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The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later
On October 7, 1998, a young gay man was discovered bound to a fence outside Laramie, Wyoming, savagely beaten and left to die in an act of brutality and hate that shocked the nation. Matthew Shepard’s death became a national symbol of intolerance, but for the people of the town, the event was deeply personal. In the aftermath, Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie and conducted more than 200 interviews with its people. From the transcripts, the playwrights constructed an extraordinary chronicle of life in the town after the murder. Since its premiere, The Laramie Project has become a modern classic and one of the most-performed theater pieces in America.
Now, in this expanded edition, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later adds an essential sequel to the original work. Revisiting the town a decade after the tragedy, the troupe finds a community grappling with its legacy and its place in history. The two plays together comprise an epic and deeply moving theatrical cycle that explores the life of an American town over the course a decade.
Now, in this expanded edition, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later adds an essential sequel to the original work. Revisiting the town a decade after the tragedy, the troupe finds a community grappling with its legacy and its place in history. The two plays together comprise an epic and deeply moving theatrical cycle that explores the life of an American town over the course a decade.
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
72 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Moisés Kaufman
21 books37 followersMoisés Kaufman (born November 21, 1963) is a playwright, director and founder of Tectonic Theater Project. He is best known for writing The Laramie Project with other members of Tectonic Theater Project. He is also the author of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and 33 Variations. He was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to New York City in 1987.
Kaufman is of Romanian and Ukrainian Jewish descent. He described himself in an interview by saying "I am Venezuelan, I am Jewish, I am gay, I live in New York. I am the sum of all my cultures. I couldn’t write anything that didn’t incorporate all that I am."
Kaufman was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2002. He made his Broadway directing debut in the 2004 production of I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play.
(from Wikipedia)
Kaufman is of Romanian and Ukrainian Jewish descent. He described himself in an interview by saying "I am Venezuelan, I am Jewish, I am gay, I live in New York. I am the sum of all my cultures. I couldn’t write anything that didn’t incorporate all that I am."
Kaufman was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2002. He made his Broadway directing debut in the 2004 production of I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
February 18, 2024
a confronting but essential verbatim play composed of interviews with more than 200 citizens of laramie, wyoming, who reflect on the tragic death of matthew shepard in 1998- a brutal hate crime which shocked america.
‘the laramie project’ brilliantly blends history and theatre in a way that honours mathew’s life as well as the stories and perspectives of the entire community. it has a careful compassion that encompasses all the rawness and messiness of opinion, and there is so much diversity & humanity in this portrait of community which is filled with anger, heartbreak and hope. deeply moving & powerful.
‘the laramie project’ brilliantly blends history and theatre in a way that honours mathew’s life as well as the stories and perspectives of the entire community. it has a careful compassion that encompasses all the rawness and messiness of opinion, and there is so much diversity & humanity in this portrait of community which is filled with anger, heartbreak and hope. deeply moving & powerful.
August 3, 2017
I was not emotionally ready. After rereading Laramie Project, then watching the Laramie film, I forgot my plan to read something light to make me feel better and instead read Ten Years Later. Now it's almost eighteen years later and most people, including me, wouldn't know anything about Matthew Shepard if it weren't for this play and I'm emotional and sad.
November 1, 2022
3.5/5 stars
I haven't read a play in this format before but I really liked it. I was surprised by how interesting and fast paced it was. I like how they included the interviews ten years after the death. It was nice to see how Laramie and its community changed and how it didn't. I remember hearing about Matthew Shepard when I was younger but I never knew the details of his death until now. I recommend this book for everyone and especially if you like reading nonfiction with LGBTQ+ themes and topics.
I haven't read a play in this format before but I really liked it. I was surprised by how interesting and fast paced it was. I like how they included the interviews ten years after the death. It was nice to see how Laramie and its community changed and how it didn't. I remember hearing about Matthew Shepard when I was younger but I never knew the details of his death until now. I recommend this book for everyone and especially if you like reading nonfiction with LGBTQ+ themes and topics.
July 17, 2023
somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.
part ii did not need to be a whole play.
part ii did not need to be a whole play.
May 11, 2022
i guess i feel obligated to write this review considering that there was a random woman outside my high school protesting the fact that the students in english 10 are reading this script rn.
i was in the winter blackbox play at my school, and we did the laramie project. all members of the cast played different characters (which is the way that the script is set up), and i was able to have the honor of playing characters like father roger schmit and rulon stacey. and let me tell you: i don’t think i’ve ever felt more connected to two random, old white men.
the laramie project is a must-read play. i think we all need to try to hear the words of the laramie residents following matthew shepard’s murder at least once in our miserable lives. the information is presented in an emotional, intense way that shapes the town of laramie into a character itself.
the play does feature people with some pretty deplorable opinions, but everyone is written into the play compassionately. as a queer person reading the play, characters that may not “support the lifestyle” of the lgbt community are still shown as real people who mainly only think those kinds of things as a result of living in the small, widely christian town of laramie.
schools need to do plays like the laramie project. matthew shepard’s death was a hate crime and deserves to be treated as such. it’s a difficult play to digest, but it deserves to stay in the curriculum, it deserves to stay as an option for our school plays, and matt’s story deserves to be heard.
