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Publication Date
2-2004
Language
English
City
Philadelphia
Keywords
The Masque
Disciplines
Theatre and Performance Studies
Recommended Citation
La Salle University, "The Laramie Project" (2004). The Masque Programs. 3.
https://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/themasque/3
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Comments
Author's Notes
By Moises Kaufman
The Laramie Project was written through a unique collaboration by Tectonic Theater Project. During the year-and-a-half development of the play, members of the company and I traveled to Laramie six times to conduct interviews with the people of the town. We transcribed and edited interviews, then conducted several workshops in which the members of the company presented material and acted as dramaturges in the creation of the play.
As the volume of material grew with each additional trip to Laramie, a small writers' group from within the company began to work closely with me to further organize and edit the material, conduct additional research in Laramie, and collaborate on the writing of the play. This group was led by Leigh Fondakowski as Head Writer, with Stephen Belber and Greg Pierotti as Associate Writers.
As we got closer to the play's first production in Denver, the actors, including Stephen Belber and Greg Pierotti, turned their focus to performance, while Leigh Fondakowski continued to work with me on drafts of the play, as did Stephen Wangh, who then had joined us as an Associate Writer and "bench coach."
Director's Notes
By Tom Reing
This is the kind of play the Masque should be doing.
As an outside theatre professional who has been with the Masque for five years, I am proud to be associated with this organization. These actors, designers, technicians and producers are talented and dedicated. They give it their all and they produce work for the university community and beyond. I firmly believe that theatre can create dialogue. I applaud both the Masque and La Salle University for producing Laramie Project, a contemporary play that creates such dialogue. It is the kind of play that challenges an actor, a designer, a dramaturg, a technician. It is the kind of play that challenges its audience to identify with the characters rather than dismiss them. It is the kind of play that makes an audience think about their world. It is the kind of play that invites debate, and forces a viewer to delve into themselves for answers.
It is the kind of play the Masque should be doing
Producer's Notes
By Angie Colletta
As a second show of our 75th anniversary season, the Masque offers The Laramie Project as a challenge. Theatrically, the show challenges our abilities as actors and technicians. As a school community, it challenges us to examine our attitudes, values, and actions. The Laramie Project presents us with an opportunity to learn from a community that, at its heart, is not as different from ours as we may think. It is an opportunity to learn that the seeds of hate can grow in the most unexpected places. This show does not answer the questions "Why did it happen there?", but rather "Could it happen here?"