The School of Theatre performed their first Mainstage production of the semester, “The Laramie Project,” by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project. The show explores society’s reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.
The performances were at 8 p.m Feb. 6, 7 and 8 and at 2 p.m Feb. 8 and 9 in Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center.
Mikel Kendrick, acting sophomore, plays a conservative “Baptist Minister” preaching to his congregation. 
Andrew Lewis, acting junior, speaks to the audience as “Jon Peacock,” Matthew Shepard’s college advisor. Avery Bruce, acting sophomore, looks on. 
Julian Ibarra, acting sophomore, delivers a media statement of “Rulon Stacey,” the CEO of Poudre Valley Hospital where Matthew Shepard was treated. 
Kaylila Pasha, acting junior, portrays “Zubaida Ula,” a University of Wyoming student. Pasha attends the candlelight vigil for Matthew Shepard organized by members of the Laramie Community, portrayed by the rest of the cast. 
Ibarra portrays “Shannon,” and Bailey Huerta, acting senior, portrays “Jen.” Both characters were friends of Aaron MicKinney, one of Matthew Shepard’s murderers. 
Bo Harris, acting senior portraying “Father Roger Shmit,” comforts “Leigh Fondakowski,” portrayed by Kaiden Maines, acting senior. Fondakowski was a member of the Tectonic Theatre Project and the head writer of “The Laramie Project.” 
Joe Bonfiglio, acting senior, speaks to the audience as “Doc O’Connor” as the other members of the company attend Matthew Shepard’s funeral. 
The cast recreates the scene of angel protestors at Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Sympathetic members of the Laramie community, led by “Romaine Patterson,” created angel wings to block out the hate speech of Westboro Baptist Church leader “Rev. Fred Phelps,” who attended Matthew Shepard’s funeral to protest it. 
Shelby Parker, theatre and performance sophomore, portrays “Marge Murray,” the mother of the lead policewoman in the Matthew Shepard case. 
Kendrick, portraying “Rob DeBree,” gets a confession from Cameron Law, acting junior portraying “Aaron McKinney.” 
Maines speaks to the audience during the trial of Aaron McKinney. 
Bonfiglio imagines what Matthew Shepard’s final moments were like. 
The cast gazes into the clear Wyoming sky, the last sight of Matthew Shepard, to close the play.
Photo credit: Hannah Campbell
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