i was in the winter blackbox play at my school, and we did the laramie project. all members of the cast played different characters (which is the way that the script is set up), and i was able to have the honor of playing characters like father roger schmit and rulon stacey. and let me tell you: i don’t think i’ve ever felt more connected to two random, old white men.
the laramie project is a must-read play. i think we all need to try to hear the words of the laramie residents following matthew shepard’s murder at least once in our miserable lives. the information is presented in an emotional, intense way that shapes the town of laramie into a character itself.
the play does feature people with some pretty deplorable opinions, but everyone is written into the play compassionately. as a queer person reading the play, characters that may not “support the lifestyle” of the lgbt community are still shown as real people who mainly only think those kinds of things as a result of living in the small, widely christian town of laramie.
schools need to do plays like the laramie project. matthew shepard’s death was a hate crime and deserves to be treated as such. it’s a difficult play to digest, but it deserves to stay in the curriculum, it deserves to stay as an option for our school plays, and matt’s story deserves to be heard.
September 21, 2024
"Go home, give your kids a hug, and don't let a day go by without telling them that you love them."
On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepherd, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, left a bar with two men: Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Eighteen hours later, he was discovered at the edge of town, tied to a fence post, brutally beaten, robbed, and close to death. Six days later, Matthew died.
The Laramie Project, and its companion piece The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, chronicles how a community comes to terms with hate.
Passing into Wyoming from the northern border of Colorado, the Wyoming welcome sign reads, "WYOMING - LIKE NO PLACE ON EARTH." It does not say "Wyoming - like no place ELSE on Earth." Make no mistake, Laramie is real place, the murder of Matthew Shepherd was a real crime, and real hatred can live just about anywhere - even in the town we call home.
Wyoming is cowboy country. Many in its community will tell you that Laramie is "live and let live," that most in town don't give a damn about how others live their lives so long as it doesn't disrupt their own. So, when a man is murdered because he's a homosexual, the community grapples with the communal position that "we're not that kind of town," when something so heinous can, and did, happen within its bounds.
An act of hatred does not define a community. What defines it is how they talk about it, what they learn from it, and what actions they take to prevent it from happening again.
For Laramie, it's a pretty mixed bag.
Ten years later, its residents question whether it was a hate crime at all (fact check: it was) or whether it should be whitewashed by rumor or folklorian takes of it being drug-related or a burglary gone awry. Others don't want to talk about it any longer and, instead, move on. There are even subscribers to the local newspaper that ask the paper to hold the week's edition which reports on the anniversary of Shepherd's murder - shutting their eyes, closing their ears, and willing it to simply go away.
Ten years later, the following also happened:
(1) The first openly gay representative was elected to Wyoming's legislature.
(2) The University of Wyoming enacted benefits for domestic partners.
(3) A proposed amendment to Wyoming's Constitution defining marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman failed 35-to-25, with several conservative Republicans voting against it.
(4) The "Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" was signed into federal law.
The Laramie Project is a profound and powerful read. In many ways, it is the In Cold Blood of our times, and it's required reading.
5 out of 5
On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepherd, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, left a bar with two men: Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Eighteen hours later, he was discovered at the edge of town, tied to a fence post, brutally beaten, robbed, and close to death. Six days later, Matthew died.
The Laramie Project, and its companion piece The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, chronicles how a community comes to terms with hate.
Passing into Wyoming from the northern border of Colorado, the Wyoming welcome sign reads, "WYOMING - LIKE NO PLACE ON EARTH." It does not say "Wyoming - like no place ELSE on Earth." Make no mistake, Laramie is real place, the murder of Matthew Shepherd was a real crime, and real hatred can live just about anywhere - even in the town we call home.
Wyoming is cowboy country. Many in its community will tell you that Laramie is "live and let live," that most in town don't give a damn about how others live their lives so long as it doesn't disrupt their own. So, when a man is murdered because he's a homosexual, the community grapples with the communal position that "we're not that kind of town," when something so heinous can, and did, happen within its bounds.
An act of hatred does not define a community. What defines it is how they talk about it, what they learn from it, and what actions they take to prevent it from happening again.
For Laramie, it's a pretty mixed bag.
Ten years later, its residents question whether it was a hate crime at all (fact check: it was) or whether it should be whitewashed by rumor or folklorian takes of it being drug-related or a burglary gone awry. Others don't want to talk about it any longer and, instead, move on. There are even subscribers to the local newspaper that ask the paper to hold the week's edition which reports on the anniversary of Shepherd's murder - shutting their eyes, closing their ears, and willing it to simply go away.
Ten years later, the following also happened:
(1) The first openly gay representative was elected to Wyoming's legislature.
(2) The University of Wyoming enacted benefits for domestic partners.
(3) A proposed amendment to Wyoming's Constitution defining marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman failed 35-to-25, with several conservative Republicans voting against it.
(4) The "Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" was signed into federal law.
The Laramie Project is a profound and powerful read. In many ways, it is the In Cold Blood of our times, and it's required reading.
5 out of 5
November 7, 2022
Cayla: I agree—I think that the “10 Years Later” part of this book is really impactful and I’m glad I read it. A very powerful story. I’m also glad that this is a required English book for Kent: it’s a story that needs to be heard. I might add some more thoughts later… just digesting it all right now.
