Theatre to Stage The Laramie Project

The true story of Matthew Shepard, murdered in 1998 for being a homosexual, is coming to Collingswood's stage, with a four-performance production of The Laramie Project.

Performed by Collingswood Community Theatre (CCT), the production was written by Moisés Kaufman—and, according to the play's official website—is based on over 200 interviews the Tectonic Theater Project conducted with residents of Laramie, WY, where Shepard's body was found.

"This play is about what happened to the town of Laramie, WyY, after Matthew Shepard was beaten, tortured and subsequently murdered," said Amy Henderson Riley, CCT director of The Laramie Project . "A Manhattan-based theater group (Tectonic Theater Project) went to Laramie, WY, a number of times to interview people in town. Dialogue used in this play is from actual interviews conducted with residents about Shepard's death."

Twenty actors will perform the 80-role production—with every actor playing four to five separate characters—at , located at 315 White Horse Pike.

Performances—each running approximately one hour and 45 minutes with one intermission—will each begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13; Friday, Oct. 14; and Saturday, Oct. 15; as well as a 2 p.m. matinee showing on Saturday, Oct. 15.

To honor the 13-year anniversary of Shepard's death—which falls on Wednesday, Oct. 12—CCT's Friday night production will be immediately followed by a discussion panel, where audience members may converse with panelists about bullying and hate crimes.

Members of Friday's five-member panel are all local fixtures, including Collingswood Mayor James Maley; Collingswood Public School District Superintendent Dr. Scott A. Oswald; Rev. Kate Killebrew of Collingswood Presbyterian Church; AnneLynne Benson, executive board member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG Collingswood); and Dean Walton, founder of The Rainbow Connection Network of Cherry Hill.

"The panel following our Friday night performance will be a discussion about the relevancy of this incident, what policies have been enacted since, and what we still need to do (to eradicate hate crimes and bullying)," said Henderson Riley. "It will be moderated by one of our actors, Scott Mandel, and will last about 45 minutes."

Henderson Riley said the production is suitable for audiences aged 13 and older, and parents or guardians may view the script (attached to this story's photo gallery as a .PDF document) prior to the performance.

"People have been concerned about whether we're reenacting the crime committed against Shepard. There is no violence in this play," said Henderson Riley of content. "But there is language, and discussion about being gay."

Henderson Riley said The Laramie Project focuses more on the aftermath of Shepard's death.

"It's a chronicle of the town's (Laramie, WY) reaction to his death," she said. "Spectators can expect to see different views on the subject. After Shepard was murdered, and the town unraveled, some people didn't like the attention his death brought. And there were others, like Shepard's family and friends, who are portrayed as coping with their loss. So the audience will gauge a wide range of opinions."

Besides familiar faces of CCT actors, other local angles will highlight performances.

"We'll be projecting slides and photos for each scene we perform during the play," said Henderson Riley, adding that stills were all taken by local photographer Rich McMullin. "And we'll have video segments, including one recorded by (Collingswood Mayor James) Maley, who will portray the governor of Wyoming."

All tickets are general admission and may be purchased at the door of the on show nights. Tickets are being sold for $15 per adult and $10 per senior citizen or student. Reserved seating and discount options for groups comprised of 10 or more individuals are available by contacting Mary Baldwin at baldym2@aol.com, or 609-617-2220.