Utah Valley University’s theater department invites the community to experience a unique and immersive production of “The Laramie Project.” The play is based on the true story of events leading up to the brutal beating and death of Matthew Shepard, a gay man who lived in Laramie, Wyoming.

 

Recently named one of the 25 most important American plays of the last 25 years by The New York Times, Laramie explores the motivations for this crime and the subsequent reactions to the incident in the community where it happened. The stories in this play are told from diverse points of view of numerous people who lived through the harrrowing ordeal.

 

“Matthew Shepard’s story is very important. It needs to be told over and over. Laramie’s residents don’t want to believe something like Shepard’s brutal murder could happen in their community. But it did,” said Kimberly Abunuwara, an actress who plays five different parts in the play. “Doing the play makes us ask, ‘Why do things like this happen in our communities? Am I doing anything that might even passively condone such violence?’”

 

The version includes interactive moments where the audience stands among the performers and moves with them as they recount the shocking story.

 

Please note that this play uses verbatim dialogue from actual people during a challenging time in history. As such, there is strong language including profanities and homophobic slurs. There is a brief description of a brutal act of violence. This performance requires walking, sitting, and standing. There are also brief camera flashes. See the UVU ticket websitefor more detailed information.

 

Bastian Theater (located in the new Noorda Center for the Performing Arts)

Jan. 18, 19, 22-26 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 and 25 10 p.m.

Tickets $5-$15

 

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University Marketing &Communications

Scott Trotter

801-863-6807 | [email protected]

Barb Smith

801-863-5274 |[email protected]

   

About Utah Valley University

 

At 39,931 students and growing, Utah Valley University is the largest public university in the state of Utah, and one of a few in the nation offering a dual-mission model that combines the rigor and richness of a first-rate teaching university with the openness and vocational programs of a community college. UVU’s unique model, which focuses on student success, engaged learning, rigorous academic programs, and faculty-mentored research, is transforming higher education by making it more affordable and accessible to students of all backgrounds.