June 1, 2020
A really real look into hate crimes in America and the slow pace of change (and too often, no change). Loved the ethnographic quotes that preserved the dignity, opinions, and reality of Wyoming citizens. Would love to see a response another 10 years down the line. Book 15 of quarantine.
March 9, 2015
Wow, I would love to see these plays performed.
The Laramie Project is a play created by the Tectonic Theater Project based on their interviews of over 200 Laramie citizens after the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. The play is performed by a small cast who use small props to help define their switch in characters. The stage design is meant to be a simple performance space. This minimalist design puts all the focus on the words being spoken which are all direct quotes taken from the interviews (as well as the reflections of the Tectonic members during their time in Laramie).
The second play The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later follows the same performance format and is based on the interviews the group conducted when they returned to Laramie 10 years after Shepard's murder. The crime was detailed extensively in national media and became the foundation for federal legislation against hate crimes. It's shocking then that the interviews revealed a very different legacy in Laramie. Rumors and reactions to a 20/20 episode led to many Laramie residents and transplants viewing Shepard's murder as a drug-induced robbery gone wrong rather than a hate crime against a gay man. The theater members were quite stunned how many people remained ignorant to or ignored the facts of the crime that were presented and made public during the trail of the two murders. The second play also includes interviews with the convicted killers at a prison in Virginia.
Reading the tow plays together is both moving and frustrating. It's encouraging to see the individuals whose lives have been changed for the better over the decade between the plays, but many people's ignorance and faith in the media is especially infuriating. I appreciate the effort of the Tectonic Theater Group in conducting all these interviews and then putting them in a format for others to hear. The plays do paint a portrait of a small American town while also raising issues relevant to the whole country (well, and world). I would definitely use this text in reading and conversation classes with teens. There are many complex opinions to unpack and discuss.
The Laramie Project is a play created by the Tectonic Theater Project based on their interviews of over 200 Laramie citizens after the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. The play is performed by a small cast who use small props to help define their switch in characters. The stage design is meant to be a simple performance space. This minimalist design puts all the focus on the words being spoken which are all direct quotes taken from the interviews (as well as the reflections of the Tectonic members during their time in Laramie).
The second play The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later follows the same performance format and is based on the interviews the group conducted when they returned to Laramie 10 years after Shepard's murder. The crime was detailed extensively in national media and became the foundation for federal legislation against hate crimes. It's shocking then that the interviews revealed a very different legacy in Laramie. Rumors and reactions to a 20/20 episode led to many Laramie residents and transplants viewing Shepard's murder as a drug-induced robbery gone wrong rather than a hate crime against a gay man. The theater members were quite stunned how many people remained ignorant to or ignored the facts of the crime that were presented and made public during the trail of the two murders. The second play also includes interviews with the convicted killers at a prison in Virginia.
Reading the tow plays together is both moving and frustrating. It's encouraging to see the individuals whose lives have been changed for the better over the decade between the plays, but many people's ignorance and faith in the media is especially infuriating. I appreciate the effort of the Tectonic Theater Group in conducting all these interviews and then putting them in a format for others to hear. The plays do paint a portrait of a small American town while also raising issues relevant to the whole country (well, and world). I would definitely use this text in reading and conversation classes with teens. There are many complex opinions to unpack and discuss.
January 8, 2015
I don't want to comment too much on this play, considering it is based on actual events and real interviews.
I found this play moving and appalling at the same time. It was great to see that some people learned a lesson from such a tragic circumstance, yet the way the story has changed over the years and became more about a drug deal. Also, the people saying that Matthew pretty much deserved it because he hit on the guys. Some people just don't get it. So, while some of the quotes are hard to digest, when reading this play the thing to remember is that this is based on actual interviews and some people are just that bigoted. It was hard for me to get past that at first but then I came to the realization that this idea was what the play was pretty much trying to get across.
Anyway, I suggest reading this play! It'll give you a new insight into things.
I found this play moving and appalling at the same time. It was great to see that some people learned a lesson from such a tragic circumstance, yet the way the story has changed over the years and became more about a drug deal. Also, the people saying that Matthew pretty much deserved it because he hit on the guys. Some people just don't get it. So, while some of the quotes are hard to digest, when reading this play the thing to remember is that this is based on actual interviews and some people are just that bigoted. It was hard for me to get past that at first but then I came to the realization that this idea was what the play was pretty much trying to get across.
Anyway, I suggest reading this play! It'll give you a new insight into things.
October 21, 2018
My star rating is an average of the two plays, which seemed only fair because they’re separate works presented jointly.
The Laramie Project itself is a devastatingly beautiful piece that I needed to put down several times because my heart was clenched and tears were in my eyes. Because the dialogue is all direct quotes, it’s stark and simple but still contains multitudes. I would love to see this piece performed live. 5 stars, easily.
10 Years Later, in contrast, doesn’t inspire such a visceral reaction. As a concept, returning to Laramie and seeing how things have changed is wonderful but it falls flat in execution. Life doesn’t always create perfect narratives. People want to excuse Matthew Shepard’s murder, policy change is promised but falls flat, the new generation is apathetic if best. The only reason I finished 10 Years Later is because I enjoyed its predecessor so much. 2 stars, generously.
