U of A's Theatre Department presents 'The Laramie Project,' a Story of Resilience and Hope

Ash Micheel

The Department of Theatre in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas presents a virtual production about a community's response to the shocking and tragic murder of a gay college student that changed the small town of Laramie, Wyoming forever.

The Laramie Project, written by Moisés Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project and directed by third year M.F.A. student, Huan Bui, opened Oct. 1 via Zoom.

In October 1998, a 21-year-old university student was kidnapped, severely beaten, and left tied to a fence in the middle of Laramie, Wyoming. His 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 a hate crime for being gay.

The effects of this tragic event shook the small town of Laramie and shortly thereafter, Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project began the process of conducting more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. The Laramie Project is composed of these interviews.

Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project have constructed a deeply moving theatrical collage that represents a multitude of perspectives from members of the town, as well as their own experiences as interviewers. The Laramie Project is a profound theatrical experience that at once explores tragedy and the great compassion of which we are all capable.

Of the production process, Bui said, "While we had originally planned to present a live theatre event, we have found Zoom to be an exciting alternative. Zoom provides each cast member an equal frame, no matter how their spaces might vary in design. This communicates that, although we come from distinct starting points, our participation in life is shared, and we should all be treated as human beings, rather than reduced to labels."

Michael Landman, a professor in the Department of Theatre, expressed his excitement for the project and Bui's leadership.

"Huan Bui is a second-year M.F.A. directing student, and a Fulbright Scholar from Vietnam. The Department of Theatre is fortunate to have this gifted director studying with us. Huan is an imaginative, generous, and compassionate theatre artist, who inspires all of his collaborators. He is impassioned to share this compelling and touching story of hate, love, tolerance, and hope," Landman said.

Show dates and times:

Act 1 — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 

Act 2 — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct 2

Act 3 — 7:30 p.m. Saturday Oct. 3

Full — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9

Full — 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11

Tickets for The Laramie Project are free, but reservations are required by visiting uarkartstickets.com. 

Step by Step Instructions:

• Go to uarkartstickets.com
• Click Category "Theatre"
• Click "Get Info" on the show on the date you plan to attend
• Click "Register For This Event Here"
• You will be directed to a Zoom Webinar Registration Form
• Fill out the Required Information AND the Class Name/Class Section. (Students, please use your uark email)
• Click "Register"
• Once you are approved, you'll receive an email with the show link as well as a reminder an hour before the performance begins.

For more information, please visit the Department of Theatre online.

About the Department of Theatre: The Department of Theatre in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences has been providing exciting and affordable live theatre for more than 60 years. The department combines a first-rate theatrical education full of hands-on experience with a wide selection of titles to challenge students and delight the community. The department offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre, a broad-spectrum program in the context of a liberal arts education, and the Master of Fine Arts degree in six concentrations: Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Costume Design, Scene Design, and Lighting Design. Classes at both undergraduate and graduate levels are focused on providing a strong, professional orientation to theatre performance and technology in conjunction with appropriate research-based coursework to address the required foundations in theatre history, dramatic literature and dramatic criticism.