QSpeak & Greasepaint Youththeatre production of The Laramie Project will take place March 5-14.
‘n touch news will be there–will you?
In October 1998 Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, severely beaten and tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming where he languished before being found. He died days later at the age of 21. Five weeks later, Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie, and over the course of the next year, conducted more than 200 interviews with people of the town. From these interviews they wrote the play The Laramie Project, a chronicle of the life of the town of Laramie in the year after the murder. The play was groundbreaking not only in terms of theatre, but for the Tectonic Theatre Project and works that have sparked national discourse.
It seems only fitting that as they begin their 5th year, QSpeak Theatre, in collaboration with Greasepaint Youththeatre, will be performing The Laramie Project March 5 – 14.
Like the Tectonic Theater Project, QSpeak has written its own material but based on the local experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. And like Tectonic, the non-profit has sparked dialogue and educated those who have seen any its productions.
Perhaps no ne is more surprised at how quickly QSpeak took off then its founder and director, A. Beck.
“I can’t even believe how exciting it is that this little GLSEN Youth Theatre Initiative has grown into a targeted program called QSpeak Theatre and is housed at a reputable theatre company like Phoenix Theatre. This program truly exists because the youth involved have decided it is valuable and important to have a forum for them to share their stories and voice through theatrical expression.”
During a weekend in October 2009 members of QSpeak Theatre and Greasepaint Youtheatre participated in a workshop facilitated by Kelli Simpkins, a member of the Tectonic Theater Project. Beck says the collaboration with Greasepaint seemed like a natural fit.
“We wanted to reach out and bring communities together in honor of Matthew Shepard and his family. This is the year of the epilog for The Laramie Project and finally we are seeing movement in hate crimes legislation. The collaboration between QSpeak performers and Greasepaint Youtheatre performers has brought youth together through a unique and compelling theatrical performance. They have grown as a community of people and have learned from each other through mechanix workshops addressing LGBTQ youth needs and issues, local hate crimes stats and theatrical presentation.”
As to the future, Beck told ‘n touch that she looks forward to having QSpeak continue the tours and trainings for youth groups, social service agencies, corporations, schools and businesses.
QSpeak is open to all youth ages 13-20 who are interested in providing a voice to social issues affecting LGBTQ teens and young adults.
Tickets to The Laramie Project are $12. For more information or to purchase tickets call 480-990-7405 or go to www.greasepaint.org