Hailed by Time Magazine as one of the Top Ten Plays of the Year 2000, THE LARAMIE PROJECT is a thought provoking, critically acclaimed and emotionally
riveting theatre experience of a small town at the epicenter of an incomprehensible crime. It has been called an OUR TOWN for the new millennium. New York Magazine hailed THE LARAMIE PROJECT as "Nothing short of stunning!"

Directed by Todd Brooks
Assistant Director: Jan Reardon

SNAP! PRODUCTIONS IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE OMAHA PREMIERE OF

THE LARAMIE PROJECT
BY MOISES KAUFMAN and the members of Tectonic Theater Project

In October 1998 a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, and others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of their reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences. THE LARAMIE PROJECT is a breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink, and the heights of compassion we are also capable of.

Director Todd Brooks comments, "Moises has written a play that weaves the attitudes and social consciousness of the residents of Laramie into a tapestry of the effects a tragedy can have on any community. He pulls out not only the black and white values, but every shade of gray in between. He makes us sit back and realize that this could happen anywhere and see ourselves in the residents of the city.""

Norm Filbert, who plays Rev. Fred Phelps, comments on why he was attracted to this play. " I have always enjoyed working with SNAP/Shelterbelt and wanted to work with Todd. The subject material is tremendously important and this 'honest' story needs to be told as thoroughly and as widely as possible."

When asked how he could justify playing an anti gay supporter, Mr. Filbert responds "The harder the character, the more fun it is for an actor to try to recreate him. I have absolutely NO empathy for Phelps, but am trying to find SOME redeeming quality about him. I think pure insanity is the key spine of the character for someone who apparently honestly believes in his own righteousness. I can't justify the character and I guess we'll ultimately see if I can justify if not glorify him for the audience."

The cast includes John Carlson, Rod Carlson, Derrick Crawford, Rose Daugherty, Tim Daugherty, Kerri Drake, Cody Enicke, Jerry Evert, Alex Fowler, Connie Fowler, Scott Fowler, Norm Filbert, Jennifer Gilg, Aaron Hardwick, Scott Jackman, Joy Jacob, Denny Maddux, Leon Martin, Jim Palmer, Michael Poyner, Jonathan Purcell, Barb Ross, Daena Schweiger, Christine Schwery, and Debbie Zadina

The production staff includes Todd Brooks (Director), Jan Reardon (Assistant

Director), James Tobey (Audio/Visual Team Director), Ernie Gubbels

(Lighting), Rhonda Hall (Props), Travis Halsey (Costumes), Liz Heim (Producer), and Tom Hinchey (Set Construction).

Performances will run August 29 - September 22 Thursday through Saturday at 8:00pm, Sundays at 6:00pm. Ticket prices are $15 for adults ($10 for Students and Seniors). For tickets, call the Box Office at 402-341-2757 or click her to purchase tickets