I am extremely proud that our theater department chair, Lois Hunter and director, Maria Gobetti have decided to produce Moises Kaufman's powerful piece, the Laramie Project. Drawing on hundreds of principal interviews, the Laramie Project chronicles the reaction to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. This event galvanized a movement of condemnation of homophobia and initiated passage of hate crimes legislation in numerous states. This play provokes viewers in uncomfortable ways and showcases views that many might find ugly and offensive.
I am pleased that the entire school community, students and faculty, will have the opportunity to see our senior theatre students in LACHSA's production of the Laramie Project. Beginning last year we began a new tradition at LACHSA, one that would bring the entire school together around a single artistic event once each year. Last year our community was a part of the music department's annual gala at the Luckman Theatre. This year, our students will attend one of four special performances of the Laramie Project in the Luckman's Intimate Theatre later this month.
As we all know, the arts has the power to transform us, to inspire us, and often, provoke us. We can certainly see this in notable works like Stravinky's Rite of Spring or Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit, in the jarring choreography of Bill T. Jones, and most certainly in the work of our visual artists in their recent show the Art of Tolerance.
The Laramie Project is an artistic piece deeply rooted in this artistic tradition. It challenges the audience to confront difficult issues, to reflect on beliefs we hold, and to replace rejection with tolerance and acceptance. Our production this year could not be more timely. We have seen an unprecedented number of suicides by teenagers driven to this "choice" when alternatives seem invisible and ignorance, hatred, and inaction all too present.
I know this production will cause many of us to feel unease and I welcome this for LACHSA. We have a special community here. Our students are exceptionally supportive and accepting of one another and embrace the diversity within our student body as strongly as they do their commitment to their art.
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