“The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” Comes to SHU

BY WILL PESEK

Staff Reporter

On Thursday, the Theatre Arts Program had its opening night of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.” This is the Theatre Arts Program’s first production of the school year.

“The show was extremely powerful. To feel the effects of what the family went through hits hard, especially the final scene of Judy Shepard talking about her son,” said sophomore Michelle Carey. “He was killed for being himself, he was not harming anyone. He was living a normal young man’s life,” said Carey.

There were rumors circulating that he wasn’t killed because of his sexuality, but in a “drug deal gone bad.” Most of the residents of Laramie were appalled when they heard these rumors.

Judy Shepard fought to pass “The Matthew Shepard Act,” which was an anti-hate-crime bill. The bill was eventually passed by Barack Obama.

Audience members felt the emotions and message of the play.

“Personally, it was an eye-opening show. It was extremely touching, and I recommend seeing this show to everyone,” said sophomore Christian Colon. “I almost cried watching the scenes of Matthew as a child and how his life was taken too soon.”

For Assistant Director Justin Weigel (senior), it marks show number 26 that he has been involved in at Sacred Heart. He expressed that “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” has been his favorite yet.

“This has been the best experience that I have had in my career’, he said. Weigel is the assistant to Director Gerald Goehring. Goehring produced Sacred Heart’s production of the former Broadway show “Be More Chill.”

“What I enjoy most is how closely I get to work with the cast,” said Weigel. “I get to be in the trenches with them from beginning to end. They’re all so different in the best way possible, and unbelievably talented. It makes my job so much easier.”

Senior Andrew Peloquin, who stars in the show, plays many roles, including Russell Henderson, one of the two men who attacked Shepard on the night of Oct. 6, 1998.

“These characters are all real people, and the dialogue in the script is their own words. As an actor that is a huge challenge – to not only play these real people but to let their words be heard and spoken in the right terms,” said Peloquin.

Peloquin also plays the role of a Republican father whose daughter is lesbian and who believes that denying the rights of gays and lesbians is wrong. With the various character portrayals, the cast believes there are imperative messages for audience members to take away.

“There are many different morals in the show, but for me it is all about humanity,” said Peloquin. “Matthew Shepard was just another human being who had a family, friends and an education. Just like everybody else in the Laramie community and throughout the world. It does not matter who you are, what you believe, or who you LOVE. We are all a part of one community and for me that is humanity.”

“The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” has four showings left: Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

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