The Laramie Project itself is a devastatingly beautiful piece that I needed to put down several times because my heart was clenched and tears were in my eyes. Because the dialogue is all direct quotes, it’s stark and simple but still contains multitudes. I would love to see this piece performed live. 5 stars, easily.
10 Years Later, in contrast, doesn’t inspire such a visceral reaction. As a concept, returning to Laramie and seeing how things have changed is wonderful but it falls flat in execution. Life doesn’t always create perfect narratives. People want to excuse Matthew Shepard’s murder, policy change is promised but falls flat, the new generation is apathetic if best. The only reason I finished 10 Years Later is because I enjoyed its predecessor so much. 2 stars, generously.
May 27, 2020
I only read the first play it was what was assigned for a class. It was very emotional to read how two guys would do that to a gay man, the guy went to far with his self defense. This play had a lot of emotions from different characters towards the situation with Matthew. There were different perspectives. There were different themes in this first play that were tolerance, acceptance, justice, mercy and homophobia. Laramie was a town that was religious and the many different perspectives come from it. I would towards the second play because I'm intrigued on how perspectives have change or how people see the town is as a symbol like every other place or as a unique place?
August 24, 2021
Brandon's Review:
I first saw the Laramie Project performed many years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. This June, I was putting together a Pride Month Display for my library and remembered this play. We didn’t have it in our collection at the time, so I recommended it and then put it down as a ‘to be read’ book. Now, a few months later, I have been riveted and shaken by this powerful play yet again.
The format of the play is incredibly striking, a collection of snapshots taken from the town of Laramie in the aftermath of Matt Shephard’s murder. It can be a bit disorienting at first, as there are so many characters and so much info being thrown at you. However, soon you will find a groove and the play begins to flow.
There’s a lot to be gained from this play. You get a glimpse into the mind of rural America, as the small town of Laramie grapples with homophobia, hate, and healing. With the addition of the “10 Years Later” you also get to see how Laramie has dealt with their history, how they’ve attempted to rewrite history to alleviate their pain and guilt.
While it does not hit as hard as a live performance, the book is still incredibly heart-wrenching and a uniquely beautiful experience.
I first saw the Laramie Project performed many years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. This June, I was putting together a Pride Month Display for my library and remembered this play. We didn’t have it in our collection at the time, so I recommended it and then put it down as a ‘to be read’ book. Now, a few months later, I have been riveted and shaken by this powerful play yet again.
The format of the play is incredibly striking, a collection of snapshots taken from the town of Laramie in the aftermath of Matt Shephard’s murder. It can be a bit disorienting at first, as there are so many characters and so much info being thrown at you. However, soon you will find a groove and the play begins to flow.
There’s a lot to be gained from this play. You get a glimpse into the mind of rural America, as the small town of Laramie grapples with homophobia, hate, and healing. With the addition of the “10 Years Later” you also get to see how Laramie has dealt with their history, how they’ve attempted to rewrite history to alleviate their pain and guilt.
While it does not hit as hard as a live performance, the book is still incredibly heart-wrenching and a uniquely beautiful experience.
May 26, 2020
Although I only read the first part of the book, which was mainly about the background of the town and the inciden, I am really intrigued in the book. I am certainly going to continue reading it. I certainly like how you can see the different perspectives between the different people who were interviewed.
November 11, 2018
I’d forgotten how spectacular this play is, and the 10 Years Later addition makes it even better.
Read
November 12, 2022heartbreaking. the fact that I did not know about any of this before reading the book shows the importance of keeping the story alive across generations. everyone I highly recommend reading the 10 years later. 😭💔
October 10, 2019
Using this as a stand in for the 'Ten Years After' due to my desire to retain my original date added stats.
December 27, 2023
Reading this was a whole lot in every single way. It made me real emotional in ways I both expected and didn't, but it was masterfully done. I'd love to see it in actual play version at some point in my life. I'm glad I read the 10 years later version too, because that was revelatory. Especially in the folklore sense of how rumors about terrible small town events morph and change over the years.
*
If that's where you want to live, do it. I mean, imagine if more gay people stayed in small towns.
Unitarians are by and large humanists, many of whom are atheists. I mean - we're, you know, we're not even sure we're a religion.
Like people say things to me like "Why do you wear that thing on your head? Like when I go to the grocery store, I'm not looking to give people Islam 101, you know what I mean? So I'll be like, We'll it's a part of my religion and they'll be like - this is the worst part 'cause they're like, "I know it's part of your religion, but why?" And it's - how am I supposed to go into the whole doctrine of physical modesty and my own spiritual relationship with the Lord, standing there with my pop and chips? You know what I mean?
My secret hope was that they were from somewhere else that then of course you can create that distance. We don't grow children like that here. Well, it's pretty clear that we do grow children like that here.
"When we got to the Albany Country Courthouse, Fred Phelps was already there." "But so was Romaine Peterson."
Yeah, this twenty one year old little lesbian is ready to walk the line with him.
Aaron McKinney: He is gonna die for sure?
Rob Debree: There is no doubt that Mr. Shepard is going to die.
May you live a long life, and may you thank Matthew every day for it.
Greg Pierotti: Well, Aaron, you brutally murdered her son.
Aaron McKinney: (Conceding) Yeah, I know.
*
If that's where you want to live, do it. I mean, imagine if more gay people stayed in small towns.
