Auditions for Emotion-Provoking Play "Laramie" Start Monday

On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a young gay man, was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. This act of brutality and hate shocked the nation.

In "The Laramie Project", a chorus of voices brings to life the thoughts and feelings of the people of Laramie, Wyoming as they react to the murder, which was denounced as a hate crime motivated by homophobia. The play brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming. 

The will be hosting open auditions for "Laramie" on Feb. 6 and 7, 7:30pm at the Little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell. Invitation only callbacks are scheduled for Feb. 9, 7:30pm.

"Laramie" was created by company members of Tectonic Theatre Project and director Moisés Kaufman, who spent a year conducting hundreds of interviews with the town's affected citizens. Out of those candid interviews, company members’ own journal entries and published news reports comes this play—a riveting, deeply moving and inspiring theatre event. 

When it first came out in 1998 it was the most produced play in America, both by regional theaters and at colleges and universities. It was also an international success, and made into a film, produced by HBO.

All actors will be playing multiple roles so those auditioning should be prepared to read from the script for numerous characters at the auditions. The cast will consist of 8 to 12 actors, age range early 20’s to mid 50’s.

Rehearsals begin in March for the two-performance only production. "Laramie" will be performed on May 19, 2pm and May 20, 7pm.

For more information, contact BC Players director Alyson Cohn of Wyckoff at alyson425@aol.com or visit www.bcplayers.org.