The Otterbein University Department of Theatre & Dance is taking on a deeply complex study of a tragedy that impacted a community, a nation, and a generation of young adults 27 years – but remains as relevant as ever today.

“The Laramie Project” is a moving drama of how one community comes to terms with the tragic injustice that has unfolded in their midst in their very own words. In October 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, beaten, and left to die tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside of Laramie, Wyoming – murdered because he was gay.  

In the aftermath of the tragedy and during the trial that followed, Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theatre Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half, conducting more than 200 interviews with community members to create this breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink, and the heights of compassion we can also reach. 

Otterbein’s production of “The Laramie Project” will run from Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 27-March 1 in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville.

Tickets cost $22. Call 614-823-1109 or visit www.otterbein.edu/drama. The box office is open 12-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and one hour prior to performances. It is located in Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. Student Rush discounts are available one hour prior to curtain, pending ticket availability. All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and all matinees at 2 p.m.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

All performances in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. 

Thursday, Feb.20, 7:30 p.m.                                                                                 

Friday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m.   

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2 p.m. 

Thursday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m.                                                                                       

Friday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.   

Saturday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.

PRODUCTION TEAM 

Directed by: Jessie Glover  

Scenic Design by: Natalie Neville  

Costume Design by: Anna Grywalski   

Lighting Design by: Paige Vick  

Sound Design by: Nik Engelhart  

Stage Managed by: Adrian Casto 

Production Photography by: Isaac Ramsey

CAST LIST

Each cast member plays multiple roles, combined into tracks as prescribed by the text.

Track 1: Naomi Eason  

Track 2: Quinn Seevers  

Track 3: Nathan Frewen  

Track 4: Anna Byers  

Track 5: LaBron Foy  

Track 6: Sammi Robinson  

Track 7: Simone Gelety   

Track 8: Kate Maree Brewer  

Track 9: Tenley Stitzer  

Track 10: Nora Shearer  

Swings:  

Tracks 1, 3, 7: Aidan Heddle  

Tracks 2, 4, 5: Calvin Freshour  

Tracks 6, 9: Katelyn Miller  

Tracks 8, 10: Kate Quinn