Unitarians are by and large humanists, many of whom are atheists. I mean - we're, you know, we're not even sure we're a religion.
Like people say things to me like "Why do you wear that thing on your head? Like when I go to the grocery store, I'm not looking to give people Islam 101, you know what I mean? So I'll be like, We'll it's a part of my religion and they'll be like - this is the worst part 'cause they're like, "I know it's part of your religion, but why?" And it's - how am I supposed to go into the whole doctrine of physical modesty and my own spiritual relationship with the Lord, standing there with my pop and chips? You know what I mean?
My secret hope was that they were from somewhere else that then of course you can create that distance. We don't grow children like that here. Well, it's pretty clear that we do grow children like that here.
"When we got to the Albany Country Courthouse, Fred Phelps was already there." "But so was Romaine Peterson."
Yeah, this twenty one year old little lesbian is ready to walk the line with him.
Aaron McKinney: He is gonna die for sure?
Rob Debree: There is no doubt that Mr. Shepard is going to die.
May you live a long life, and may you thank Matthew every day for it.
Greg Pierotti: Well, Aaron, you brutally murdered her son.
Aaron McKinney: (Conceding) Yeah, I know.
June 27, 2014
I remember hearing parts of this play performed as a duo at speech competitions in high school, but it wasn't until now that I read the entirety of the two plays. Absolutely a powerful read. It will be fascinating to see how my first year college students react to this text. It's about so much more than a hate crime...it's about how communities identify themselves and how they react in conjunction with a tragedy. A very interesting portrait of an American community.
September 25, 2016
3.5, bumping it up to 4.
April 15, 2021
Outstanding. I don’t often read plays. Prefer to see them. Everyone should read these both if they can’t see them performed.
December 18, 2023
just going to copy and paste the unnecessary essay I wrote bc it has to do something
The Laramie Project details the horrific true story about the murder of Matthew Shepard. Fueled by hate, two Wyoming natives beat him to a pulp, tied him to a fence, and left him there to die. This tragic story is told through the lens of outsiders who traveled from New York City to Wyoming for the sole purpose of interviewing those who lived in Laramie at the time. Members of the Tectonic Theater Project wanted to investigate the story of Matthew and the murder while creating a play conveying everyone who lives in Laramie’s story and their perspective on the events that unfolded. They interviewed a variety of people asking their opinions on it, and the results were a mixed bag. When asked, most people responded in a homophobic manner, commenting on how they would not want it to be “forced upon them” or just outright that all homosexuals were going to hell. However, this tragedy ended up causing national outrage and support for Matthew, even while his fate hung in the air. This brought the town of Laramie, Wyoming into a new era of being known as the town where a heinous hate crime against Matthew Shepard was committed, and they were not prepared for the aftermath. This play shows the effect of Matthew’s death not only in Laramie, but all across America.
I cannot say that this play was a joy to read. In fact, it was a heartbreaking play that made me terribly sad. In this play, they described the crime so vividly with the injuries and the story that it was just awful to read and it was made worse by the fact that we know that this was a real event. The Tectonic Theater Project is a real company. Matthew Shepard was a person who had his life ended just because of the way he was. It’s terrible. At the same time, I read the whole thing in one sitting. It was not a joy to read, but it was intriguing, hearing the perspectives of all of the residents and the people’s opinions on how the trial ended and why this would occur in Laramie. I was moved by this play, but also horrified. A lot of emotions came from watching this. However, I feel like it should not have been a play, but rather an actual documentary. Hearing about The Laramie Project was the first time I’d ever heard of documentary theater, but this is such a delicate subject matter that I feel should have been recorded from the actual people instead of people acting as those who were close to Matthew, or at least knew of him. Nevertheless, it was a great play and invoked emotions of anger and melancholy for the tragedy that occurred in Laramie like it was meant to. And most of all, it told Matthew’s journey.
The Laramie Project details the horrific true story about the murder of Matthew Shepard. Fueled by hate, two Wyoming natives beat him to a pulp, tied him to a fence, and left him there to die. This tragic story is told through the lens of outsiders who traveled from New York City to Wyoming for the sole purpose of interviewing those who lived in Laramie at the time. Members of the Tectonic Theater Project wanted to investigate the story of Matthew and the murder while creating a play conveying everyone who lives in Laramie’s story and their perspective on the events that unfolded. They interviewed a variety of people asking their opinions on it, and the results were a mixed bag. When asked, most people responded in a homophobic manner, commenting on how they would not want it to be “forced upon them” or just outright that all homosexuals were going to hell. However, this tragedy ended up causing national outrage and support for Matthew, even while his fate hung in the air. This brought the town of Laramie, Wyoming into a new era of being known as the town where a heinous hate crime against Matthew Shepard was committed, and they were not prepared for the aftermath. This play shows the effect of Matthew’s death not only in Laramie, but all across America.
