MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION TO MARK 10 YEARS SINCE
MATTHEW’S MURDER WITH A CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY
AND READING OF “THE LARAMIE PROJECT”
A public remembrance in Loring Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed
by a ticketed event at The Woman’s Club will take place Monday, October 13.
August 27, 2008, Casper, WY October 13, 2008, the Matthew Shepard Foundation will remember the 1998 death of Matthew Shepard, murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a candlelight ceremony in Loring Park, Minneapolis, featuring music and speakers—including Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard—and is open to the public.
The evening will continue across the park at The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis with a reading of an adapted script of The Laramie Project, by Moises Kaufman, directed by Peter Rothstein and performed by Bob Davis, Beth Gileland, Emily Gunyou Halass, Buddy Haardt, T. R. Knight, Bill McCallum, Suzanne Warmanen and Claudia Wilkens. In addition, award-winning singer and songwriter, Randi Driscoll will perform her song, What Matters, written to honor the life of Matthew Shepard and the unconditional love of his family. All proceeds from the reading will benefit the work of the Foundation and its Campaign to Erase Hate.
“Ten years ago more than 1100 of us gathered in Minneapolis and joined thousands of others around the world in candlelight vigils,” said John Sullivan, a member of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Advisory Board. “Together, we waited and hoped that Matthew would survive the brutal beating that ultimately caused his death. Today we are honored that Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother, chose to observe this significant date with us in Minneapolis. We’ll gather again, in a vigil marked by candlelight, words and music. Then, we’ll proceed to The Woman’s Club for the reading and to raise funds to support the Foundation.”
The Laramie Project has received international recognition for its portrayal of how a small town reacted to one of the most publicized hate crimes in America. The play recounts the shock and confusion the citizens of Laramie felt after hearing the details of Matthew's assault. The play reflects the community’s strong desire to move forward and showcases a great deal of introspection about what had happened to their idyllic town after this tragedy.
“Through the voices of the people of Laramie, we learn how easily hatred leads to violence and how thoughtfulness and human regard leads to understanding,” explained Peter Rothstein, founding artistic director of Theater Latte Da and director of the reading. “The staging is stark—eight chairs, eight actors, a single musician. In this simple setting, the words of the play, delivered by an extraordinary group of actors, encourage the audience to wrestle, uninhibited, with the hearts and minds of Laramie, Wyoming."
The candlelight ceremony is free and open to the public. Tickets for the reading of The Laramie Project at The Woman’s Club are $100 (main floor and front balcony) and $65 (rear balcony), all general seating. To purchase tickets, contact Warren Greene, Operations Director at The Matthew Shepard Foundation: 303.830.7400, ext. 11 or email warren@matthewshepard.org.
About the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Campaign to Erase Hate
Dennis and Judy Shepard founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance through its varied educational programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.
The Foundation’s Campaign to Erase Hate is a challenge to everyone to raise themselves to the power of ten and join the Foundation in fulfilling its mission of erasing hate. “We are starting a movement of people dedicated to erasing hate from our schools, workplaces and communities,” explains Judy Shepard. “For the last 10 years, individuals have been raising themselves to do amazing things with no resources. What we are trying to do is give this great work a structure and create a community of individuals who are using their voices and talents to address these issues.”
The Foundation is dedicated to erasing hate through education, advocacy and awareness and is the voice for inclusive hate crimes legislation, working to empower and ensure the safety of gay, transgender and allied youth. For more information, please visit www.matthewshepard.org and http://www.matthewsplace.com/. The Campaign to Erase Hate is a program of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. It models the principles that were core to the beliefs and aspirations of Matthew Shepard.
To join the campaign, visit www.matthewshepard.org/campaigntoerasehate.
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FACT SHEET
The Matthew Shepard Foundation to mark 10 years since Matthew’s murder
with a candlelight ceremony and reading of The Laramie Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Monday October 13, 2008
6:30 p.m. An evening candlelight ceremony of short addresses, music and a moment of silence will be held in Loring Park, Minneapolis. The event is free and open to the public.
7:30 p.m. A reading of an adapted script of The Laramie Project, by Moises Kaufman, will begin after the vigil in the park at The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis at 410 Oak Grove St. Beverages, desserts and conversation to follow the reading.
Directed by Theater Latte Da’s founding artistic director, Peter Rothstein, the cast includes: Bob Davis, Beth Gileland, Emily Gunyou Halass, Buddy Haardt, T. R. Knight, Bill McCallum, Suzanne Warmanen and Claudia Wilkens.
Award-winning singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll will perform What Matters, written to honor Matthew’s life and the unconditional love of his family and the official benefit single for the Foundation.
Tickets Tickets are $100 (main floor and front balcony) and $65 (rear balcony), general admission seating. To purchase, contact Warren Greene, Operations Director, Matthew Shepard Foundation at 303.830.7400, ext. 11 or email warren@matthewshepard.org.
Details Choral music, addresses—including Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother—bagpipes and candles will mark the solemnity of the vigil. Afterward, ticketed guests will process across the park to The Woman’s Club for the reading and social hour which follows.
Production costs are at the minimum, with most participants donating their time, effort and talent. All proceeds will benefit the work of the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s new initiative, Campaign to Erase Hate.
