The Laramie Project
Written by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project
Department of Musical Theatre Studio Production
February 21-24, 2013 • Arthur Miller Theatre
Artistic Staff
Director: Hank Stratton
Costume Designer: Lily Parker
Lighting Designer: Liz Williams
Sound Designers: Isaac Levine, William E. Wiltse III
Stage Manager: Kelsey Socha
Cast
Doc O’Connor, Baptist Minister, Judge, Rob Debree, Shannon, Narrator: Keith Allen
Jedadiah Schultz, Phil Labrie, News Reporter #4, Kerry Drake, Andy Paris, Russell Henderson (Act II), Narrator: Woody Buck
Stephen Mead Johnson, Anonymous Friend of Aaron McKinney, Rulon Stacey, Governor Geringer, Mormon Home Teacher, Narrator: C.J. Eldred
April Silva, Leigh Fondakowski, Minister’s Wife, Shadow, News Reporter #2, Jen, Lucy Thompson, Narrator: Rachel Eskenazi-Gold
First Reporter, Amanda Gronich, Alison Mears, Kristin Price, Newsperson, Tiffany Edwards, Foreperson, E-Mail Writer, Narrator: Eleanor Fishman
Eileen Engen, Zubaida Ula, Marge Murray, News Reporter #1, Narrator: Alexandra Fragoso
Philip Dubois, Moisés Kaufman, Matt Mickelson, Jeffrey Lockwood, Bill McKinney, Murdock Cooper, Andrew Gomez, Bailiff, Narrator: Conor Guzmán
Zackie Salmon, Romaine Patterson, Waitress, Narrator: Charlotte Maltby
Matt Galloway, Gil Engen, Bailiff, Conrad Miller, Skinhead, Dennis Shepard, Narrator: Conor McGiffin
Greg Pierotti, Sergeant Hing, Jonas Slonaker, Russell Henderson (Act III), Priest at the Funeral, Cal Rerucha, Narrator: Henry Nettleton
Aaron Kreifels, Harry Woods, Doug Laws, News Reporter #3, Aaron McKinney, Narrator: Mackenzie Orr
Rebecca Hilliker, Sherry Aanenson, Reggie Fluty, Narrator: Emma Sohlberg
Stephen Belber, Jon Peacock, Father Roger Schmit, Dr. Cantaway, Newsperson, Reverend Fred Phelps, Narrator: Zachary Thompson
Trish Steger, Barbara Pitts, Catherine Connolly, Sherry Johnson, Narrator: Ellie Todd
Resources
[accordion title=”Author’s Note”]
The Laramie Project was written through a unique collaboration by Tectonic Theater Project. During the year-and-a-half development of the play, members of the company and I traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, six times to conduct interviews with the people of the town. We transcribed and edited the interviews, then conducted several workshops in which the members of the company presented material and acted as dramaturgs in the creation of the play.
As the volume of material grew with each additional trip to Laramie, a small writers’ group from within the company began to work closely with me to further organize and edit the material, conduct additional research in Laramie, and collaborate on the writing of the play. This group was led by Leigh Fondakowski as Head Writer, with Stephen Belber and Greg Pierotti as Associate Writers.
As we got closer to the play’s first production in Denver, the actors, including Stephen Belber and Greg Pierotti, turned their focus to performance, while Leigh Fondakowski continued to work with me on drafts of the play, as did Stephen Wangh, who by then had joined us an Associate Writer and “bench coach.”
— Moisés Kaufman
[/accordion][accordion title=”A Note from the Director”]
The killing of Matthew Shepard in 1998 focused national and international attention on the definition of a hate crime. After ten years of contentious debate, this tragic death inspired the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes prevention Act. The Laramie Project, and its numerous productions worldwide, proved a signature voice in that dialogue.
Each production of The Laramie Project is as individual as the characters you are about to see. This production at U-M includes original music inspired by the ensemble’s response to the material. We have attempted to minimize mechanical theatrics so as to keep the attention on the story, a purely actor-driven piece. With this presentation of The Laramie Project, we aspire to continue the conversation of compassion, tolerance, our common desires and inexhaustible resource of hope.
— Hank Stratton, Director
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