NEWS RELEASE
STRATFORD WINTER PRIDE ALLIANCE
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Honouring Two Decades of Reflection and Progress
Stratford Winter Pride is honoured to mark the 25th anniversary of "The Laramie Project" with two, special staged readings on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. This promises to be a poignant tribute to a groundbreaking work that has inspired conversations about tolerance, justice, and human dignity since its premiere.
About “The Laramie Project”
Written by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, "The Laramie Project" recounts the aftermath of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student whose tragic death in Laramie, Wyoming, became an international symbol of the fight against hate crimes. The play is constructed from real-life interviews with Laramie residents, creating a powerful mosaic of a community's response to a devastating event. It also calls upon Stratford residents to consider their own history and practices regarding hate crimes.
A Milestone Event
Director Ron Dodson remarks, "The 25th anniversary of 'The Laramie Project' encourages the audience to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still must go to create a society based on equality. This staged reading will honour Matthew Shepard’s legacy and reignite conversations about equality and compassion in the Stratford and Canadian context."
The Company and Creatives
The all-star acting company (subject to change) includes Marion Adler, Barbara Barsky, Christopher Blake, Peggy Coffey, Ron Kennell, Robert King, Rebecca Northan, and Andrew Pogson. Music and Sound Consultant: Marek Norman. Music by Robert Markus and Rick Francis. Set Design by Stephen Degenstein and Bob Phillips. Stage management by Nancy Stotts Jones.
Event Details
Date: Feb. 8, 2025
Time: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Location: James Reaney Auditorium at Stratford Intermediate School.
Tickets: To be announced
Each performance will be followed by a talkback between the audience and the company to discuss the play and the ongoing relevance of its themes.
Stratford Winter Pride
As Stratford’s annual LGBTQ+ arts and entertainment festival, Winter Pride is committed to presenting visual, spoken and written arts that bring you comedy, music and powerful dramatic narratives that provoke thought and foster community engagement. Our mission is to use the transformative power of theatre to reflect on societal issues and celebrate the diversity of human experience.
In presenting “The Laramie Project” in this 25thanniversary staged reading, we invite you to join us for a performance that is timely and important, focused on understanding, remembrance, and hope as we celebrate a quarter-century of "The Laramie Project." Watch for more information in the coming months.
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