This weekend, the Honors Theatre Department is performing one of the final shows of the school year, “The Laramie Project.”
The documentary highlights the true story of the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, taking place in Laramie, Wyoming. The play is mostly focused on the townspeople, as Shepard’s murder sparked a multitude of different reactions and perspectives.
Shepard was a known LGBTQ, sparking varying responses from those in agreement with LGBTQ’s, those who were against them, and those not choosing one side or the other. The distinguishing of how each character acts and responds is what makes this play stand out.
With all the violence and craziness throughout the show, the play has been deemed PG-13, with a parental cautioning for younger kids.
Ms. Craig, the theater director and teacher, explained this caution is placed onto the play due to certain instances of profanity.
“It’s a documentary theater piece, so they are using quotes. People on the daily curse, they also use hate language,” Craig explained. “We chose to keep some in for the accuracy of the story.”
Not only is the play going to be very engaging and entertaining, but it will also be the last performance for multiple different seniors, as they transition out of their high school years. Those seniors include Riley Surmacewicz, Mia Fernandez Revilla, Leah Smith, and Eliza Rudolph.
Rudolph, starring as multiple different characters including the main narrator, Sherry Johnson, and Carrie Drake, explained how her four years in theater have taught her some important life lessons.
“I’ve definitely learned to not be afraid to try new things. I just randomly decided to do theater my freshman year, and have found a lot of new friends and built community since then,” Rudolph explained. “I don’t regret my decision and wouldn’t change anything.”
“The Laramie Project” will be performed Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18 at 7pm. Make sure to come out to the Green Level Auditorium and support the theater department, as well as all their seniors who will be performing for the last time.
