A member of this community, matthew shepard only 21 years old was brutally beaten and murdered for being a homosexual in october 1998. However, i thought this play was well done and i actually enjoyed the play. The laramie project may not be fact, but it can be wonderfully, terribly trueand that truth is up to the actors, the director, the dramaturg, and how they approach the documents given to them. With christina ricci, steve buscemi, kathleen chalfant, laura linney. The laramie project is a film adaptation of kaufmans play, in which the thoughts and opinions of laramie residents from all points of the political spectrum are presented alongside reenacted excerpts from the trials of the two men who attacked matthew shepard.
For most who see it, it was their first glimpse of the city where gay college student matthew shepard in 1998. The laramie project characters from litcharts the creators. Laramie project support matthew shepard foundation. The laramie project university of wyoming student matthew shepards brutal gaybashing murder focused national attention as no incident had before on homophobia and related hate crimes. The laramie project is a documentarystyle play created by the venezuelan playwright moises kaufman and members of the tectonic theater project, an experimental company whose work has often touched on social themes. Dramatists play service, one of the premier playlicensing and theatrical publishing agencies in the world, was formed in 1936 to foster national opportunities for playwrights by publishing affordable editions of their plays and handling the performance rights to these works. Out of these interviews, journal entries, and found texts, the laramie project was born. The laramie project is set in and around laramie, wyoming, in the aftermath of the murder of 21yearold matthew shepard.
On saturday, october 5th, i attended the play, the laramie project. The laramie project is a play but it is peculiar in the sense that the play is composed of interviews taken by the theater members of the people living in laramie. Based on the play of the same name, the film tells the story of the aftermath of the 1998 murder of matthew shepard in laramie, wyoming. The laramie project, written by moises kaufman, is a compilation of interviews by the tectonic theater project, news publications, and journal entries.
The laramie project moises kaufman claire collins well, first of all laramie is a small town in wyoming. Over the course of a year and a half, the group interviewed over 200 subjects, some directly related to the case and some regular citizens of laramie. The laramie project famous play made into hbo film by robert roten, film critic. The film has its flaws of course, but it is a well made movie. The laramie project is a critical play that addresses the brutal murder of openly gay teenager matthew shepard in the small town of laramie, wyoming, an incident that sparked national debate back in 1998. Originally written as a play, and developed using the transcripts of real interviews with the people of laramie, wyoming, the film version of the laramie project tells viewers the story of matthew shepard, a 21yearold gay man living in laramie who was viciously murdered in 1998 due to his sexuality. After the residents of laramie introduce their town, members of tectonic theater project describe how the theater companys leader, moises kaufman, asked them to join him in laramie, wyoming. Sherry is the landlord of russell henderson, one of the men convicted of matt shepards death. Based on the play of the same name, the film tells the story of the aftermath of the 1998. March 12, 2000, updated october 12, 2001 the laramie project is an avant garde stage play, soon to be a madefortvmovie, dealing with the aftermath of the killing of a gay college student, matthew shepard, near laramie in 1998. In my view, moises kaufman and the members of the tetonic theater project did a very good job at creating a captivating story, but that is all it is.
When our angels raise their wings in one beautiful, synchronized move, no one will care that technically, the angel outfits that romaine and her. It is both a retelling of the events that transpired and a portrait of the residents and town of laramie in the year following matthews murder. The laramie project is constructed from interviews with real laramie residents reacting to his murder over the course of a read full character analysis aaron mckinney, a laramie resident, is one of matthew shepard s murderers. In october 1998, matthew shepard, age 21, was brutally beaten and left. It was a saturday night and i hate going to any kind of theatre, including movie theatres. The laramie project is a 2000 play by moises kaufman and members of the tectonic theater project specifically, leigh fondakowski, writerdirector. The laramie project is a film version of the play of the same name, culled from interviews with real residents of the town of laramie, wyoming in the wake of the horrific murder of matthew shepard. In an article, the thrill of living dangerously, written for the march 1999 issue of out magazine, the author briefly discusses matthews time in north carolina, time spent working at a video store and seeing a therapist for treatment of an eating disorder. The laramie project at the kensington arts theatre. On a cold night in october, he was robbed, tied to a. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. To create the stage version of the laramie project, the eightmember new yorkbased tectonic theatre project traveled to laramie, wyoming, recording hours of interviews with the towns citizens over a twoyear period. The laramie project questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the laramie project. The light this fall narrator on september 12th, 2008, the members of tectonic theater project returned to laramie, wyoming, ten years after the murder of matthew shepard and.
Sep 26, 2015 the wilson players performance of the laramie project. The laramie project major dramatic question complications what was the motive for killing matthew shepard. This included sound, stage and hand properties, light, and music. Mar 01, 2011 the laramie project may not be fact, but it can be wonderfully, terribly trueand that truth is up to the actors, the director, the dramaturg, and how they approach the documents given to them. The laramie project explains that matthews gender performance strongly indicated that he was homosexual. For every character i saw portrayed on screen, ive known at least one wyoming resident that was exactly like them. The main character of the laramie project is the town of laramie, wyoming. The laramie project script transcript from the screenplay. Alena moore anthony jordan anyce sanders, josphe barnet. With an ensemble of 10 actors playing over 30 roles, this proved to be an amazing play to experience. Synopsis the laramie project is set in and around laramie, wyoming, in the aftermath of the murder of 21yearold matthew shepard. Tectonic theater project collaborated with hbo to make a film based on the play.
