THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER (AN EPILOGUE)

The creators of the highly acclaimed play The Laramie Project, which since 2000 has been one of the most performed plays in America, will premiere a compelling and groundbreaking epilogue to the original piece. Entitled THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10 YEARS LATER, the play will be performed in New York at Lincoln Center’ Alice Tully Hall, [local info] and over 100 other theaters across the country on October 12, 2009. The writers of this play are Tectonic Theater Project members Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber.

The epilogue focuses on the long term effect of the murder of Matthew Shepard on the town of Laramie. It explores how the town has changed and how the murder continues to reverberate in the community. The play also includes new interviews with Matthew’s mother Judy Shepard and Mathew’s murderer Aaron McKinney, who’s serving dual life sentences, as well as follow-up interviews with many of the individuals from the original piece.

In tandem with the Premiere, an online interactive community will be launched where participants can blog, upload video and photos and share their stories about the play, experiences in preparing and presenting the Epilogue in their communities. The members of Tectonic Theater Project will be active participants in the online community, offering participants feedback and encouragement.

“We are thrilled to bring this epilogue to The Laramie Project to Company of Fools,” said Denise Simone, Core Company Artist. “This important piece of American theater tells a universal human story and has been a transformative experience for the cast and audience,” continued Denise. “Our hope is that the epilogue helps us better understand the impact of Matthew’s death as well as provide truth and context as this piece of American history is retold to a new generations,” concluded Denise.