Oakland University’s Department of Theatre in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance is presenting The Laramie Project which opens Thursday, March 28, 2024, and closes Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Varner Studio Theatre in Rochester, Mich.
The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project chronicles the reaction to the 1998 hate crime murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The play draws on hundreds of interviews conducted by the theatre company with inhabitants of the town, company members’ own journal entries, and published news reports. First produced in 2000, the play has had an impact. Inspired by his story, The Matthew Shepard Foundation was established to amplify his story to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people.
The foundation provides help and resources for those who wish to engage their communities in a conversation about how to erase hate in the world.
This production is being directed by faculty member Kelli Crump. The design team includes Ash Ritter (scenic design – Clarkston), Laine Hamburg (costumes, hair/makeup design—Bloomfield Hills), Kerro Knox 3 (lighting design–faculty), Aurora Ave-Lallemant (sound design–Wyandotte), Bailey Graham (properties–Jonesville), Joe Beck (technical director–staff).
Content Disclosure: Hate speech, description of violence, and homomisia/homophobia. All audience members aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are $20 general admission/$15 students and are available at Etix.com.
Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes which includes one intermission
Performances:
Thursday, March 28 at 8 p.m.
Friday, March 29 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, April 4 at 8 p.m.
Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m.
The cast includes:
Zachary Andrew (Livonia)
Zander Brown (Oxford)
Charles Carcamo (Detroit)
Pietro Cataldo (Riverview)
Ellise Dowd (Clarkston)
DeNetria Gibson (Taylor)
Tyler Girand (Shelby Twp)
Alexis Hunter (Milwaukee, WI)
Brady Jacot (East Tawas)
Zena Kissinger (Beverly Hills)
Haley Lucas (St. Clair Shores)
Caylee Morgan (Port Huron)
Crystal Orser (Rochester Hills)
Ximena Perez (Rochester Hills)
Syd Rauch (Grand Rapids)
Adam Rivera (Rochester Hills)
Matthew Sell (Port Atkinson, WI)
The stage managers are:
Emily Reschke, stage manager (Shelby Twp)
Aurora Ave-Lallemant, assistant stage manager (Wyandotte)
Tanea Harris, assistant stage manager (Atlanta, GA)
Aidan Phillips, Assistant Director/Dramaturg (Rochester Hills)
About Rochester Media
The cast and director did a fantastic job on this production! We all need to be supporting our local arts!