IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Laramie Project By J HUNTER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Laramie Project
By J HUNTER

You’d think two Capital Region theater companies doing the same show – on the same
two weekends – would be considered an absolute disaster; in the case of The Laramie
Project (being produced June 12 – 21 by R’ville Stage Creations and Fort Salem
Theater), it can only be considered one thing: Kismet. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am proud
to be part of the R’ville Stage production, directed by actor/playwright Sean Allison.
The play, written by Moises Kaufman with Tectonic Theater Group, centers around the
1998 murder of Matthew Shepard – a 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student.
Both Shepard’s beating and the circumstances around it were so horrific, the college
town of Laramie, WY became a focal point for the entire world. Over the following year,
Kaufman & Tectonic conducted interviews with Laramie residents, including people
directly involved with the case.

This is a play that should be seen in any case: The dialogue – taken from recorded
interviews and other found sources – is both riveting and relatable, and the story shows
that the violent rhetoric running through our world today is not even close to new. But
given that this is Pride Month, with celebrations happening throughout the region,
presenting Laramie is incredibly important, especially given that there are generations of
LGBTQ+ who have never even heard of Matthew Shepard.
Even before I got involved with the show, I wanted to find out more about what went into
this incredibly timely “joint decision.” Michael Nichols-Pate (director of Fort Salem’s
production) and R’ville Stage Artistic Director Taradwyn McCormick were good enough
to step In The Spotlight to answer the same six questions:

RRX: Do you remember where you were on October 12, 1998? How did you hear about
Matthew’s death?

MICHAEL: Well, on October 12, 1998, I was only 5 years old, so hearing about
Matthew’s death wasn’t something we had discussed in my household. However, I saw
one of the local schools (Hudson Falls) do a production of the show and was
immediately connected to the material. As someone who at the time was freshly out of
the closet by around 5-6 months, it resonated with me and drew a lot of similarities to
who Matthew was as described in the show and documentaries, and who I was as a
freshly out gay man.

TARA: I graduated high school in ‘98, so I was attending my first semester of college art
classes in Albany when Matthew Shepard passed. Being of similar age, his death was
something that my college and high school friend groups were both very aware of.

RRX: How did you come to be involved in your production of The Laramie Project?

MICHAEL: I saw that Fort Salem Theater had posted their season announcement, and
as I saw they were producing The Laramie Project, some thought in the back of my
brain told me to re-read the actual script. I had gotten about halfway through the show
before I reached out to Fort Salem and initiated the conversation to be hired as director
for the project. I also was able to see the 25 th anniversary production at the Audible
theater and meet Moises Kauffman to pick his brain a bit for ideas and how to navigate
the material.

TARA: As Artistic Director of R’ville Stage, I made the decision to perform The Laramie
Project about a year ago, shortly after I directed The Crucible. It’s been on my short list
of shows to produce for quite some time, but we needed to wait until we had enough
visibility to draw super talented artists to tell this poignant story.

RRX: It’s been almost 30 years since Moises and Tectonic dropped Laramie on the
public consciousness. Why do you feel this show is still relevant today?

MICHAEL: This show is still relevant as this story feels like it could come right out of the
headlines today. While society has come a long way since the brutal kidnapping,
assault, and murder of Matthew Shepard, there is still incredibly deep-seated hostility
towards the LGBTQ community, particularly the trans and non-binary community. The
Laramie Project has a number of folks that describe the town in the play (and the real
life interviews that have been used throughout the show) as “Live and Let Live” and
most of the folks interviewed dismiss the violence done to gay folks as somehow being
the gay person’s fault for existing or flirting with someone. Marge Murray in the show
explains how someone might “smack one of them in the mouth” if they were coming on
to someone. This is still the sentiments in society today for many in society.

TARA: I wish it wasn’t. I had hope, when I was young, that we would learn our lessons
of love and that all of humanity would move to a more peaceful existence. Unfortunately,
that is not the reality we live in, and hate shocks me. Sean and I had the pleasure of
meeting Moises Kaufmann a few weeks ago. Moises too, expressed hope that The
Laramie Project would be performed less and less over the years, because folks would
hear the message and create the change. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case as it’s still
one of the most produced plays in America. As a bard, my calling is to tell the stories of
humanity to humanity, even the ugly stories.

RRX: What’s been your biggest surprise during the rehearsal process? Given the
unique way the story & dialogue is spooled out, is that something that affected
how you approached directing Laramie?

MICHAEL: I have found the way the cast has truly come together in such a collaborative
way to be my biggest surprise. We all sat down at the read thru and the first thing I said
was that my goal was for this to be collaborative. The Tectonic Theater Project came

together as a group to conduct these interviews and write this show. While Moises
Kauffman and Leigh Fondakowski were the primary writers, the members of the
company came together to create this beautiful piece of art about an important moment
in LGBTQ+ history. The cast has been incredible with the amount of suggestions and
conversations and building each other up to create the best performances they can..

TARA: How much light we have found in the script and rehearsal process. A heavy story
can be difficult to tell when not balanced with the beauty of life. The Laramie Project is
not only a celebration of Matthew Shephard’s existence, but of all humanity. All of
humanity, at it’s most horrific and it’s most enlightening.

RRX: How do you feel about both these productions being presented during Pride?

MICHAEL: I think Pride Month is the perfect time to produce this production. Pride is a
moment to celebrate, but Pride also needs to be a moment where we all come together
and remember those we lost. Matthew Shepard’s story is one we should never stop
telling. PFC Barry Winchell’s story is one we should never stop telling. Harvey Milk’s
story is one we should never stop telling. Brandon Teena’s story is one we should never
stop telling. Julio Rivera is a story we should never stop telling. The li st just goes on
and on and on. The Laramie Project is a moment to sit down and not just watch a play,
but to check in and remember those that were lost, not just Matthew.

TARA: R’ville Stage Creations is honored to hold space for any person in our
community wanting to tell stories. You can catch us marching in the Hudson Pride
Parade on Saturday, June 20!

RRX: If there’s one single message you’d like the audience to get from your production
of Laramie, what would it be?

MICHAEL: I think Doc O’Connor says it best in the show, “Just like the whole world
hoped that Matt would survive. The whole thing, you see, the whole thing, ropes around
hope, H-O-P-E.” Throughout the play, we watch these real life characters start to
change their mind through conversations with the Tectonic Theater Project and with how
this tragedy impacts their lives either as being directly involved, or for the first time
confronting the reality that their small town could in fact produce kids who could engage
with hate in such a violent way. So, I hope the audience leaves the play with hope for a
better future, hope for a more tolerant acceptance towards those who might be different
from them, and hope for a more connected and inclusive community. Hope. H-O-P-E.
Hope.

TARA: Forgiveness. Be gentler with yourself and everyone else.

R’ville Stage Creations and Fort Salem Theater will present The Laramie Project
June 12-14 and June 19-21. For show times, locations and tickets, please go to
www.rvillestage.org/the-laramie-project and www.fortsalem.com