I cannot say that this play was a joy to read. In fact, it was a heartbreaking play that made me terribly sad. In this play, they described the crime so vividly with the injuries and the story that it was just awful to read and it was made worse by the fact that we know that this was a real event. The Tectonic Theater Project is a real company. Matthew Shepard was a person who had his life ended just because of the way he was. It’s terrible. At the same time, I read the whole thing in one sitting. It was not a joy to read, but it was intriguing, hearing the perspectives of all of the residents and the people’s opinions on how the trial ended and why this would occur in Laramie. I was moved by this play, but also horrified. A lot of emotions came from watching this. However, I feel like it should not have been a play, but rather an actual documentary. Hearing about The Laramie Project was the first time I’d ever heard of documentary theater, but this is such a delicate subject matter that I feel should have been recorded from the actual people instead of people acting as those who were close to Matthew, or at least knew of him. Nevertheless, it was a great play and invoked emotions of anger and melancholy for the tragedy that occurred in Laramie like it was meant to. And most of all, it told Matthew’s journey.
July 24, 2025
This is my 5 star review of The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later by Moises Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project.
In 1998, Matthew Shepard was murdered in a gay bashing that shocked America and began a dialogue that changed how we talk about hate crimes. Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project interviewed citizens of Laramie, Wyoming and wrote a play dramatizing these interviews and giving the world a view of a small town in turmoil. Then, 10 years later, they returned and found a town that had simultaneously changed for the better and yet remained mired in a past that holds them.
This is a non-fiction play, a piece of history told in "moments," a style originated by Tectonic. To say the interviews are brutal is not to say the Project set out to ridicule anyone. I found them honest and even kind as they drew out stories of the people, who they are, how they knew Matthew, and how his death changed them. The first play happens in the immediate aftermath of the murder, while everything is raw and honest. The second play lays bare that people created myths to protect themselves from accepting that this was indeed a hate crime done by people they knew.
All editorializing about the current political state of the U.S. aside, this play is harder to read than it's length should make it. Casual homophobia from citizens, unapologetic use of slurs, and, especially in the second play, complete revision of history by the people of Laramie (with the help of the American media) give these plays a timeless feeling. I'm almost certain the same story could be told after Pulse, for example.
Because this is non-fiction drama, none of my rubrics apply. I will just use this:
Emma Recommends: 10/10.
This is a masterpiece of modern American drama. It is a brilliant example of taking a story and giving it life within tragedy. I can also recommend going to YouTube and finding one of the many recorded performances. I find the high school productions more moving and their emotions more authentic. The Tectonic Theater Project deserves so much credit for giving telling these stories and keeping the memory of Matthew's life and death fresh.
In 1998, Matthew Shepard was murdered in a gay bashing that shocked America and began a dialogue that changed how we talk about hate crimes. Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project interviewed citizens of Laramie, Wyoming and wrote a play dramatizing these interviews and giving the world a view of a small town in turmoil. Then, 10 years later, they returned and found a town that had simultaneously changed for the better and yet remained mired in a past that holds them.
This is a non-fiction play, a piece of history told in "moments," a style originated by Tectonic. To say the interviews are brutal is not to say the Project set out to ridicule anyone. I found them honest and even kind as they drew out stories of the people, who they are, how they knew Matthew, and how his death changed them. The first play happens in the immediate aftermath of the murder, while everything is raw and honest. The second play lays bare that people created myths to protect themselves from accepting that this was indeed a hate crime done by people they knew.
All editorializing about the current political state of the U.S. aside, this play is harder to read than it's length should make it. Casual homophobia from citizens, unapologetic use of slurs, and, especially in the second play, complete revision of history by the people of Laramie (with the help of the American media) give these plays a timeless feeling. I'm almost certain the same story could be told after Pulse, for example.
Because this is non-fiction drama, none of my rubrics apply. I will just use this:
Emma Recommends: 10/10.
This is a masterpiece of modern American drama. It is a brilliant example of taking a story and giving it life within tragedy. I can also recommend going to YouTube and finding one of the many recorded performances. I find the high school productions more moving and their emotions more authentic. The Tectonic Theater Project deserves so much credit for giving telling these stories and keeping the memory of Matthew's life and death fresh.
June 12, 2023
"JUDY SHEPARD: Here I am at the ten year mark still fighting. I had to adapt so I could keep doing this. Or, the feeling would be that it would all happen in vain! Plus, doing the work was how I coped with losing Matt. I was talking to someone and they said, 'Well don't you think that maybe it's time to let go, don't you think you're keeping Matt alive by doing that?' And I said, 'Of course I'm keeping him alive by doing this! That's the point!'"
The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later is a sequel project to The Laramie Project. For context, it is highly advised that you understand the concept of that book first.
The year is 2008.
The Tectonic Theatre company travels back to Laramie shortly before the 10 year anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder to see how the climate has changed for the better and worse. They conduct their interviews as how they did with the original Laramie Project: verbatim. With an incident that caught international attention, one would think that Laramie would have changed to be much more inclusive to others, but that's not the case. Some citizens in Laramie just want to let go of the murder and act like it had never occurred. Misinformation and rumors about the incident have spread: most notably that the murder wasn't a hate crime, but rather a drug deal gone wrong (it's not) thanks to a biased 20/20 news segment. On top of that is how the younger generation generally knows little to nothing about the gravity of the situation. Another interesting thing to note is that the Tectonic Theatre Company managed to interview both the murderers (Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson) to see how they've reflected in retrospect to the murder of Matthew Shepard. The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later is a stark wake up call for the audience to realize just how slow mandatory change is despite the pushes by others to achieve them, especially when the opposing side cares little before changing things that need to in the first place.
