Release Date: January 31, 2003

Andy Paris, left, one of the creators of "The Laramie Project," leads a seminar for Monmouth College acting students.

The cast of Monmouth College's upcoming production of the acclaimed "The Laramie Project" received a special insight this week, as one of the play's creators, who also performed in the HBO movie of the same name, spent two days on campus working with the actors.

Andy Paris, a member of New York's Tectonic Theater Project, was asked to visit campus by longtime friend and fellow actor Chris Sorensen, who is directing the MC production. Sorensen, who is the son of recently retired MC education professor Frank Sorensen, is a guest instructor for the college’s advanced acting course this semester.

Named one of Time magazine's 10 best plays of 2000, "The Laramie Project" is based on the 1998 slaying of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was murdered for being openly gay. Playwright Moises Kaufman, along with members of the Tectonic Theater Project, went to Laramie, Wyo., shortly after the hate crime, investigating the incident and conducting interviews with the surrounding community.

The group made six trips to Laramie in one year and performed more than 200 documented interviews. From these interviews, along with court records and personal journals, the group was able to create an inspiring re-production of the struggles and individual thoughts of a community undergoing the event’s aftermath. 

Sorensen was drawn to "The Laramie Project" after an invitation to see the first read-through of the play at the Atlantic Theatre Company School. Inspired by Paris’s immense passion for the subject matter, Sorensen suggested that Monmouth College do the show.

Paris, who graduated from the Experimental Theatre Wing and the Classical Studio at New York University, also performed in HBO’s production of "The Laramie Project" with a cast that included Peter Fonda ("Easy Rider"), Amy Madigan ("Field of Dreams"), Camryn Manheim ("The Practice"), Janeane Garofalo ("Saturday Night Live") and Steve Buscemi ("Fargo"). The film was selected as the Opening Night Premiere at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.

"The Laramie Project" will open at MC on Feb. 27 and run through March 2. Evening shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Wells Theater through March 1, with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 2. Ticket information will be available in mid-February.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330

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