Finally, the the laramie project script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the matthew shepard movie based on the play and truelife events. Stephen belber, greg pierotti, barbara pitts, stephen wangh, amanda gronich, sara lambert, john mcadams, maude mitchell, andy paris, and kelli simpkins about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay university of wyoming student matthew shepard in. Hailed as one of the most captivating and encompassing pieces of contemporary theatre, the play shocks. At first, i was not really excited to see this play. The laramie project will most likely have an impact on any viewer that will watch the film, and it is a film that you cant forget. With an ensemble of 10 actors playing over 30 roles. The laramie project characters from litcharts the creators of. Ten years after shepards murder, members of tectonic theater project returned to laramie to conduct followup. The film version of the laramie project was produced by hbo films and premiered at the 2000 sundance film festival.
The laramie project summary and study guide supersummary. The laramie project by moises kaufman and members of the tectonic theater project, and produced by craig pettinati and directed by john nunemaker, opened at the kensington arts theatre on friday. The laramie project analyzes the death of matthew shepard, an openly gay college student who was brutally murdered in laramie, wyoming, in 1998 because of his sexual identity. This study guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the laramie project. Aug 11, 2014 the laramie project beautifully tells a truth the way wellwrought myths and ofttold legends and eloquent metaphors do. The the laramie project quotes below are all either spoken by romaine patterson or refer to romaine patterson. Cantway is an emergency room doctor at ivinson memorial hospital in laramie. After tuesdays class, jacob reminded me that i have not yet discussed specific north carolina connections to matthew shepard. The bravados classic western, full movie, gregory peck, english free full western films duration. Ten years after shepards murder, members of tectonic theater project returned to laramie to conduct followup interviews with residents featured in the play.
Matthew shepard was a twentyoneyearold student at the university of wyoming. The laramie project plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. The laramie project tv movie 2002 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Essay about the laramie project 1907 words bartleby. Essay the laramie project critique 673 words bartleby. Because of this, the play is presented from a large number of different point of views, depending on the person who is interviewed. Although when originally reading the laramie project, this idea did not come to mind, i agree with tigners criticism. It premiered at the 2002 sundance film festival and was first broadcast on hbo in.
One exception is the character of doc the limo driver, who appears. The naturalness with which the actors move back and forth between their roles as visiting journalists and the multiple characters in this human collage give the laramie project its dramatic muscle. Now, after matthew, i would say that laramie is a town defined by an accident, a crime. As a result of the plays success, hbo commissioned a 2002 film of the laramie project, also written and directed by kaufman.
The laramie project begins as various members of the laramie community praise the town of laramie, wyoming, speaking glowingly about towns closeknit community and expounding on its natural beauty. Jan 25, 2002 synopsis the laramie project is set in and around laramie, wyoming, in the aftermath of the murder of 21yearold matthew shepard. The laramie project beautifully tells a truth the way wellwrought myths and ofttold legends and eloquent metaphors do. The complictations in this play inculde the kidnapping, beating, and murrder of protagonist matthew sheaperd. The laramie project analysis high point university. From these interviews kaufman wrote the laramie project a play that explores the reactions of laramie residents to the murder and the subsequent events surrounding it. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival. The wilson players performance of the laramie project. The laramie project is a 2002 drama film written and directed by moises kaufman and starring nestor carbonell, christina ricci, dylan baker, terry kinney, and lou ann wright. There are a lot of famous faces on hand steve buscemi, christina ricci, peter fonda, janeane garofalo, joshua jackson, and many others, but the. The laramie project summary from litcharts the creators.
Jan 28, 2011 after tuesdays class, jacob reminded me that i have not yet discussed specific north carolina connections to matthew shepard. Jun 06, 2012 moises kaufman and members of new yorks tectonic theater project went to laramie, wyoming after the murder of matthew shepard. It is realistic fiction that is based on a true event. The true story of an american town in the wake of the murder of matthew shepard. To this point, the play is all but a work of nonfiction. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the laramie project. After the brutal murder of mathew sheppard in 1998. Matthew shepard was an openlygay university student in laramie, wyoming who was murdered in 1998. The stage setting was minimal and the the actors consisted of eight people portraying more than sixty.
This is a film version of the play they wrote based on more than. The laramie project is a gripping tour through the actual spoken words of laramie people drawn from hundreds of hours of interviews to show the outrage, the sense of being unfairly singled out, the quiet hope for change among gay and lesbian residents and the sometimes callous behavior of journalists. If you would have asked me before, i would have told you, laramie is a beautiful town, secluded enough that you can have your own identity a town with a strong sense of community. Kaufman along with his theater troupe made six visits to laramie, wyoming, where the murder. Stephen is one of the members of tectonic theater project who traveled to laramie, conducted interviews, helped to write the play, and played himself, as well as several other characters in the play. Doc oconnor, the taxi driver, recalls that matt was forthcoming about his sexuality, and stated i want you to know, i am gay and we are going to a gay bar kaufman 19. The laramie project is a series of wordforword reallife interviews conducted with people in the town of wyoming. The laramie project at bams harvey theater the new york. In the years since, the play has become an educational tool to discuss prejudice and tolerance in schools, as lgbt antidiscrimination bills are. The laramie project, about the killing of a gay man, matthew shepard, in wyoming in 1998, returns to new york with the city premiere of the cycles second part. Through the patchwork of interviews the laramie project conveys the themes of identity, representation, and change. The laramie project critique no works cited the laramie project captured the audiences attention by utilizing different design methods on stage.
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