Difference between revisions of "The Laramie Project"
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| − | '''The Laramie Project''' is a play being promoted in schools in the [[United States]] to raise awarness of hate crimes such regarding [[homosexuality]]. The play is a representation of events surrounding the 1998 murder of [[Matthew Shepard]] in Laramie, [[Wyoming]]. | + | '''The Laramie Project''' is a play being promoted in schools in the [[United States]] to raise awarness of hate crimes, such as the ones regarding [[homosexuality]]. The play is a representation of events surrounding the 1998 murder of [[Matthew Shepard]] in Laramie, [[Wyoming]]. |
Developed by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project developed, this play first opened at The Ricketson Theatre by the Denver Center Theatre Company in February 2000. '''The Laramie Project'''play was also performed in the Union Square Theater in [[New York City]], and again in November 2002 performance in Laramie. [[HBO]] subsequently made a movie based on this play. Since then it has spread to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of high schools across the [[United States]]. Some school boards have rejected attempts to bring this play to schools in their districts. | Developed by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project developed, this play first opened at The Ricketson Theatre by the Denver Center Theatre Company in February 2000. '''The Laramie Project'''play was also performed in the Union Square Theater in [[New York City]], and again in November 2002 performance in Laramie. [[HBO]] subsequently made a movie based on this play. Since then it has spread to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of high schools across the [[United States]]. Some school boards have rejected attempts to bring this play to schools in their districts. | ||
Revision as of 03:01, December 23, 2007
The Laramie Project is a play being promoted in schools in the United States to raise awarness of hate crimes, such as the ones regarding homosexuality. The play is a representation of events surrounding the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.
Developed by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project developed, this play first opened at The Ricketson Theatre by the Denver Center Theatre Company in February 2000. The Laramie Projectplay was also performed in the Union Square Theater in New York City, and again in November 2002 performance in Laramie. HBO subsequently made a movie based on this play. Since then it has spread to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of high schools across the United States. Some school boards have rejected attempts to bring this play to schools in their districts.
It can be argued that this play distorts the facts surrounding the murder, such as the omission of how "Shepard's killers, in their first interview since their convictions, tell '20/20's' Elizabeth Vargas that money and drugs motivated their actions that night, not hatred of gays."[1]
Shepard's friends claimed even before the details of the crime were known that it was a hate-motivated crime. After the crime was discovered Shepard's friends "were calling the County Attorney's office, they were calling the media and indicating Matthew Shepard is gay and we don't want the fact that he is gay to go unnoticed."[1]
Westboro Baptist Church pastor Fred Phelps is portrayed in The Laramie Project. Phelps and members of his congregation occasionally picket performances of the play.