The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later is a sequel project to The Laramie Project. For context, it is highly advised that you understand the concept of that book first.
The year is 2008.
The Tectonic Theatre company travels back to Laramie shortly before the 10 year anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder to see how the climate has changed for the better and worse. They conduct their interviews as how they did with the original Laramie Project: verbatim. With an incident that caught international attention, one would think that Laramie would have changed to be much more inclusive to others, but that's not the case. Some citizens in Laramie just want to let go of the murder and act like it had never occurred. Misinformation and rumors about the incident have spread: most notably that the murder wasn't a hate crime, but rather a drug deal gone wrong (it's not) thanks to a biased 20/20 news segment. On top of that is how the younger generation generally knows little to nothing about the gravity of the situation. Another interesting thing to note is that the Tectonic Theatre Company managed to interview both the murderers (Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson) to see how they've reflected in retrospect to the murder of Matthew Shepard. The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later is a stark wake up call for the audience to realize just how slow mandatory change is despite the pushes by others to achieve them, especially when the opposing side cares little before changing things that need to in the first place.
January 20, 2025
this was such a cool approach to playwriting, asking if theatre can respond to and address sociopolitical issues. i loved the ethnographic elements applied in interviewing, the raw tensions and conflicting beliefs of what their town was and how it grew people like Aaron and Russell.
i was flabbergasted but not entirely surprised by the entrenched denial and almost erosion in memory in the "10 years later". the tearing down of the fence, the ways the university hasn't helped memorialize him and incoming freshman either know nothing or believe he was murdered due to a drug op or robbery gone bad. all of it is MADDENING. the American public has a deep issue with homophobia that it continues to shove under the wrong and excuse due to religion and the Bible. the term "Biblicist" is so maddening to me but there are genuinely people who believe word for word what the Bible says.
this was also such an interesting presentation of the ways the judiciary system intentionally poses neighbors against neighbors and doesn't effectively provide justice or rehabilitation for offenders.
reading about how jurors who had grown up with Russell had to answer IN FRONT OF HIM that theyd be willing to sentence him to death was a different sort of fucked up. i was moved to tears cause i cannot imagine watching people i knew say they'd be more than okay with sentencing me to date.
i sobbed reading parts of this, especially when Dennis Shephard petitioned the judge against the death penalty for Aaron Mckinney and spoke about how his son didn't die alone but was surrounded by his friends -the night sky, the smell of pine, the prairie wind, etc- i mean i just SOBBED.
as a queer person i was deeply moved by this project and reflected on the ways in which i feel my own life is in danger. much has been done to protect the civil rights of queer and trans people but also much has been done to roll those protections back and effectively disparage and dehumanize our community.
i hope the lights are still sparkling and the wind still howls for Matt, wherever his spirit is.
i was flabbergasted but not entirely surprised by the entrenched denial and almost erosion in memory in the "10 years later". the tearing down of the fence, the ways the university hasn't helped memorialize him and incoming freshman either know nothing or believe he was murdered due to a drug op or robbery gone bad. all of it is MADDENING. the American public has a deep issue with homophobia that it continues to shove under the wrong and excuse due to religion and the Bible. the term "Biblicist" is so maddening to me but there are genuinely people who believe word for word what the Bible says.
this was also such an interesting presentation of the ways the judiciary system intentionally poses neighbors against neighbors and doesn't effectively provide justice or rehabilitation for offenders.
reading about how jurors who had grown up with Russell had to answer IN FRONT OF HIM that theyd be willing to sentence him to death was a different sort of fucked up. i was moved to tears cause i cannot imagine watching people i knew say they'd be more than okay with sentencing me to date.
i sobbed reading parts of this, especially when Dennis Shephard petitioned the judge against the death penalty for Aaron Mckinney and spoke about how his son didn't die alone but was surrounded by his friends -the night sky, the smell of pine, the prairie wind, etc- i mean i just SOBBED.
as a queer person i was deeply moved by this project and reflected on the ways in which i feel my own life is in danger. much has been done to protect the civil rights of queer and trans people but also much has been done to roll those protections back and effectively disparage and dehumanize our community.
i hope the lights are still sparkling and the wind still howls for Matt, wherever his spirit is.
June 18, 2025
Wow, the emotional roller coaster of this book (play - actually two plays). I knew the basic facts of Matthew Shephard's murder, but some of the details were new to me. The concept of this play is so odd in some ways - the writers go to Laramie after Matthew's murder to talk to people in the town and get a picture of Laramie itself, also with themselves as characters. I was only a preteen when this happened, but the sense I get was that the media at the time portrayed the town in a very one-dimensional way as a bigoted and homophobic place. The play goes to great lengths to present the exact words said by the people they interview - complete with ums and uhs and grammatical mistakes or awkward sentence structure. What we end up seeing is really a mirror of Laramie.
And it's complicated! There are some people who are very accepting of gay people, some people who really have a change of heart and become accepting, and some people who say some really awful stuff even after Matthew's murder. And this is where I felt like I had emotional whiplash. The story takes us from an older gay man tearing up at the large number of people joining the homecoming parade in support of Matthew to a lady talking about how his murder is getting too much attention and he was probably spreading AIDS. Yeesh!
