Apple Valley Theater Students Take on Tough Subject in 'The Laramie Project'

Apple Valley High School theater students take on tough subject matter this weekend, as they perform their winter play, The Laramie Project. (Check out a photo gallery from rehearsal published online by Thisweek newspapers.)

The Laramie Project was created after the torture and murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, WY, in 1998; discussion during the trial pointed to the act as a hate crime, because Shepard was gay.

The play, though, was created based on a series of interviews and journal entries that members of the Tectonic Theater Project collected from the people in Laramie after the incident. The material became a thought-provoking collection of reactions to what had happened.

More than 30 million people have since seen The Laramie Project, according to the Tectonic Theater Project.

Since 1998, hate-crime legislation was introduced several times at the state and federal levels. In 2009, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Shepard's parents also started the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which aims to "erase hate" in society.

If You Go:

What: The Laramie Project at

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Apple Valley High School theater

Price: $7 for adults; $5 for students and seniors

Box office is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week, and opens one hour prior to showtime. Call 952-431-8208 for more information.

Note: This play is intended for mature audiences.