OPENING: THE LARAMIE PROJECT Via AstonRep Theatre Company at The Raven Theatre June 7 – July 8, 2018

Chi IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

AstonRep Theatre Company Presents

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

By Moisés Kaufman & the Members of Tectonic Theater Project

 Directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen 

June 7 – July 8, 2018 at The Raven Theatre

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we caught The Laramie Project at Red Twist Theatre several years ago and it's a powerful script that packs a punch. In these times of eroding human rights and protections for society's vulnerable, just as hate crimes are ramping up, this story is one that needs to be seen and heard again and again. Kudos to AstonRep for tackling this topic and keeping this vital production in the public eye.  

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to conclude its 2017-18 season with THE LARAMIE PROJECT, a community's deeply-moving response to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, written by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project and directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen. THE LARAMIE PROJECT will play June 7 – July 8, 2018 at The Raven Theatre (West Stage), 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.astonrep.com or by calling (773) 828-9129. 

THE LARAMIE PROJECT features an ensemble cast including Dana Anderson*, Alexandra Bennett*, Liz Cloud, Rob Frankel, Matthew Harris*, Roberto Jay, Amy Kasper*, Ray Kasper*, Erin O’Brien, Sara Pavlak McGuire*, Peter Surma and Chelsea Turner.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT presents a deeply complex portrait of a community’s response to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man living in Laramie, Wyoming. In a series of poignant reflections, the residents of Laramie react to the hate crime and surrounding media storm with anger, bewilderment and sorrow. The play portrays the seismic and deeply personal impact Matthew’s death had on this small town while also demonstrating the power of the human spirit to triumph over bigotry and violence. As we near the twentieth anniversary, Matthew Shepard’s story still reverberates, urging us on with its clarion call to confront the destructive power of bullying and hate, in all forms.

The production team for THE LARAMIE PROJECT includes Jeremiah Barr* (scenic design, props design, technical director), Uriel Gomez (costume design), Samantha Barr* (lighting design, production manager), Robert Tobin* (sound design), Krista Hansen (dialect coach), Aja Wiltshire* (music director), Sara Pavlak McGuire* (assistant director), Dana Anderson* (assistant director, dramaturg), Melanie Thompson (assistant production manager) and Kendal Romero (stage manager).

*Denotes AstonRep Company Members.

Location: The Raven Theatre (West Stage), 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago
Dates: Preview: Thursday, June 7 and Friday, June 8 at 8 pm
Press performance: Saturday, June 9 at 8 pm
Regular run: Sunday, June 10 – Sunday, July 8, 2018
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3:30 pm
Tickets: Previews: $12; Regular run: $25. Student/seniors $15. Tickets go on sale at www.astonrep.com or by calling (773) 828-9129.

About the Director

Derek Bertelsen (Director) currently serves as Associate Artistic Director for AstonRep Theatre Company. Previous directing credits with AstonRep include Eleemosynary (co-director with Jeremiah Barr), The Black Slot, The Lyons, Lieutenant of Inishmore, Wit, Next Fall and Doubt. Other Chicago directing credits include Prelude To A Kiss, Mary-Kate Olsen Is In Love (The Comrades, where is serves as Artistic Director), Design for Living, The Children’s Hour (Pride Films & Plays), God of Carnage, The Dinner Party (BrightSide Theater). Regional credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs (Festival 56), The Wizard of Oz (Shawnee Summer Theater), and five seasons at Timber Lake Playhouse including Rumors, Boeing-Boeing, and Monty Python’s Spamalot. Assistant directing credits include RACE (Goodman), Angry Fags (Steppenwolf Garage), and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Bailiwick Chicago).

About AstonRep Theatre Company:
AstonRep Theatre Company was formed in the summer of 2008. Since then, the company has produced 21 full-length productions and nine annual Writers’ Series. AstonRep Theatre Company is an ensemble of artists committed to creating exciting, intimate theatrical experiences that go beyond the front door to challenge audiences and spark discussion where the show is not the end of the experience: it is just the beginning.

THE THEATRE SCHOOL AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY TO HOST A READING OF THE LARAMIE PROJECT

THE THEATRE SCHOOL AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY TO HOST A READING OF THE LARAMIE PROJECT 

DePaul Students Respond to Ole Miss Incident Through Performance

Bullying awareness month (October) is over, but huge (potentially lethal) societal issues like bullying should be front and center year round.   We've seen The Laramie Project & the thought provoking follow up, The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later at Red Twist Theatre   We highly recommend coming out for this free reading.   Bring your mature tweens and up. Teach tolerance.

WHO/WHAT:

The Theatre School at DePaul University will host a staged reading of THE LARAMIE PROJECT by Moisés Kaufman and The Members of the Tectonic Theater Project, directed by Theatre School adjunct faculty member Carolyn Hoerdemann. The reading will be followed by a moderated question/answer session, and breakout discussions.

As a response to a group of students heckling a production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT at Ole Miss, DePaul University students enrolled in a theatre course have organized a reading of THE LARAMIE PROJECT at The Theatre School at DePaul University, in order to promote tolerance and to show active solidarity with all students at the University of Mississippi. 

Ole Miss student, Garrison Gibbons, who was a member of the cast during the reading at the University of Mississippi, will be reprising his role and joining the ensemble of DePaul University students for this reading. 

Also in attendance will be Susan Burk, Laramie Project Specialist at the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Ms. Burk is also an alumna of The Theatre School at DePaul University.  She will participate as an ensemble member in the reading, and will facilitate the post-show conversation. 

This event is co-sponsored by:  DePaul University's Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity, LGBTQA Student Services, the Center for Intercultural Studies, and ACT OUT DePaul.  Members of the DePaul Athletic Department Captains' Council are involved as student leaders in the break-out discussions. The Theatre School at DePaul University (Dexter Zollicoffer, Diversity Advisor) is pleased to partner with these organizations and departments. 

WHEN:

November 18, 2013 at 6 PM

WHERE:

The Merle and Harold Reskin Lobby at The Theatre School at DePaul University. 2350 N Racine Ave (at Fullerton), Chicago, IL 60614

PARKING & PUBLIC TRANSIT:  

Please call the Box Office for more information, specific directions, and suggestions to help plan your trip. 

STATEMENT OF INTENTION FROM THE STUDENTS:

"The students of DePaul University's Performance 290 course for non-majors, and our special guests, are proud to present a reading of The Laramie Project to be held at the university campus in Lincoln Park on November 18th, 2013. The recent events at Ole Miss have brought into public attention that there are many people who still suffer from discrimination for their personal identity.  A group of Ole Miss football players made derogatory and homophobic remarks to the cast of The Laramie Project being produced at the school.  As a response, we have been inspired to continue carrying the message of acceptance and unity."  

The change.org petition, created by the students, can be found here: http://www.change.org/petitions/cast-of-ole-miss-the-laramie-project-raise-awareness-for-gay-rights-2. 

ADMISSION:

Admission is free.  All are welcome to attend. 

MORE INFORMATION:

This reading is hosted by The Theatre School at DePaul University.  To learn more about our training and our public programming, please visit http://theatre.depaul.edu