You also see, to an even greater extent in the second play Ten Years Later, the attempt of the people of Laramie to come up with excuses or alternative false narratives of what happened in order feel more psychologically safe. They don't want to have to confront the part they or their town may have played in creating an environment where this hate crime happened. Ten years after the murder you get the sense that both things have changed and they haven't. People really resist change! But also I realized that even Ten Years Later was now almost 20 years ago. I wonder how things have changed (Obergefell v. Hodges, Matthew's ashes being interred at Washington National Cathedral) and how they have still resisted change (this whole mess with our current government).
And it's complicated! There are some people who are very accepting of gay people, some people who really have a change of heart and become accepting, and some people who say some really awful stuff even after Matthew's murder. And this is where I felt like I had emotional whiplash. The story takes us from an older gay man tearing up at the large number of people joining the homecoming parade in support of Matthew to a lady talking about how his murder is getting too much attention and he was probably spreading AIDS. Yeesh!
You also see, to an even greater extent in the second play Ten Years Later, the attempt of the people of Laramie to come up with excuses or alternative false narratives of what happened in order feel more psychologically safe. They don't want to have to confront the part they or their town may have played in creating an environment where this hate crime happened. Ten years after the murder you get the sense that both things have changed and they haven't. People really resist change! But also I realized that even Ten Years Later was now almost 20 years ago. I wonder how things have changed (Obergefell v. Hodges, Matthew's ashes being interred at Washington National Cathedral) and how they have still resisted change (this whole mess with our current government).
Read
March 24, 2017This. THIS, FRIENDS. I am trying to morph my inarticulate book-waving into an expression of how much this means. As the exploration of a crime, of hate and justice, there is much to be said for these plays. But there is something else here, something unique about people living together and what it means to be a social species. I might even believe there is some some kind of roadmap here for how to write about truly communal trauma. The incidents that mean so much more than their facts, whose facts get forced into new shapes.
I might even say that what Kaufman and the other Laramie Project writers accomplished was a work of genius, considering how the documentary material turned out to be so perfectly suited to a stage play. I see the evidence of their editorial choices and shaping, and the result was masterful, and it clearly struck a chord with theaters all over the country. I've never seen the stage play, but I can just imagine. There are big, wrinkly tears on the print version.
I lived in Laramie for a short time in 2013 and loved pretty much every minute of it. I'd go back in a heartbeat. When I arrived, what I knew about Matthew Shepard could have been exhausted in one sentence, and that was equally true when I left. I've learned enough since then to understand why.
I might even say that what Kaufman and the other Laramie Project writers accomplished was a work of genius, considering how the documentary material turned out to be so perfectly suited to a stage play. I see the evidence of their editorial choices and shaping, and the result was masterful, and it clearly struck a chord with theaters all over the country. I've never seen the stage play, but I can just imagine. There are big, wrinkly tears on the print version.
I lived in Laramie for a short time in 2013 and loved pretty much every minute of it. I'd go back in a heartbeat. When I arrived, what I knew about Matthew Shepard could have been exhausted in one sentence, and that was equally true when I left. I've learned enough since then to understand why.
March 21, 2017
Moises Kaufman's The Laramie Project receives a spot on my top 10 list of plays about social justice alongside Lynn Nottage's Ruined and Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit. It is the play that sparked an international dialogue about hate crimes committed against the LGBTQ community, and it arguably contributed to the passing of 'The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.' It is also a play that has stayed with me since I first saw it performed 15 years ago. The haunting image of a scarecrow boy left for dead on a fence is forever embedded in my memory.
Since Matthew's brutal murder, a lot changed in the small town of Laramie, Wyoming. The fence is now gone and rumors about what really happened the night of his death continue to threaten his legacy. Therefore, I am grateful that Kaufman and his collaborators address the polemical gossip surrounding Matthew and his killers in The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. This crucial companion piece to The Laramie Project acts as an important reminder that two young men robbed and murdered Matthew because he was gay. This is the true story that we must work together to keep alive. We must never forget him or other victims of hate crimes and Kaufman's plays help us accomplish this objective.
Since Matthew's brutal murder, a lot changed in the small town of Laramie, Wyoming. The fence is now gone and rumors about what really happened the night of his death continue to threaten his legacy. Therefore, I am grateful that Kaufman and his collaborators address the polemical gossip surrounding Matthew and his killers in The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. This crucial companion piece to The Laramie Project acts as an important reminder that two young men robbed and murdered Matthew because he was gay. This is the true story that we must work together to keep alive. We must never forget him or other victims of hate crimes and Kaufman's plays help us accomplish this objective.
October 2, 2018
The Laramie Project, while a well written, expressed and emotional play, was also extremely effective in its attempt to persuade the audience to feel and think in the direction the Tectonic Theatre Project intended them too. However, the lack for informative aspects has led for the project to not be objectively telling the story of Mathew Shepard’s murder. When initially reading the play, it successfully created a sense of anger and a desire to share this story with anyone who is against the LGBT+ community, however with deeper analysis and discussion, it is now believed that this is not the appropriate story to be used in persuading someone to change their views. However, it is the appropriate story to share, to create strong emotions and reactions from supporters and of the LGBT+ community itself (rightfully so). But if your goal is to change someone’s views, I would recommend finding a different story that has more facts and less external influences.
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