Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

September 27, 2002

Hate crime examined in ISU Theatre presentation

ISU Theatre will present The Laramie Project, a play that examines the effect of a hate crime on a community. The play is based on the true story of the slaying of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student. Submitted photo.

by Debra Gibson
Don't think of it as "that gay play."

So advises Robin Stone, assistant professor of theater and director of The Laramie Project, ISU Theatre's debut production of the 2002-03 season, opening Friday, Oct. 4, in Fisher Theater.

While The Laramie Project does, indeed, chronicle the true story of the vicious homicidal attack on Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, the play focuses as much on the impact the hate crime had on the city of Laramie. Four weeks after Shepard's 1998 murder, members of New York City's Tectonic Theater Project traveled to the Wyoming city to interview its residents about Shepard's violent death and the aftermath. Nearly two years and more than 200 interviews later, troupe member Moises Kaufman wrote The Laramie Project, a play that also spawned an HBO film.

"I truly don't want people to think this is a propaganda play," Stone said in a recent interview. "This play does not push an issue. It just examines what happened in Laramie, using the words of the people it happened to."

Ten ISU students will portray about 70 different characters in the play, Stone said. Because much of the play focuses on the media's involvement in communicating the story, the use of monitors, projection screens and live camera feeds will be incorporated into the production.

Stone, who joined the ISU faculty this semester, was offered the chance to direct the production just weeks before he assumed his appointment. "Had it been any other play, I probably would have turned that down," he said. "But because I like this play so much, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity.

"I think the audience will be challenged to examine many of their pre-existing notions," Stone continued. "The play isn't trying to persuade anyone to change their minds about anything. It examines how a community very much like Ames responded to an event and its aftermath. I hope audience members will be moved emotionally as well as intellectually."

The Laramie Project will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, 5, 11 and 12, and at 2 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13. An audience discussion will be held following the play on Oct. 6, which is also the fourth anniversary of the attack on Shepard. Tickets ($11 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5.50 for students) are available at the Iowa State Center ticket office, or by calling 4-3347.