard’s death took place and will offer our audiences a unique inside perspective on one of queer history’s most defining moments.
Friday, September 21, 2018
8:00pm performance of The Laramie Project
After Shows with the Crows: Talkback with Jeffrey LaHoste, co-founder of the Tectonic Theater Project
Tony and Emmy award nominee and co-founder of the Tectonic Theater Project Jeffrey LaHoste will join Iron Crow Theatre cast and crew members in a dialogue following the 8:00pm performance of The Laramie Project. Jeffrey LaHoste will provide rare insights into Moment Work, the technique developed by the Tectonic Theater Project and used to create The Laramie Project. Mr. LaHoste founded the Tectonic Theater Project with Moisés Kaufman and has contributed to the development and production of all of Tectonic’s works, as well as serving as one of the original interviewers during the creation of The Laramie Project.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
10:00am CrowLabs: Masterclass - Tectonic Theater Project / Moment Work
Join two certified Moment Work Teaching Artists (Tectonic Theater Project’s co-founder Jeffrey LaHoste and D.C.-based theatre artist Billie Krishawn) for CrowLabs: Masterclass - Tectonic Theater Project / Moment Work. Moment Work is the process used at Tectonic Theater Project to create such classic works as The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, and 33 Variations. Moment Work explores the theatrical potential of all the elements of the stage (props, sound, architecture, lights, costume, etc.) in order to create strong theatrical and dramatic narratives. The technique is the Tectonic Theater Project's approach for “writing performance” as opposed to “writing text.” In this way, company members are encouraged to dream about the material they find compelling in a theatrical setting. Moment Work gives artists the freedom to create individual, self-contained theatrical units (Moments) and then sequence these units together into theatrical phrases or sentences that will eventually become a play.
* Appearing through an agreement between Iron Crow Theatre and Actors' Equity Association, the union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
^ Indicates Iron Crow Theatre Resident Artist.